Crisis management is a key part of any security strategy. It’s a series of standard operating procedures (SOPs) to follow after an unexpected event like a fire, break-in, or even natural disaster. It’s another component of an overall security plan, and one of the most important ones. What is crisis management, and why is it so necessary?
What is Crisis Management?
A crisis is considered to be any event that exceeds the ability of an organization to handle the incident. These management strategies are designed to protect people, structures, operability, and even reputation before, during, and following a negative event.
Your strategy will include Emergency Action Plans (EAPs) that will help quickly mitigate potentially catastrophic events, including natural disasters, workplace violence, threats, bomb scares, fire, burglary, vandalism, and more.
Initial Strategy
Crisis management is a system that addresses all aspects of such an event in real-time, to help mitigate and recover. It involves continuous monitoring to ensure that all parts of your physical building are secure, as well as creating plans and notifications that will allow seamless communication to police, fire, and medical units when an incident is spotted.
The end goal of these strategies is to quickly address the situation while it is still ongoing to reduce damages and liability for the company.
Coordinating Response Strategy
A management plan will include streamlined communications to all necessary parties, including fire department or police. It’s not enough that a property manager or owner receives an alert that an emergency situation is unfolding; the proper authorities must be notified at the same time. Timely communication will help limit damages from any emergency.
Part of a good strategy will involve training personnel to handle these situations and creating SOPs to follow during and after an incident.
A good crisis management strategy will involve merging resources, internal communications, external communications, notifications, and alerts into one coordinated response.
Crisis Management vs. Crisis Response
Crisis management involves evaluating the risks and potential responses for a conceivable incident, and putting plans in place before they occur. Crisis response is a different layer within a crisis management strategy. Response involves how the organization mitigates an event using its management strategy.
Crisis management is also different from risk management. As another layer in an overall crisis management strategy, risk management evaluates the possibilities of various negative incidents. Crisis management specifically lays out a framework for dealing with those incidents if they occur.
Monitoring, Warning Systems, and Alarms
A proper strategy is only as good as its ability to monitor, spot trouble, and respond in real-time.
Next Generation Security Concepts works with Sielex Class, a crisis alert system that is easily deployed with existing networks and devices. Sielex allows NGSC to provide high visibility using detailed floor maps, an audit trail for post-crisis evaluation, and real-time event monitoring. Instant access control, intercom systems, video, and customized response plans will keep you updated during every step of an incident. Real-time information is shared with on-site personnel and emergency response teams to cover any kind of negative event, including medical, fire, and disturbances.
Are you ready for an emergency event? Let NGSC conduct a free security assessment and know for sure.
