Working With Security Engineers
How to procure the services of a Security Engineer?
Security is an essential element of any project concerning the creation (encompassing planning,design and construction), modification, improvement or disposal of a built asset. Expertise may be required to support in the development and review of: risk assessments; a security strategy; a security plan; and security aspects of the project design, as well as to provide assistance in the
procurement, technical design and construction phases.
Where the necessary expertise is unavailable in-house, the security or project manager of any significant built asset venture will need
to consider procuring the services of one or more specialist security consultants.
NPSA has produced a guide on aspects of sourcing, procuring, tasking and retaining specialist security consultants. It highlights issues that need to be considered when seeking a suitable proposal
from such a consultant, ranging from acceptance of the project scope and requirements, to details of resourcing, fees structure and insurance.
Register of Security Engineers & Specialists
NPSA sponsors the Register of Security Engineers and Specialists (RSES) which encompasses Generalist Security Advisors (GSA) and Specialist Security Advisors (SSA) in one of
eleven different disciplines:
• Protection against the effects of weapons
• Protection against the effects of blast
• Electronic security systems
• Chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN)
• Hostile vehicle mitigation
• Protection against forced entry
• Explosives and weapons search detection
• Force protection engineering
• Digital built environment
• Personnel security (insider threat)
• Personnel security (human factor)
Register of Chartered Security Professionals
Consultants may also be admitted to the Register of Chartered Security Professionals (charteredsecurityprofessional.org) which has been established by Royal Charter granted to the Worshipful Company of Security Professionals and managed by The Security Institute (security-institute.org). Chartered Security Professionals make a strategic contribution using their competences in security, practical application, communication, leadership and commitment to ongoing learning and development. Their competence is independently verified through a combination of documentary evidence, qualifications, training, experience and passing a professional peer review.
Association of Security Consultants
Another organisation in the field is the Association of Security Consultants (ASC) which has independent security consultants from a range of security backgrounds listed on the UK Register of Independent Security Consultants (www.securityconsultants.org.uk).
National Cyber Security Centre
The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has its own certification of industry expertise for cyber security, further details of which are available on its website. Certified Cyber Professional (CCP) assured service – NCSC.GOV.UK