How to Manage A Security Project

This is a very complex topic for me to write about.

In 2007 and 2010 when I was the Vice Chairman and Chairman of the Harvest Organizing Committee (HOC) in St. Brigid’s Catholic Church, Ijeshatedo, Surulere Lagos, Nigeria, we usually refer to this phrase “Security is not discussed in the open” anytime we needed to discuss the movement of cash.

With benefit of hind sight, I have also come to the realization that most issues bothering on security is mostly shrouded in secrecy and confidentiality. The reason for this is not far-fetched. Comprise!

Saboteurs can easily undermine and comprise a security plan if they know about. Sometimes not only saboteurs alone can undermine a security plan. Flippant people can also cause a problem by unknowingly discussing a security plan at the wrong place.
If this is the case, how then can a security project be successfully managed to ensure that it is not compromised.

First, I went in search of What is Security?
What is Security?
A lot definitions are out there on the internet. Here are a few
1. Security is “the state of being free from danger or threat.” (https:///y2zyk7m2 )

2. “Security is freedom from, or resilience against, potential harm (or other unwanted coercive change) caused by others…..” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Security)

3. “Security is an inherently contested concept, encompassing a wide variety of scenarios, and is commonly used in reference to a range of personal and societal activities and situations.

Security can be distinguished between day-to-day security at the individual level (nutritional, economic, safety), security for favorable conditions (the rule of law and due process, societal development, political freedom), and security against adverse conditions or threats (war and violence, crime, climate change).

The term security is used in three broad segments. The first is the general, everyday use of the term. In this instance, security refers to the desire for safety or protection. Second is the usage of the word for political purposes; relating to political processes, structures, and actions utilized to ensure a given political unit or entity is secure. The term “security” is frequently used as a political tool to assign priority to a given issue or perceived threat within the broader political realm.

Third, and finally, “security” can be employed as an analytical concept to identify, define, conceptualize, explain, or forecast societal developments such as security policy, institutions, and governance structures.” (https:///y69fgrm9)

These three definitions clearly capture the concept of security. I will try to use it to create an understanding of how to manage a security project. Now that we have a clear definition, I will proceed to seek an insight into the meaning of a security project.

What is a Security Project?
I have searched the internet to obtain a clear definition of a Security Project. Either I did not search well or I did not have the patience to check all the results thrown up by Google. The few top line results did not give me a clear definition of the term “Security Projects”.
Yes, a lot of the results thrown up by google during my search is referring to Information security, cybersecurity projects, Project Security, Certified Security Project Manager (CSPM), etc. This could be as a result of my choice of Keyword or otherwise. However, I am looking for something that addresses security as a whole as stated in the definitions in this write up.
I will therefore like to define a security project myself as
“Any project that has the key objective of removing danger or threat to any individual, group, organisation or system.”
Working with this definition, let us now try to understand how to manage a security project.

Managing A Security Project
From my definition of a security project, it means that it is a project hence it must follow all the principles and procedures of project management.
Since every project should have a project manager, a security project too must have a Project manager. It has become fashionable and important to subclassify the project manager of a security project as the Security Project Manager. This is due to the specialization and secret nature required to manage a project of such calibre.

Who is Security Project Manager (SPM)?
According to Study.com “A security project manager directs security projects based on a company's specific goals and needs……. Security project managers work with a project team, overseeing the development of security systems for the protection of facilities, personnel, data and assets. Using a combination of management skills and specific security system knowledge, they coordinate the security project through its progressive stages, with the goal of project completion within specified time and budget constraints” (https:///yxor4lfd)
From this definition, it is important to note that a SPM should have a combination of management skills and Specific Security System knowledge.
The specific security skills could be in area of Information Security, Cybersecurity, Physical Security, Electronic Security or as the case may be.
Having established all these, it becomes straight forward to admit that managing a security project will follow the same standard project management principles and procedures.

A look at this publication “Basics of Security Project Management” by the Security Industry Association (https:///y24qzh9s) it is easy to collaborate my statement above.
Here are the 5 major stages
a. Initiation
This marks the beginning of the project. Here the project objective, goal or need is identified along with the following
i. Recognize that the project is worth doing
ii. Determine What the project should accomplish
iii. Define the overall project goals
iv. Develop Project Charter
v. Develop the Statement / Scope of Work (SOW)

b. Planning
This is where the project solution is further developed and broken down into tasks in as much detail as possible. Some of the key activities of this stage are
i. Writing the Project Plan
ii. Planning the Scope using the Work Breakdown Structure methodology (WBS)
iii. Developing the Project Schedule
iv. Communication Planning
v. Resource Planning
vi. Procurement management
vii. Quality Control
viii. Risk and Contingency management
ix. Stakeholder Management
x. Cost and Budgeting

c. Execution
The is the stage where the actual project work will be done following the project plan. The entire work of the project is put into motion and the work of the project is performed. Here are some of the things done at this stage
i. Hunt, recruit, onboard and train the necessary human resources required to perform the project
ii. Identify, Source and Procure all the equipment, materials and facilities that will be used for the project
iii. Perform the actual project tasks as stated in the work breakdown structure
iv. Communicate and Meet with team members and Stakeholder.
v. Provide leadership and direction for the project

d. Monitoring and Control
The project progress is continuously measured, monitored and appropriate adjustments are made and recorded as variances from the original plan. The project manager uses this information to maintain control over the direction of the project by comparing the progress reports with the project plan to measure the performance of the project activities and take corrective action as needed.
The activities of this stage are
i. Change Management
ii. Benchmarking
iii. Refinement and fine tunning
iv. Evaluate, Reschedule and Correct where there is need
v. Review and Project kill point analysis
vi. Documentation

e. Closure
This is the end of the project. Here are the important things done at this stage
i. The final deliverables are released to the customer
ii. The project enters the operations state.
iii. Handing over project documentation and final report to the business
iv. Terminating suppliers and vendors contracts
v. Releasing project resources
vi. Communicating the closure of the project to all stakeholders.
vii. Shutting down the project

Conclusion
Security Project management will follow the same standard project management principles and procedures however, a security project is expected to follow the secrecy and confidentiality associated with the project objectives to ensure its success.


Emeka Achebe-Okosieme
@achebeokosieme
PS: If you wish to join our next project management training kindly Click Here Now to Register http:///BasicProjectMgmt04