Why Cheap Security Consultants Can Cost You Money

When you’re looking for a security consultant to assess your enterprise’s risk, who do you hire:

A.) An expensive security consultant with experience in physical security?

B.) A recently-retired individual in the criminal justice industry who will cut you a deal?

It might be tempting to go with B, especially if you’re working with a small budget. Unfortunately, a cheap security consultant can end up costing you far more in the long run than a trained, certified security expert.

A brief history of inexpensive security consultants

A few decades ago, most of the consultants in the physical security industry were professional security consultants who were experts in the physical security field. This changed after the Sept. 11 attacks in 2001, when retired military personnel and police officers entered the field as consultants. The number of retirees who became consultants to supplement their income flooded the market and drove the price of security consultants down.

They also created a problem for potential clients: military and police work principally focuses on response where security professionals look to prevent occurrences.

What’s wrong with hiring retired law enforcement or military as security consultants?

Absolutely nothing. Police and military personnel do incredible work, and if a retired officer has gotten board certified by a professional organization, such as ASIS International, or spent an extensive amount of time in security, you should absolutely consider hiring them.

However, if a retired officer is relying on their police experience alone, that doesn’t necessarily make them a good security consultant. They may know a lot about safety and working with local agencies, but they may not be informed when it comes to insurance, liability, the politics of a business, or security budgeting.

Think about hiring a surgeon. Both a general surgeon and a neurosurgeon know the basics of surgery, but you wouldn’t go to a general surgeon for brain surgery. Nor would you ask a neurosurgeon to remove an appendix. It’s important to hire a consultant who specializes in the right field.

What should you look for in a security consultant?

Professional consultants are experts when it comes to physical security. To make sure you’re getting the best possible consultant, look for the following:

1. Experience: Consultants often have several years in the physical security field under their belt. You may also look for someone who has worked in your industry or sector and is familiar with the standards and regulations governing your organization.

2. Credentials: A consultant is likely to hold an advanced degree in Security Management or a related field. They also may hold a CPP (Certified Protection Professional) or other certification from ASIS International, or have obtained advanced degrees from an accredited university.

3. Knowledge: A physical security consultant knows that security is more than cameras and access control. Look for an individual who knows the nuances of security, including liability issues, insurance, and strategic concerns.

4. References: A good consultant should be able to provide references, and you should check them, speaking to past clients. Good consultants also know what information not to give you. If a consultant offers you a sample report from a past client, for example, you know your own information will not be kept confidential.

Make sure that every candidate is interviewed; you’d be surprised at how many organizations hire consultants without putting them through an interview process.

If you find yourself running into difficulties finding a consultant, don’t hesitate to contact ASIS International or the CSO Risk Council. Professional organizations are happy to put you in touch with qualified professional consultants. If you don’t know how to hire or what questions to ask a consultant, just ask.

Cheap consultants are costly

There’s nothing more expensive than a cheap consultant. You might save money up front, but if you are fined because you’re not in compliance, or if you have to hire someone to do the analysis again, you’ll end up paying a lot more in the long term.

It’s also dangerous to hire a consultant who doesn’t have the right experience. If an inexperienced consultant misses something, you may think you’re safe when you’re still at risk.

Interested in learning more about hiring the right partner? Contact us to talk to an expert today.

About the Author

Daniel Young

Founder & Chief Innovation Officer

Daniel has been a security and risk advisor for more than 10 years, and is passionate about helping companies to better understand their risks to undesirable events on a daily basis. Dan previously served as the Regional Bioterrorism Coordinator for District 1 in Michigan, where he was instrumental in preparing communities for catastrophic incidents. He has also acted as the Private Security Liaison for the City of Lansing’s Critical Infrastructure Team, which identified and documented deficiencies in the city’s critical infrastructure.

He is a Co-Founder of the CSO Risk Council, a think tank of seasoned security professionals and thought leaders with extensive experience in managing the physical security and risks of large enterprises consisting of multiple sites and whose mission is to create a better process to develop and share innovative solutions and pertinent information with organizations to improve safety and security risk by providing a forum to discuss best practices and recommendations for specific risk scenarios and to network with other enterprise security professionals.