Government vs. Corporate Security

Security professionals in the government arena are more likely than their counterparts in private industry to see their jobs expand with additional responsibility. They are also more likely to have security systems that are fully integrated. Furthermore, their electronic access control systems are likely to be older and their CCTV/surveillance systems newer than those of their private industry colleagues.

These are among the results of exclusive research conducted by Primedia Business Magazines and Media. Results of the study contrast responses from survey participants in the government/education realm with those from among the Fortune 1000, the nation’s top private companies. Analysis points to differences in how both groups approach their jobs and the tools (equipment) they use in their everyday work.

The top chart shows that government/ educational institution respondents have seen their jobs involve expanded responsibility, require more technical knowledge and require them to do more with less. Many fewer Fortune 1000 respondents find themselves in similar circumstances.

Government/educational respondents are also more likely to have systems in which security is fully integrated, 26.7 percent versus 14.7 percent of Fortune 1000 respondents. They are less likely to have decided not to integrate their systems — 6.7 percent versus 18.1 percent among Fortune 1000 respondents who plan to take a less high-tech route.

CCTV systems among government/education security personnel are an average of 3.9 years old; at Fortune 1000 companies, the average age is 5.8 years. Electronic access control systems used by the government/education respondents are an average of 5.3 years old, while those used by the Fortune 1000 are an average of 4.4 years old. The third chart shows the average ages of other systems used by both groups of respondents.

More of the decision-making process related to buying security systems is made at the departmental level among government/education respondents (40.0 percent), while among the Fortune 1000 the decision is more often made at the corporate level (53.4 percent).

Government/education respondents are more likely to use computer network security and electronic locks, but less likely to use CCTV surveillance and perimeter security. The fourth chart shows how often other components are used.

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SOURCE: ACCESS CONTROL & SECURITY SYSTEMS’ Security Trends Study, October 2001