Smart Security Planning: Your Key to Administration Support

4. Equipment Availability

Lighting (numbers adequate? all units functional? turned on throughout the night? Bright enough? Exists on “informal” paths?)
External call boxes (dispersion throughout campus? functional?)
Cameras (adequate coverage? good working order? need to be reoriented?)
Locks and keys (controlled?)
Signage (on boundaries [no trespass], speed limits)
Valuable equipment identified, secured and registered?)

5. Communications

Dispatch 24/7 availability
Radio coverage (clear? reliable? no dead spots?)
Alert notifications disseminated (promptly? relevant information?)
PA system (in all locations? functional?)
Full range of notification capabilities (exist? practiced?)

The third step is to create a matrix with the outputs on the horizontal and inputs along the vertical and then determine which inputs are germane to each output. The resulting matrix, with check marks indicating which inputs affect each of your priority outputs, will allow you to determine priorities for funding support.

For instance, the presence of emergency callboxes affects each of the five outputs (mission goals) identified above, so it would receive a score of 5 and qualify as a priority input. Camera coverage affects four of the five outputs (but not liaison with local police agencies) so it would receive a score of four. This analysis allows you to see which inputs have the most effect upon achieving your department’s security goals. Furthermore, it provides a handy visual aid in your efforts to get funding for your agency since it relates what you need to your ability to achieve the goals endorsed by your institution.

The fourth step is to take this matrix and identify which inputs are inadequate for achieving the desired outputs. The Relationship between Problems with Capabilities and Mission Accomplishment Goals chart below shows the results of an actual campus assessment. In this chart, problem inputs are arrayed against each output, and the sum of inadequate inputs for each output is listed at the bottom of each column. Although the categorization of mission capability is somewhat subjective, the resulting stoplight chart is a powerful one page summary that provides an overview of the status of campus security. As noted above, it also helps an agency to determine which areas and assets merit priority attention.