"It's a sad commentary on an industry when it finds itself included in an exposé about excess," said Bill Gillespie, Vice President of Operations for the Risk Analysis Group, referring to chapter seven in David Weddle's Among the Mansions of Eden: Tales of Love, Lust and Land in Beverly Hills.

The chapter, "Security Chic," is devoted to the antics of security companies that magnify their clients' natural caution into a frenzy of paranoia, and then use unethical, even illegal, means to satisfy their clients' carefully stoked requirements.

"They specialize not only in protecting the superrich, but also in stroking their egos to provide the sense of theater that is de rigueur in a city that values appearances above all else," said Weddle about the Who's Who of security firms that, in his opinion, have exploited their clients.

"(Weddle) also describes some companies that do it right, Gavin de Becker, for example, but does highlight the challenges that this firm faces due to the questionable services provided by de Becker's competitors," Gillespie said.

Unfortunately, such practices are not limited to companies securing the environments of the very wealthy. Unethical firms that either prey on unsuspecting businesses or are hired by businesses that well understand the so-called "wink and nod" approach to corporate security also practice them.

"Savvy corporate executives are aware of the reputation and the unadvertised services of security service providers throughout the United States," Gillespie said. "The payday for 'no questions asked' services is enormous, and these providers justify the occasional illegal activities as 'protection' of the client," he said.

But how did the corporate security industry reach such a point where ethics is not necessarily part of the everyday operating environment? It's partly because of the expansion of the role of security within the corporation - a positive development that can sometimes have unintended negative side effects.

Because security is an issue that affects an entire business from the mailroom to the boardroom, Integrated Risk Management, Gillespie said, is "an enterprise-wide application" of risk-identification techniques, and a way to develop solutions that engage and protect the entire company. It goes far beyond the traditional approach to corporate security that was both limited in its examination of risk and in its engagement of employees throughout the organization.

"(Security companies) are employed by all sizes of corporations to address issues as varied as internal property theft to the theft of intellectual property. Those providers are paid for results, not necessarily the techniques to produce those results," Gillespie said.

But the "wink and nod" syndrome, as Gillespie calls it, can be misleading for the corporate executive with devastating consequences.

"'Wink and nod' is the unspoken understanding that executives believe protects them from civil and criminal prosecution because of the employment of a third party to do their dirty business," he said. "This behavior is unethical whether spoken or not," he said.

The practice of Integrated Risk Management sometimes reveals thorny security problems that may appear to be extremely difficult to solve. That can tempt security executives into more expedient, but clearly unethical behavior, he said.

"Corporate security mangers who are eager to serve their master are too willing to 'handle it' and hire security providers that specialize in activities that push the legal envelope and bruise the civil rights of competing executives and business competitors," he said.

Gillespie says the security industry must have a change of philosophy in order to restore public confidence, and fortunately, some already have.

"The ethics-based (approach to security services) recognizes that the security service product itself must be changed, as well as the philosophy of the vendor," he said. "Such an approach will not create a security drama, exaggerate a security scenario, capitalize on a client's fears or paranoia, or offer services that are patently illegal," he said.

Gillespie said that there are a number of companies that won't use unethical or illegal methods to create a quick security solution, and many of them can be found through the Risk Analysis Group.

"Security professionals want an opportunity to provide their services in an ethical environment, to not be pressured to offer services outside of the ethics umbrella. To be able to tell a client 'no, that is not a service that we perform, and we encourage you to find another approach to accomplish your request,' on a consistent basis is the goal and the philosophy of Risk Analysis Group.

"I have been a member of ASIS since 1990 and have attended numerous security seminars in which they typically tell you about what has happened in the past.

Risk Analysis Group taught me about what is happening now, and what I need to be aware of for the future. RAG also understands that one person cant know it all - and they have brought in several different speakers who are experts on different areas of security.

Now that I know how valuable Risk Analysis Group's course is, I am going to recommend my company's executive and HR team attend as well."

Jonathan McBride, CPP, Security and Safety Director, Innotrac (Reno, NV)

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