My brother built his house.  He borrowed a back-hoe and dug the hole.  He set the foundation and built his house from the ground up.  I looked at him and said, “Why can’t I even drive a nail straight?”

There are two reasons; first he has the knowledge and secondly, he had the right tools.  I on the other hand, never acquired the knowledge, nor have I ever made the investment in tools.

Oh sure, I can unclog the toilet or figure out that a fuse is blown, but anything above that, I’m in the dark.  The pun was not intentional.

This got me to thinking.  Whenever I have something around the house that needs more than my minimum skills I have to call someone.

They usually arrive and the first thing they ask is, “Who did this?” as they look at the thousand mile-an-hour tape or screwdriver wedged against the window or the string hanging from where the handle should be on the screen door.

Then they go about fixing it and charging me the equivalent of a mortgage payment.  They leave with a smile on their face and say, “Call us before you try to FIX IT again.  You’ll save money in the long run”.

I asked my brother, where he acquired his knowledge and he explained that he asked lots of questions to people in the know and when he needed to, he bought or rented the tools.  If they had the skill set for roofing he asked roofing questions, same for plumbing and so on.

Well, the same holds true in security.

There are projects you can do on your own and there are things you really should get an expert to handle.

With the advancement in technologies in recent months you can basically, “plug and play” all types of electronic security systems, and most can be monitored on your phone with an App download.

But, if you’re going to assess your property and take a holistic approach you want someone with knowledge in vulnerability assessment/risk analysis or in developing mitigation strategies, and physical security systems design.

You must engage someone who HAS the requisite tools sets and the knowledge to use them.

Someone with the proper credentials or designations ensures that the person doing the job understands the risk analysis formula (criticality x threat x vulnerability [and sometimes likelihood] = risk)[1].

Putting up cameras or adding a guard is not the same as antiterrorism design or physical security engineering.

PURPOSE AND INTENT OF ANTITERRORISM DESIGN

The intent of antiterrorism design is to reduce collateral damage and the scope and severity of mass casualties in the event of a terrorist attack.

These strategies provide cost effective, implementable, and enforceable construction measures to protect personnel against terrorist attacks.

While complete protection against all potential threats for every inhabited building is cost prohibitive, the intent of these concepts can be achieved through prudent master planning, real estate acquisition, and design and construction practices.

The overarching philosophy upon which these concepts are based is that comprehensive protection for every inhabited facility against the range of possible threats is cost prohibitive, however, appropriate protective measures can be provided for buildings with high occupancy levels at a reasonable cost.

Those protective measures are engineering solutions intended to lessen the risk of mass casualties resulting from terrorist attacks. Implementation of these strategies will provide protection against a wide range of threats and will reduce injuries and fatalities.

The costs associated with these strategies are assumed to be less than the physical and intangible costs associated with incurring mass casualties.

Furthermore, all decision makers must commit to making smarter investments with the scarce resources available and stop investing money in inadequate buildings that personnel will have to occupy for decades, regardless of the threat environment.

There are four key elements of this philosophy that influence implementation:

1. Measures MUST be in place before an event occurs

2. Protection from one threat will afford some protections from other threats

3. Design practices provide a baseline to build upon

4. The systematic implementation of measures over time will provide protection as threats evolve

CREDENTIALED PROGRAMS

If you have a very large project or are worried about cost overruns, you could also get someone with credentials from the Security Industry Association (SIA) in project management or a Certified Security Project Manager (CSPM®).

Another reputable organization is the American Society of Industrial Security (ASIS), which provides several designations. Both of these credentialing programs ensure that the person you hire has the necessary knowledge to get the job done right.

However, while excellent sources in their own right they do not provide expertise in building design planning and review which incorporates antiterrorism strategies.

Haines Security Solutions offers instruction in physical security engineering and Antiterrorism Design Specialist[2], and awards certificates of training in both.

The Antiterrorism Design Specialist (ADS)

• ADS designation provides subject matter expertise in; antiterrorism design, basic physical security strategies for new construction and major renovation projects, emergency management of and crisis management response to weapons of mass destruction incidents, plan writing, terrorist tactics & Modus Operandi, training/drills and exercise development and conduct, threat information synchronization, risk management processes, vulnerability assessment/risk analysis methodologies.

The Physical Security Engineer (PSE)

• PSE designation provides general and advanced knowledge, skills and abilities in applying access control concepts for buildings and compounds, entry control facility design criteria, electronic security systems design and integration techniques, developing mitigation strategies & building design review, and a variety of vulnerability assessment/risk analysis methodologies in the built environment.

A security consultant having one of these credentials or designation is your guarantee that the person doing the job has the right tools sets and the knowledge to use them.

Not every project, especially when it comes to renovations, requires these skills and other designations may suffice; however, if you’re including passive[3] design elements that will deter or prevent crime and reduce the effects of man-made attacks then either the ADS or PSE credentialed person is the right fit.

Law enforcement sources recently announced that terrorist type activity is on the raise.  Shouldn’t your next project include ways to mitigate them, in the event they occur?

Adding mitigation design elements at the onset of a project may add a cost of five percent of the project.  Incorporating these same elements afterwards can result in a cost increase of more than 40 percent, or even require total facility replacement.

A&E and security firms getting these credentials for all members of their design team has been gaining momentum over the last couple of years.

By getting team members certified in mitigation strategy development and antiterrorism design fundamentals – principals and decision makers are ensuring they are putting the best expertise available, all speaking the same language, on their project team.

Noteworthy, is the fact, that Haines Security Solutions (HSS) training places an emphasis on a softer approach to the implementation of security features in the built environment as a substitute to structural hardening and therefore provides a sense of trust instead of fear.[4] [5]

HAINES’ SECURITY DESIGN SCHOOL (HSDS)

Haines’ Security Design School is a virtual classroom training platform for those involved in developing mitigation strategies to deter, detect and defend against a variety of man-made threats.

The classroom provides in-depth instruction in access control concepts, antiterrorism and crime prevention through environmental design, electronic security systems design and vulnerability assessment and risk analysis.

The platform provides tuition-based courses in three formats:

1. Full courses (more than eight hours of instruction)

2. Seminars (less than eight hours), and

3. FLASH (less than an hour of instruction).

Training can be accomplished by attending an instructor lead course or through self-study with or without a mentor[6].

Once the academic requirements are satisfied the designations of Antiterrorism Design Specialist (ADS) or Physical Security Engineer (PSE) are awarded to architects, emergency managers, engineers, facility managers, planners and security professionals.

In order to qualify for the Senior and Master levels of ADS or PSE designation the applicant must complete additional academic studies, have been published in a security related media and presented at a regional, national or international conference.

PHYSICAL SECURITY ENGINEERING TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION (PSET&C) PROGRAM

HSDS is part of the Physical Security Engineer Training and Certification [PSET&C] program[7].  The PSET&C consists of three parts; academic studies, published materials and public speaking.

The PSET&C differs from other designation programs because it recognizes previous training conducted by another accredited agency (college/university, government agency [DHS/DOD/DSS/FEMA/OPM/USACE] or corporate program) and allows the training to be accepted; instead of the normal practice of buying the issuing agency’s study materials, signing up for their group study program and paying for their test to get their credential.

The second difference is once credentialed as an ADS or PSE, there’s an assumption that once achieved the person will continue working in the career field and continue with their professional development; therefore, the recipient maintains the ADS or PSE designation for life.

And the third major difference is that the program and designation are open to all career fields involved in the development of mitigation strategies, including; architects, emergency managers, engineers, facility managers, planners and security professionals.

In order to apply the applicant submits copies of their training certificates, written materials or speaking engagement publicity.  Submitted material is reviewed and the designation awarded, if appropriate.  If the applicant fall shorts, then HSS lets the applicant know where and designs an improvement program specifically tailored for the student.

This service is free.  In any case, upon sustaining all certification criteria, HSS will award the credential designation by way of a designation letter and framed certificate.

Completion of either, Antiterrorism Design Specialist – Basics, Advanced and Supplemental or the Security Concepts for Design Teams – Basics, Advanced and Supplemental classes will result in award of the appropriate certification and are the quickest way of achievement.

Other courses are available for those who have completed some security training, yet lack meeting all of the requirements for receiving credentials.  Certification will be given once this void is fulfilled.

UPCOMING VIRTUAL TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES

Certification training for the PSE credential is scheduled for and will be conducted in a virtual classroom with instructor from 9am-12pm and 1pm-4pm PST on 19, 20 & 21 January 2020.

Upon registration the attendee will receive the course study guide and the session passcodes.

Sign up here: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJAsdOGprjssH9Dc3sIYvHPpRZovCbDOnCyp

Certification for the Antiterrorism Design Specialist (ADS) designation is scheduled for and will be conducted by an instructor virtually from 9am-12pm and 1pm-4pm PST, 2, 3 & 4 February 2021.

Upon registration the attendee will receive the course study guide and session passcode.

Register here: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJIvduCtqzIuG9axzck2xr3E2VEtRnqYXIsQ

About the Author

Doug Haines, owner of Haines Security Solutions, LLC (HSS), is a United States Air Force veteran with over 45 years of law enforcement and security related experience, which includes teaching building design principles to architects, engineers, facility managers, planners, and security professionals.

As an expert in physical security engineering and risk analysis, Doug is a distinguished judge on the Annual ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Judges Panel, and a regular expert contributor to AST, sharing his years of experience and insights with our 75K+ readers.

Doug’s company HSS, is recognized as a center of expertise within the security community for risk assessment, providing services for many federal; State, local government agencies and private companies around the globe, and is a founding member of International Centers of Security Training Excellence (ICSTE).

To Learn More about Haines Security Design School and additional please visit full courses, Seminars and FLASH Training Opportunities, please visit courses.hainessecuritysolutions.com.

Haines’ Security Design School Named a Finalist in 2020 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program

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Learn More…

Don’t Surrender to Fear: New Book – ‘The Solutions Matrix’ by Doug Haines