Smarter Hiring: Reducing the Insider Threat

By trying to save a few bucks by not conducting an employee background check, you might have just hired a criminal.

Always Screen Campus Security Contractors
A particular group of employees to investigate thoroughly and continually monitor are security personnel and the firms that supply them. The aforementioned hacker was a contracted hire, ironically, in charge of maintaining security. Security is an interesting sector because of the trust that gets inherently placed with these professionals. However, if they have ill intent, there can be no greater insider threat.

When hiring security officers, it is especially important to not only determine their background and integrity, but also their capability. After all, the “guards at the gate” are the first chance an institution has for making an impression. Their knowledge and professionalism can reassure parents and customers, while discouraging criminals. Security officers are also the first line of defense in maintaining a safe environment.

Security has evolved. Today’s officers need to not only know security protocols – post orders and rules – they need to react appropriately to every potential situation. Parents, patients and staff are savvy and rightfully inquisitive. When given the opportunity, they will ask questions. Given a few idle minutes when waiting to pick-up or drop off a child or patients, individuals will undoubtedly probe guards about various procedures through friendly conversation. In an environment where safety is absolutely paramount, an unknowledgeable security officer can make an organization’s security efforts seem inadequate or incompetent.

Officers are also often the gatekeepers, and many individuals, especially parents, notice and do not appreciate being allowed to pass unchecked. For that matter, vendors who bring supplies or work on a campus should not be allowed free and unfettered access either. A campus should only hire vendors who thoroughly investigate their own new employees.

Bad Economy Increases Insider Threat
During tough economic times, there is not only a higher likelihood of crime, but insiders are more apt to commit illegal acts or be lured into helping criminals. These circumstances require, now more than ever, that any campus properly investigate all job candidates from the outset, particularly those individuals who protect an organization’s constituents and resources.

It is true that background checks ­require an investment. But when it comes to the livelihood and reputation of an organization, these times make smart decisions even more imperative. The insider threat, as well as many ­external ones, can be drastically reduced and controlled simply by ­carefully investigating who is brought in… and kept out.

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