By Ryan Searles 

Vulnerability assessments evaluate a facility’s needs and identify gaps in physical security barriers, policies, and procedures. Too often, however, the assessment is performed after a building has already been designed and the owner has missed the opportunity to save time and money.  

Consulting with a security specialist at the beginning of the design process can lead to these four benefits: 

• Increased building security: A consultant can review design plans, perform vulnerability assessments, crime analyses, and locate where 3M ballistic film should be used on windows and glass partitions. 
• Cost savings: Security systems that require extensive wiring, like external cameras and mass notification systems, are significantly cheaper to install during construction than after a project is completed. 
• Aesthetics integration: Consulting with the architect means security components – such as wiring, 3M security film, and bollards – can be seamlessly integrated within the design. 
• Custom support: A consultant who has been involved from the very beginning can provide employees with customized training and support. 

For a more in-depth look at these benefits, read my article, “Four reasons to integrate security early in design,” recently published by Security Magazine.