I’m a creature of habit.
Hard to believe, right? I work in industrial security!
Take traveling, for example. I always fly Southwest. I like being able to pick my seat and avoid luggage fees. They’ve been my go-to airline forever.
You may be stuck in your ways, but you’re always changing.
Even though I consider myself a creature of habit, I have to stay on top of the 32CFR 117 – NISPOM changes and various databases. They’re changing more than ever.
Thinking about all that change I have to monitor constantly to be an expert in my field, made me ask myself: With everything constantly in flux around me, how can I call myself a “creature of habit?”
Could it be that my habits swayed my perception? I have over 20 years of experience in the field of security, and yet I often find new ways of doing things.
All the rules and regulations can be inflexible and get in the way of innovation at times. It’s important to be open to change as we progress.
New ideas can be good ideas, too.
Reviewing the new NISPOM 32CFR117 made me use my conscious brain.
Getting familiar with this certification also made me realize how frequently we in this industry tend to think of “new” things as difficult, inferior, or wrong. The minute we get frustrated because we have to shift out of autopilot and use our brains to understand a new regulation and what it’s asking us to do, we’re annoyed and apply these negative labels.
Instead, we should keep our minds open. Defense contractors could change the old way of doing things for their industrial security programs and examine alternatives that would make things a little easier for everyone involved.
A couple security program recommendations would be
- Automation of Records Maintenance: Keep accurate records of security briefings, debriefings, and other relevant documentation. Retain records as required by NISPOM
- External Assessment: Hire a security company to complete a security assessment of your program, so you’ll have an unbiased appraisal of where any holes may exist.
With these steps in place, everyone is protected, and you should be free from problems. However, remember that compliance is an ongoing process. You must regularly review and update your security practices to stay aligned with the latest guidelines and regulations.
If you have specific questions related to your organization or need further guidance, consider consulting with a managed security consulting firm like ours. You can reach us here: Security First & Associates.
Take a minute to think about experiences and habits you could shake up in a positive manner just by examining them a bit to see if they could benefit from trying something new, something different.
And, when you do, I’d like to hear about it!
Regards,
Security First & Associates provides Managed Security Support, IT Consulting & Training Services