Page 14 - the SyI Quarterly 14 Booklet Format
P. 14

Know   your  Institute
                     Know your Institute












     The role of standards                                                                                                  As security professionals, standards and ethics are both
                                                                                                                            key to enabling effective security risk management of
                                                                                                                            the organisations we work for.  “The main aim of security
                                                                                                                            is to try and protect users from people who want to hurt
                                                                                                                            or rob them through our systems…this seems to imply
      and ethics in business                                                                                                security is an aspect of ethics” Anne Currie, the Ethics
                                                                                                                            of Security 2018. At an individual level it might be about
                                                                                                                            defining our own roles and behaviours, an example
                                                                                                                            of which might be a code of ethics for security guards
                                                                                                                            focusing on values and principles.
     - By Sarah Austerberry CSyP FSyI, Security Institute Director
                                                                                                                            The role of ethics is essentially about building
                                                                                                                            trust, again with our employees and members, our
      What should public bodies, not for profit organisations and commercial business, whether sole traders or              stakeholders and the public. Transparency in our
      global corporations employing thousands, have in common? I would suggest it should be standards and                   decision making – which is not about taking the easy
      ethics.                                                                                                               option but taking the right option even though that may
                                                                                                                            raise some challenges.
      Standards should be the definitions, the written guidance that set out how we run, or expect our businesses
      to be run. In some cases, there will be international or national codes of practice recommended, or                   As members and prospective members of the Security
      legally required, others might be more informal but equally important. Standards help shape the way our               Institute, we are duty bound by a code of ethics, “It is a
      businesses might be run, shaping the expectations of our customers, members, and stakeholders. Without                condition of membership that all members, and those
      standards we cannot effectively measure our success.                                                                  applying for membership, observe the highest standards
                                                                                                                            of professional and ethical conduct”. As board directors
      Security is full of standards, whether they be technical specifications for security equipment to meet a              we are also bound by  associated legal duties which are
      specific standard, a code of practice for protective monitoring systems, or an agreed process such as the             known as the seven duties: namely we must consider
      government baseline personnel security standard (BPSS) for pre-employment screening of individuals                    the:
      working with government assets and widely adopted in the private sector.

      Essentially, the role of standards should be about building confidence – for both employees, members,                 •  Consequences of decisions, including the long-term
      stakeholders, the public who interact with us that we are doing our jobs in the right way, following due                 interests of its employees
      process and procedures. Operating in a safe and secure way.                                                           •  need to support business relationships with
                                                                                                                               suppliers, customers and others
      Standards provide the framework or mechanism for business delivery, but equally important is ethics, which            •  impact of its operations on the community and
      is far less tangible as its about our decision making and behaviours, to be compliant or not, to take short cuts         environment
      or not, to withhold pertinent information that may negatively influence a business decision or not. It’s the          •  company’s reputation for high standards of business
      moral code of practice that enhances the de facto rules and regulations of a business.                                   conduct
                                                                                                                            •  need to act fairly to all members of the company



                                                                                                                            We recognise the importance of standards and ethics as
                                                                                                                            being central to good business. This is why the Security
                                                                                                                            Institute and its Board of Directors have been reviewing
                                                                                                                            our own standards in terms of governance and ethics
                                                                                                                            to ensure that as an organisation we are match fit for
                                                                                                                            now and the future. That we have the right policies
                                                                                                                            and processes in place to respond to new risks and
                                                                                                                            new opportunities, and that our code of ethics remains
                                                                                                                            relevant.





                                                                                                                                                                                  15
   9   10   11   12   13   14   15   16   17   18   19