A school or college needs to be organizationally resilient in the face of the threats and disruptive events.  According to the ANSI/ASIS Standard – “Organizational Resilience is the adaptive capacity of an organization, faced with complex and changing risks, threats and disruptive events, to be able to absorb impacts and continue operations with minimal disruption to its employees, stakeholders and the public.”   The TRUSYS methodology for implementing Organizational Resilience is built on R-SEC which begins with a Risk Assessment, identifies Teams of people, appropriate Techniques, effective Technologies, and regular Training.   All of this, when done in a Plan, Do, Check, Act model leads to resilient schools and colleges.

Effective implementation of Organizational Resilience with R-SEC is paramount to ensuring the best possible outcome when the disruptive event occurs.  Key to implementing Organizational Resilience is first a recognition that there is a need for the entire organizations ecosystem (employees, suppliers, external agencies & stakeholders, students, staff and parents) to be involved.  This involvement is enhanced when it is issued as a written policy.  When this has occurred, the process of creating schools and colleges that are resilient to any type of disruptive event will begin.  The end result will be a safer, more productive and efficient education environment.

We were easily able to dismiss the first consumer analog security cameras due to their poor quality and performance. At that point we were right, but this new technology is not so easy to dismiss. Consumer technology is rapidly changing in performance and quality, and now has an advantage over our traditional hierarchical security practices.

Crowdsourcing is not to be ignored, it deserves our full attention. The smartphone will soon be the security device of choice. While the smartphone may lack in certain areas, it is made up by its ubiquity, massive numbers and online reliability.

Two examples caught our attention this week. SOS-Response offers a free app that sends a burst round of 30 photos to first responders. This app is now available for IOS and Android phones. This technology allows a camera phone to turn into a mobile safety/security device that includes geo-location and time stamping. It provides first responders with real time data as an incident is being observed by a consumer.

 An even more impressive initiative is Galileo robo-cam which provides a platform for safety and security applications. This device allows a user to remotely point an Iphone or camera in virtually any direction via mobile device such as the ipad. The irony of this new device is that the funding for its manufacture is being accomplished via crowdfunding. This project has raised almost four times its original budget by using Kickstarter – no red tape, no angel investor and no venture capitalist required.

Youtube Video of Galileo Robo-Cam

This new technology certainly poses a new challenge for our industry. We have operated in a Command and Control hierarchical culture as long as we can remember. A new type of “fog of war” is about to be unleashed. This will raise our stakeholders’ expectations, and demonstrate how we are able to respond to rapid industry change. The demand for accountability is about to rise significantly, and the stakeholders holding us accountable will have all the data they need to show we failed.

At first glance, it may seem that this consumer technology will be kept at bay because we feel we are the ones with the “right corporate technology”. Unfortunately, this will most likely not be the case.

How long before access control is challenged by the smartphone? The answer is not clear, however, it would be a safe bet that eventually apps will be available for a multitude of safety and security tasks that today we can’t imagine. If cash registers are being replaced by a small attachment that can be plugged into an IPhone, why would we think that we would be exempt from similar technology?

So, as safety and security practitioners, we have a two prong transition to navigate. First we will need to integrate consumer devices in our technology strategies and tactics. This is the easy part. It will require us to complement our traditional skill sets with IT expertise beyond networking, which most of us have mastered. Data mining will have to be done in real time to extract the most relevant information as incidents are being reported. Then, by mastering the use of data dissemination tools, stakeholders will become acutely aware of their risks. Each new shooting incident, natural disaster, or unexpected incident seems to highlight our inability to tap into the networks that link all our constituents and warn them of the danger they may face.

The real challenge we face in our industry is in our behaviors and responses. Our current hierarchical model requires that we put expertise in silos to accommodate our Command and Control practices. Silos are out. Organizational resilience, which is built on the strength of individuals and their resilience is in. With a multitude of electronic eyes and ears, no action will be isolated from its intended, or unintended consequences. Quicker and smarter responses will be demanded. Evidence of poor performance on our part will be immediately exposed.

Straying away from our usual blog posts we want to mention the play FrAcTured by Robinson Wilson playing at Vancouver’s Seacoast theatre.  Seacoast Studios students experiment with this play depicting a one year anniversary meeting of 13 high-school students who survived a shooting.  Crafted from research of over 200 school shootings the play reminds us as security and safety practitioners of the importance of our profession.

As the play progresses details of the shooting are revealed in a realistic scenario.  The survivors describe the emotions they lived during the incident and they share the long term consequences of this event on their lives, their school and their community.  Inevitably a number of social issues are raised like access to guns, faith, bullying and grief.  The emotional cost for these young lives is unmeasurable.

For us as security practitioners, the play reminds us that what we do is important and noble.  It goes far beyond the intellectual stimulation we get from devising elegant technical solutions.  We are challenged to measure exactly what we deliver from a positive perspective – it is only when we look at the negative consequences of failing to protect our people that we get a glimpse of the value we deliver – yet the value of our work is extremely high. 

This is a play that every CFO cutting security and safety resources needs to see. 

This is a play that every parent or board member voting down security and safety budgets needs to see. 

Ryan Taylor, Principal of TRUSYS, was recently interviewed in a leading security magazine.  Martha Entwistle, of Security Systems News, contacted TRUSYS to help their readers understand the role of a consultant and how they add value to the security industry and technology suppliers.  This article covers insightful questions that provide some history of TRUSYS and Mr. Taylor’s experience in the industry.  To see the published article, click here: securitysystemsnews

TRUSYS chose The Hague due to its focus on Peace and Justice, Private and Public security, and the network of people and companies involved in the industry.  The Hague is a logical choice due to its central location and easy access to other parts of Europe and beyond. In October, 2011, TRUSYS joined the Border Security Innovation Center (BIC) in The Hague.  The www.bordersecurity.eu Innovation Center is an initiative co-funded by the Netherlands Ministry of Economical Affairs and the City of The Hague, to support collaborative use of commercial technologies in public and private security.  “The BIC provides TRUSYS with several advantages that enables our company to hit the ground running as we take on this exciting venture in Europe”, says Mr. Taylor.

To find out how TRUSYS can help reduce the impact of disruptive events, please contact us at info@trusys.com.

TRUSYS saw adding a qualified Industrial Designer as a strategic expansion to the quality of the services we offer to our clients.  Industrial Designers are trained to understand how humans interact with technology; and security technologies that are not adopted easily hinder Organizational resilience rather than enhance it.  The R-SEC Organizational Resilience framework proposed by TRUSYS identifies clearly the need for effective human/technology interactions as part of a successful security implementation.  Colin’s skills fit well in the continuum of the development of TRUSYS knowledge base.

Since graduation in 2002, Colin got hands-on experience with the installation of complex security systems while working with a local system integrator.  This field experience is a valued asset when working at TRUSYS as we believe that understanding firsthand the challenges faced by field personnel enhances the quality of the security designs produced.

Managing Principal, John Gargett, comments: “Already Colin has earned the respect of his colleagues and of our clients with high quality representation of the design concepts proposed by our senior consultants.  His understanding of the technologies of our industry and his high level of software knowledge makes him a great complement to our Seattle team.  We also appreciate his spirit of cooperation and initiative when it comes to supporting our corporate technology initiatives.  Colin is a natural problem solver whose great attitude is appreciated by all.”

Colin can be reached at colin.edmonds@trusys.com, at (800) 905-6810 or on Skype at colin.edmonds-trusys.

Satish, tell us a bit about yourself?

I did my primary & higher education at Christian missionary Maria Niketan School and I completed my Diploma in Electronics & Telecommunication at Mahatma Gandhi Polytechnic. Having an interest in Electronics, I joined an evening class on Radio & TV hardware practical training from the LIZZNER Institute.  I then added Computer Hardware & Networking training from the Sahara Institute of Technology.  And I completed the certification in AutoCAD & REVIT MEP at Kruthy Computers.

I started my Career in the Physical Security Industry with a leading Integrator in the Indian Market.  My career started with Field engineering as a trainee and in a short time I was able to learn the technology & concepts of Physical security.  I have successfully served when given the opportunity as a Field engineer, Technical engineer, Design Engineer, Project Co-ordinator and project manager.  I was ready and delighted when TRUSYS CEO Ryan Taylor asked me to spearhead the start of our company in India.

What attracted you to a career in the Physical Security Industry?

Initially I was interested in camera technology, their angle of view, coverage etc.  I worked with my brother in that Industry.  Naturally, I came across many security related products and concepts used in different configuration as per clients’ requirements.  I learned about CCTV, Access, Alarm, Fire, PA etc. Integrating them to respond between them in critical situation is the challenge that attracted me to the Physical security Industry.

India’s economic growth rate is the envy of the world.  How is this fast paced economy affecting your work?

Not only is there a lot of internal growth in India, but our economy is rapidly integrating itself with the rest of the world.  Large Indian firms like Tata or Mittal are rapidly becoming multinational firms as they invest abroad.  As they expand abroad and as multinational firms invest in India, there is a need for better security practices to protect the benefits we all get from international commerce.  This is one of the reasons why we felt that TRUSYS needed at its inception a presence in both the United States and India.

As to how it affects my work, it means that we work to the best international standards to satisfy both local and international clients.  It is also interesting to work for a multinational firm like TRUSYS as we can help one another by sharing best practices and expertise.

Tell us about the state of the physical security industry in India?
In the past, India was considered a very safe place where people relied on Indian defence and security.  The first blow that shattered that feeling was the suicide attack by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam that killed Prime Minister Rajeev Gandhi.  At that moment the physical security industry started slowly to develop in the Indian market.

Later the terrorist attack on the Indian Parliament and a series of low intensity bomb blasts in major cities pushed the growth of Physical Security industry.   After the 2008 “26/11” attack by Terrorist in Mumbai, the Physical Security Industry saw significant increases in sales & implementation.  In addition, the Fire incidents in Bangalore Carlton Tower fire and the Kolkata Shopping Mall fire increased the desire for physical security in the people of India.

Are the typical security practices in India different from other countries?

After the “26/11” attack the Physical Security practices aims to be no different than in other developed countries.

What are the main concerns you hear from your clients?

·    First, that the security system is not optimized to take full advantage of its features.
·    Second, the integration of fire and security devices like access control is a critical issue in case of emergency that is not always well planned.
·    Often CCTV installations are not optimized to the manufacturers’ specs and the coverage does not meet the clients’ needs.
·    Pre design document for a proposed project are inadequate.
·    And installations do not have proper “as built” documents produced for future maintenance or upgrading.

These are all typical needs that TRUSYS India professionals address.

TRUSYS CEO, Ryan Taylor, commented: “When we founded TRUSYS in 2007, we envisioned the day when we could contribute to advancing the knowledge of our industry by creating the TRUSYS Institute.  Since then TRUSYS has completed work in dozens of locations around the world and has a presence in five countries on four continents. The day to launch the TRUSYS Institute has finally arrived.  We see it as a place to congregate the thought leaders of our industry for meaningful learning and exchanges.”

The event was timed with the first visit to Seattle by the TRUSYS Netherlands team led by Léon de Brujin.  Mr de Brujin, a highly respected security expert in the Netherlands, explained some of the differences in security practices in the Netherlands.  He focused on organizational practices and on the growing need for Organizational Resilience best practices like R-SEC™, TRUSYS own Organizational Resilience methodology.

The second speaker for the event was Mr Paul Pattynama.  Mr Pattynama is a former Netherlands Provincial Fire Chief.  Mr Pattynama focused on Fire and Safety practices in the Netherlands and Europe.  Again the need for better Organizational Resilience practices was stressed.  Interestingly, most of the participants’ questions referred to organizational issues rather than technical or technology matters.

The event was followed by a reception, and as most such events, valuable connections were made and good business relationships were enhanced.

Mr Ryan Taylor Founded and CEO of TRUSYS, is pleased to announce the opening of the TRUSYS Institute with a first event scheduled for June 9, 2011.  In addition Mr Taylor announces that TRUSYS Managing Principal, Mr John Gargett, has been named Director of the Institute.

MR Taylor comments: “We first envisioned the TRUSYS Institute when we were writing the original business plan for TRUSYS.  TRUSYS was going to sell only knowledge, no hardware, no software and no guard services.  So we had to establish a “thought leader” advantage to separate TRUSYS from our competition.  We saw the TRUSYS Institute as a place to research, learn and teach the newest concepts related to organizational resilience.”

“We were convinced of the need for such an organization, but until John Gargett joined the TRUSYS team we were not in a position to start the Institute, John took on the responsibility of Managing Principal to lead the TRUSYS team in the execution of our strategic and tactical plans and I am delighted that he accepted the additional role of Director of the TRUSYS Institute.  John is eminently qualified for this role.  His experience starting with his early leadership in the development of the original courses on technology for the National Emergency Training Center to his development of R-SEC™ , to implementing Organizational Resilience.  He participates in several industry committees helping TRUSYS contribute to the advancement of our industry practices.  Now he will lead hands-on advances in Organizational Resilience knowledge.”

John Gargett adds: “Leading the TRUSYS-Institute is a rewarding role after spending over 30 years in the industry.  Our industry has a valuable mission to fulfill.  We need to develop new knowledge and practices and to teach other leaders how to implement best practices.  We are privileged to participate in industry forums and committees and we plan to be the first ones to implement and share the best practices leaders of our various security and safety disciplines recommend.”

The TRUSYS Institute’s first program is a perfect example of bringing industry thought leaders together.  On June 9, two TRUSYS colleagues from the Netherlands will share their reflections with a selected audience.

• Mr Leon de Brujin, co-founder of the Physical Security Innovation Center (PSIC) in The Hague will speak on “Crisis Management and Terrorism Preparedness in the Netherlands – 20 years of Lessons.”
• And Mr Paul Pattynama, who has served as a safety leader in the Netherlands will speak on “Preparedness and Planning between the Public and Private Sector”.

This event will be followed by an intimate reception to launch the TRUSYS Institute.

Follow this link to the TRUSYS Institute site if you would like to register for this first event

Based in Portland Oregon, Dave Miller SET, is the TRUSYS Principal leading the Fire Safety portfolio of our firm.  In this article Dave explains how the convergence of fire alarm and IP technology is here at last, and how it delivers immediate and significant cost savings to organizations willing to make the transition.

While the transition to this new technology requires some adaptation to the communications tools present in a facility, the changes are simple to implement when properly planned with the help of people with the right knowledge.  A little planning effort goes a long way in saving precious financial resources in these challenging times.

Dave has over 20 years of experience in a wide variety of fire/life safety applications and provides NICET Fire Alarm exam preparation courses throughout the U.S. He is a regular contributor to the TRUSYS Institute. He can be reached at dave.miller@trusys.com or 503-537-9200.