Highly effective security measures are expected to perform one and only one central objective to the client – the prevention of crime.

Security is often confused with law enforcement, they are not the same. The core essence of security is not to arrest, investigate or jail criminals, no. Such tasks are meant for the law enforcement agencies.

The core essence of security is to create an environment that discourages criminal activities. To prevent crime from ever occurring is the core essence of security. Security is primarily concerned with safety of lives and properties.

It isn’t concerned with the enforcement of law and order or execution of justice. This is why in Nigeria, private security agencies aren’t licensed to carry firearms or any weapons found with law enforcement officers.

The 4Ds of Highly Effective Security Measures

To guarantee the prevention of crime and ensure a safe home, office, hotel, school, shopping malls, etc., the 4Ds of effective security measures must be thoroughly followed.

• DETECT: Identification of Potential Threats, Risks, Dangers and Loopholes

The first objective of an effective security measure is the detection of potential security threats, risks, dangers and loopholes that can harm the client.

If you cannot see it, then you cannot mitigate it.

Effective security measures must begin with thorough security risk assessments of the client premises. Without a good security risk assessment “you don’t know what you don’t know.”

A good security risk assessment identifies problems by defining vital assets (what MUST be protected) and then identifying exposures, vulnerabilities, and threats to those assets.

Only when this is done, can the right security measures be implemented. Jumping right into the implementation of security measures on your own is an ineffective solution.

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• DETER: Discourage Potential Threats, Risks and Dangers from Occuring

The second ‘D’ of the 4Ds of highly effective security measures stands for Deter. Having detected the potential threats, risks, dangers and loopholes through a comprehensive security risk assessment; you then need to deter what’s been discovered.

This involves the physical display of some of the security measures in place within the client premises to clearly announce to potential criminals that the target building is highly secured.

The security guards on display, the CCTV cameras, the beware of dog signage, the electric fences, and a host of other security measures all serve as warning signals to deter the client from potential threats, risks, and dangers from coming near.

The objective is to discourage potential criminals from making any attempt at the client premises. The goal is to keep criminals away!

• DELAY: Interrupt Potential Threats, Risks and Dangers from Occurring

The third ‘D’ of the 4Ds of highly effective security measures stands for Delay. To delay means to forestall an eventual outcome, in this case an unwanted criminal attack that can lead to the loss of lives and properties.

Effective security measures must account for systems, policies and procedures to delay the execution of crime. Security measures must be in place to ensure that clients are shielded from criminal attacks through delay mechanisms.

Several layers of security measures properly implemented to create complex obstacles for the criminals to cross. The more obstacles they have to overcome before executing the crime, the more the client is being shielded from threats, risks and dangers.

• DENY: Disrupt Potential Threats, Risks and Dangers from Occurring

The fourth ‘D’ of the 4Ds of highly effective security measures stands for Deny. Despite all the physical display of the existence of security measures in a building, some criminals won’t still be deterred.

For such hardened criminals bent on having their way, a highly effective security measure must make provisions to frustrate their plans. The appropriate effective security measures to implement are those with hidden triggers.

They help to create the needed surprise element that would throw such criminals off guard and send them running for cover while still protecting you and your property from becoming victims of crime.

In other words, they deny the criminals the opportunity to finalize their criminal attack against you!

How Effective Are Your Security Measures?

With the 4Ds of highly effective security measures discussed above, now you have some practical criteria to evaluate your current or proposed security measures.

You can now sensibly ask this question;

“Will this security measure truly detect, deter, delay, or deny criminals an opportunity to hurt us?”