What Are the Duties of a Corporate Security Officer?

Corporate security officers oversee the safety and protection of an organization's operations. The Internet age has brought new challenges to the field; corporate security is therefore a career for someone who can embrace and manage rapid change.

Function

Corporate security officers must assess, prevent and respond to safety threats from both inside and outside an organization. Corporate security managers keep a company's people, resources and information safe from harm.

Significance

Especially since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, the duties of corporate security executives increasingly include the analysis of global threats, especially for companies with an international presence.

Types

Corporate security officers manage duties ranging from physical safety of buildings and employees to protection of information technology and confidential records.

Features

Duties may also feature specialities. For instance, a corporate security officer may have a background in finance; she may then specialize in investigation of internal fraud or the potential for money laundering.

Considerations

Although corporate security officers traditionally have law enforcement or military backgrounds, the importance of information technology (IT) means that the field is seeing increasing numbers of security managers from computer science backgrounds.

References

• Gow & Partners, Corporate Security Officers
• "What is a Chief Security Officer?" CSO Online
• Russell Reynolds Associates, Corporate Security Officers

Resources

• Henley-Putnam University, "The Corporate Security Market is Challenging and Rewarding"