Conducting Personal Security Readiness Audits

Your kids get report cards at school. You get annual performance reviews at work. Your car goes in for annual services. Even your dentist requires an annual check-up. But when was the last time you did an audit of your family and home security readiness?Security audits are an important way to ensure gaps have not developed in your home and family security plan. They are also a great way to get into the habit of constantly improving and evolving your personal security posture. As life events occur (marriages, divorces, child births) and things change (new employment, new business ventures, financial windfalls), so should your security considerations. Whether it’s a review of your home alarm and camera system, functionality checks of your perimeter lighting, door locks, and windows, or a mock fire drill; home security audits are imperative to maintaining your family’s security readiness.Security readiness audits can seem daunting, especially if you do not know where to start. If you have never conducted an audit or assessment of your home security, it may be useful to bring in an expert to perform an initial security needs assessment of your residence, home security system and digital network. This will help you identify any vulnerabilities in your security posture and provide mitigation tactics to address these issues. Once a baseline is established, you can create an implementation plan and conduct audits throughout the year to maintain and improve your security posture.Audits can be simple and take the form of a checklist you review on a monthly or quarterly basis. A few examples include:

• Check for software updates for your home and digital security systems;
• Confirm your camera lenses are free of dirt and line of sight is clear of obstacles;
• Ensure all your perimeter lighting is functional and your door and window locks are operating properly; and
• Clear all emergency exits of debris so they are easily accessible for all family members.

Anytime is a good time to evaluate your family’s privacy, security, and resiliency. As the landscape of your family’s lives change, so do your security needs. Evaluate, Plan and Partner with the right professionals to ensure all your security needs are met.