Answer the question, "What are you protecting?"
It seems like a simple question. However, asset identification is an in-depth process that determines what assets you have, how valuable they are and what level of security is required to protect them. This means looking at all aspects of your organization and understanding how they function independently and together.
Step by step guide to asset evaluation:
Step 1: Gather key stakeholders
One of the most important factors of an enterprise security program is categorizing your assets and assigning priority levels. It takes a full management and operational team to run the business, identifying Enterprise Assets is no different. Identifying and meeting with these team members is critical to understanding the intricacies of each department. These are the people who can educate and, explain what is mission critical to their respective areas while also identifying future threats.
Step 2: Take inventory
Physical equipment, buildings, inventory and staff are fairly easy to identify as assets, but a thorough assessment means looking beyond the obvious. Assets like information, communications, and transportation networks as well as building systems and intellectual property also need to be included. Enterprise level data can be just as important as physical equipment however, it often can over-looked.
Step 3: Asset Valuation
After your team has surveyed and mapped out all of the organizational assets, the next exercise is to assign values. In order to take into account a number of key elements crucial to determining value, try asking the following key questions to help prioritize assets and the needed level of security to protect them.
Questions to ask yourself:
How old are the assets?
How long will it take to replace?
What is the replacement cost?
Have you factored in standard depreciation? (usually 3-5 year lifecycles)
What is the full impact of the loss or partial loss of the asset?
How will the asset loss affect other aspects of the organization?
Performing an asset survey can be time consuming, but well worth the resource expenditure since it's one of the most basic steps to protecting your organization. When paired together, an asset evaluation, needs assessment and solution plan, provide a holistic view of the security program. These will also provide as a blue print for a more secure path forward.
Choosing new security technology can be a daunting investment with so many options to choose from. When comparing different solutions, remember that a one-size-fits-all approach to security can leave your building vulnerable, so opt for systems that allow for customizations and seamless integrations to get the best protection possible.
If you like the ideas we’ve discussed today, give us a call and we can help you take the appropriate measures to protect your staff, equipment, and customers. Providing you with peace of mind.
Does Asset Protection sound like the right solution for you? Contact AHS Security Today
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