James F Broder.
Butterworth-Heinemann.
£30.00
Date published: 2000. Content: 352 pages. Tel: +44(0)1865 888180 Fax: +44(0)1865 314290
Students of the Certified Protection Professional (CPP) programme should recognise the title of this book, the first edition having been on the CPP suggested reading list for many years. This new edition is somewhat overdue, the last edition being published in 1984, but nonetheless this is a welcome revision to an important and popular book.
The security survey must rate as one of the fundamental skills required of any security/risk management professional. As advocated in Broder’s book, the security survey never ends, threats emerge and subside, technology changes and processes evolve. Therefore, the security survey is a continues cycle of assessment, design, implementation and re-assessment.
In terms of content nearly half the book is contained within the Appendix. As might be expected these include: a twenty page physical security survey checklist; a fraud danger signs survey; a business continuity practice guide; and a sample kidnap and ransom contingency plan. As a trained hostage negotiator myself, I found this last appendix to be brief but accurate and useful, which is refreshing given that few texts cover this delicate subject area proficiently.
These appendix compliment the main text chapters which in this new edition include Business Impact Analysis, Project Planning, Data Collection and Analysis and Risk Analysis.
The composition of these chapters generously describe the contemporary and validated approaches to the analysis of risk. ‘Quick fix solutions’ are not in evidence, instead a more considered and individual assessment is suggested.
These analysis methods could be applied in any organisation and would be appropriate for use by internal security managers, or indeed by outside consultants – both groups should consider the purchase of this book.
Source
SMT
