Tag Archives: ISO management standard

ISO 18788 certification – a new basis for vetting and selecting PSCs

 Organizations that utilize private security companies (PSCs) traditionally selected a specific PSC based on the security company’s perceived strength and reputation in a particular geography or technical offering. Ultimately, the selection of the PSC often came down to evaluating self-claimed capabilities proposed in response to the client’s requirements.

With the arrival of new risk management standards and frameworks, however, the traditional client vetting and selection process for PSCs is likely to change. As referenced in previous Human Analytics’ posts, the release of ISO 18788, Management System for Private Security Operations – Requirements with Guidance for Use (ISO 18788) provides a global auditable management standard for PSCs to adhere to in the provision of security services anywhere in the world. It stands out among ISO standards because it is the first certifiable international risk management standard that incorporates extensive human rights provisions.

PSC’s demonstrate their conformance to ISO 18788 through third party certification including recurring field audits, thus providing their clients and other external stakeholders, such as civil society groups, with greater assurance of their ability to consistently provide security services to a high standard while maintaining the safety of clients and ensuring respect for human rights and national and international laws.

Private security companies that successfully certify to ISO 18788 provide assurance to all stakeholders – both internal and external – of their tested compliance with ISO 18788 and their commitment to a continual improvement process within their organization. PSC compliance with the new standard provides chief security officers and their teams with a new basis for vetting and selecting PSCs anywhere in the world.

GardaWorld International Protective Services, an international PSC provider, recently became the first PSC to receive global certification to ISO 18788, but other PSCs will undoubtedly  follow.  This is an extremely significant development and sets performance expectations both for PSC providers and their stakeholders, including the company boards that oversee PSCs, the public and private sector clients that utilize PSC services, and the local populations where PSCs operate.

 

REMINDER THIS FRIDAY – ISO 18788: The New Standard for Responsible Security Operations

ISO Webinar Flyer

REMINDER – THIS FRIDAY!

Seminar/Webinar

ISO 18788: The New Standard for Responsible Security Operations

In the wake of the global growth of the private security industry, a number of efforts have emerged to govern private security provision and ensure responsible security operations in complex environments, to include an international declaration, an international code of conduct, and an auditable national management system standard. Building on these efforts, as well as a growing international consensus about the human rights responsibilities of businesses, the new International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standard ISO 18788 Management System for Private Security Operations – Requirements with Guidance for Use details a risk management framework for the conduct of security operations. The standard is invaluable to organizations providing and contracting security services. Two years in the making, the purpose of ISO 18788 is to enable consistent provision of security services while maintaining the safety of clients and ensuring respect for human rights and national and international laws. It stands out as the first auditable ISO standard with human rights at its core. During this seminar, which is also being live-cast as a webinar, learn more about the standard, its incorporation into U.S. government procurement policy, and how to implement it and prepare for certification.

WHEN: Friday, November 20, 10:30am-12:00pm EST

WHERE: American University Washington College of Law, 4801 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Washington, D.C., Room 601 (Free shuttle service is available from the Tenleytown metro stop on the red line.)

Participation is free and open to the public.

Click here to learn more. Click here to register for the webinar. No registration is required if attending in person.

For inquiries, email the Center for Human Rights & Humanitarian Law at humlaw@wcl.american.edu

SPEAKERS:

Dr. Rebecca DeWinter-Schmitt, Director of the Center’s Human Rights in Business Program and Senior Managing Director of Human Analytics, will moderate and speak to the standards landscape around security operations, as well as the human rights provisions of ISO 18788.

Dr. Marc Siegel, Commissioner, ASIS International Global Standards, wrote the initial draft of ISO 18788 and chaired the Project Committee that developed the standard. He will provide an introduction and overview of the standard.

Colonel Christopher Mayer, U.S. Army Retired, Director of Contingency Contractor Standards and Compliance for the Department of Defense, will address the U.S. government’s support and involvement in the development of auditable standards for security operations and their incorporation into DoD operations and procurement policies.

Lisa DuBrock, Managing Partner for Radian Compliance, will speak to the steps organizations must take to implement ISO 18788 and prepare for a successful certification to the standard.

 

Radian Compliance and Human Analytics Welcome the Publication of ISO 18788 for Private Security Operations

ISO18788Radian Compliance and Human Analytics welcome the publication of ISO 18788 Management system for private security operations — Requirements with guidance for use. This new ISO standard details a risk management framework for conduct of security operations and is invaluable to organizations providing and contracting security services. Two years in the making, the purpose of ISO 18788 is to enable consistent provision of security services in challenging environments while maintaining the safety of clients and ensuring respect for human rights, national and international laws, and fundamental freedoms.

The U.S. Department of Defense, which already requires its security providers operating overseas to demonstrate compliance with ANSI/ASIS PSC.1 – 2012: Management System for Quality of Private Security Company Operations, is updating the DFARS to also recognize compliance with ISO 18788 as fulfilling necessary contractual requirements. ANSI/ASIS PSC.1 formed the basis for ISO 18788. With ISO 18788, organizations can demonstrate their ability to adequately manage risk, assess and manage their impact on local communities, and be accountable to relevant laws and voluntary commitments to which they subscribe.

In February of this year, Radian Compliance and Human Analytics joined forces to assist organizations with meeting private security operations standards such as ISO 18788 and ANSI/ASIS PSC.1 standard. Human Analytics Senior Managing Director Rebecca DeWinter-Schmitt chaired the U.S. Technical Advisory Group to the ISO Project Committee that drafted ISO 18788. Radian Compliance Managing Partner Lisa DuBrock was an active member of the Working Group that wrote the standard. The two firms, by combining core competencies, deliver a one-stop resource for exceptional technical expertise in security operations management, risk management, and human rights compliance.

Radian Compliance is a well-established consulting firm supporting clients with governance, risk, and compliance expertise for today’s constantly evolving international standards. Its extensive assessment, implementation, and training expertise is focused on quality and risk management in both private and information security management systems. Radian Compliance clients have been 100% successful in achieving their goal of ISO certification. Radian is an economically disadvantaged women-owned small business. For more information contact Lisa DuBrock at ldubrock@radiancompliance.com.

Human Analytics helps public and private organizations develop and implement programs to mitigate human rights risks associated with operating in complex environments, with specific emphasis on private security providers and organizations that utilize them. Human Analytics has extensive expertise in human rights, international business management, security management, and organizational risk management, and works with clients to meet and exceed international business and human rights standards. For more information contact Rebecca DeWinter-Schmitt at rdewinter-schmitt@human-analytics.net.

 

New Private Security Monitor Commentary on Draft ISO Standard for Security Operations

Image courtesy of Private Security MonitorHuman Analytics’ Rebecca DeWinter-Schmitt has written a commentary for the University of Denver Private Security Monitor website. Private Security Monitor is a one-stop shop with a wealth of information related to the use and regulation of private military and security services throughout the world. The commentary, A New Twist to Management Standards, Bringing in Human Rights, discusses the new International Organization for Standardization (ISO) management standard for security operations currently under development, which has at its core the need for security service providers to respect human rights throughout their operations. The commentary also discusses different perspectives on the relationship between the new ISO standard and two other existing standards for private security providers: the International Code of Conduct for Private Security Service Providers and the ANSI/ASIS PSC.1 – 2012: Management System for Quality of Private Security Company Operations. You can read the full commentary here.