One of the best ways to deal with an emergency is to plan for it prior to its happening. This is the mantra of professionals in the strategic security field. This discipline is actually a subset of the security industry. Commonly those who already hold security positions begin to focus more on strategic security as they move up the ranks and gain more responsibility throughout their careers.

Some of the most coveted positions, however, are those that are held by strategic security experts. Often these positions are found within large corporations (especially if they have overseas branches) or in the government. The reason for this is that the chances of dangerous events occurring in these organizations are much greater than the chances of dangerous events occurring in smaller, non-governmental organizations.

A good example of strategic security work is the preparation needed for a multi-national meeting, such as the G8 or G20 summit. National leaders and dignitaries from all around the world attend these highly publicized meetings, which also see a large amount of picketing protestors. With so many extremely influential people in one location at the same time, there is potential for disaster. With proper planning and coordination, however, more often than not the summits proceed without any emergencies.

Proper Planning Requires Accurate Information

Strategic security relies on proper data collection, which is also known as strategic intelligence. The gathering of information is crucial to the creation of contingency plans. Even more necessary, though, is the ability to compile all of that information and use it to formulate a cohesive strategy. That is the true art of strategic intelligence. The data could be taken from a number of various sources – human, internet, images, maps, etc…

For example, if we continue with the scenario above, a strategic security specialist would study maps of where the summit is to be held to plan where security personnel need to be placed. Aerial images of the area can also be helpful for this type of analysis.

The internet could be considered a form of open source intelligence and is a necessary facet of today’s strategic intelligence. In this example, it could be used to research the people and their nations to see if there is any reason to believe there could be a terrorist threat. News sources and even blogs or forums are useful for this type of research.

Finally, human intelligence plays a large role in strategic intelligence. Often when a situation arises in which a bomb threat or another type of terrorist activity is averted, it is because someone gave a tip to the officials.

If you are a professional who is already in the security field but would like to be promoted or move to a federal agent position, an education or training in strategic security is a great complement to your current experience. In addition, a degree program that also focuses on the role of strategic intelligence in the creation of security plans could prove to be extremely useful. A degree path such as this may prepare you to move into a role of much greater responsibility: one that allows you to strategize and plan effectively.

Author Bio: Dan Sommer works for Henley-Putnam University, a leading educational institution in the field of Strategic Security. For more info on Henley-Putnam University, strategic intelligence, strategic security, call 888-852-8746 or visit us online at http://www.Henley-Putnam.edu

Category: Education
Keywords: strategic intelligence, strategic security