Homeland Security Education and the Corporate World

The post 9/11 world we live in has seen a multitude of changes in regard to the way we perceive homeland security. What was once a buzzword has become a certified institution, and academia has taken notice. The number of accredited colleges and universities offering homeland security degree programs has grown steadily over the last five years.

Homeland security degree programs offer an exceptionally wide platform from which to build a career. From law enforcement and corrections to border security and any of the many government agencies responsible for our nation's safety, the opportunities are almost endless. One area of employment often overlooked by homeland security degree program graduates lies in the complex and oft misunderstood world of corporate security.

When most people think of corporate security, images of IT professionals come to mind. Certainly the problems of the information age have made data security and the safe and secure transmission of information a high priority. Still, corporate security involves much more than just the realm of information technology.

Trade secrets, formulas, employee access, financial information and secured locations are all part of the average large corporations security concerns. Considering that very few large corporations fall into the category of average, the need for qualified security personnel is ever present.

Homeland security degree programs, because of their very nature, are well suited for producing qualified applicants. The training and skills covered in areas such as surveillance, criminal law and security protocols and procedures can readily be applied to the corporate world. In years past, corporations would rarely hire recent graduates to handle their security needs, instead opting to recruit ex-military or retired police force personnel. Unquestionably, there is no substitute for experience in the law enforcement field or the military. Still, the curriculum offered in homeland security degree programs can provide students with the technical knowledge to be successful in the field. Those who have police or military experience in addition to a homeland security degree are especially ideal because of their experience level.

As the corporate world begins to recognize the potential for finding qualified security personnel from the pool of recent college graduates, it's likely that more and more headhunters will be from the private sector in the years to come.

To learn more about online homeland security degrees, visit http://www.degreesinhomelandsecurity.com/ . You can also obtain homeland security degree information at http://homeland-security-degree.blogspot.com/ and more education resources and degree programs at http://www.searchforclasses.com/ .

Home Security No Childs Play

I was talking to a customer the other day about security related issues. He told me an integral part of his business involved cold calls to residences. He expressed a concern over the amount of young children who answer the door unassisted by gown-ups.

Dealing exclusively with homeowner booked appointments, I'm somewhat shielded from this type of security risk. I have to admit I was somewhat surprised more parents wouldn't sit down with their children and warn them about the dangers of opening doors to strangers.

All the locks and alarms in the world are rendered useless in the hands of an uninformed child. It's a parent's obligation to inform their children of the dangers of opening doors to strangers. Many parents feel this subject is difficult to approach because of it's complexities. Complexities like, "We don't want to scare our children", or "Our children will grow up to be unsociable adults".

Let's not make an issue out of a simple demand. In to-day's world we appear to be dishing out premature responsibility to our children. Responsibilities like answering the telephone, looking after younger siblings or even opening the door to strangers.

Parents need to assess the situation and lay down some strict do's and don'ts for not only their children, but themselves. Guidelines that might mean making some career rendering decisions like working from home or investing in professional daycare services.

In to-days world, you can't afford to under staff your home front security. Leaving a young child in charge of your home, if only for a few minutes is dangerous business. It only takes a few seconds for a predator or burglar to make his or her move. Parents must realize, no matter how much you reinforce the dangers of opening doors to strangers, there will always be children that are easily influenced because of their trusting, curious instinct.

If you have a situation where you have adult care in your home but cannot break a youngster from opening doors, you do have some choices. Choices that won't cost an arm and a leg and will give you piece of mind.

Installing double cylinder deadbolts (keyed both sides) will prevent young tots from opening doors. Of course you should always keep a spare key close by the door in case of fire, but up high enough so junior can't open the door at his or her free will. Another option is to install a second deadbolt high enough in the door to prevent a youngster from opening the door.

I would discourage installing gate type hook locks or chains at the top of doors. Once a child opens the main deadbolt lock your door security is now breached. A gate type hook lock or chain may prevent a child from escaping through the door but will offer little resistance to an intruder.

We all know when it comes to home safety, we wouldn't allow a tiny tot to cook on the family stove....... so why would we allow him or her to open the door to strangers!

Frank Fourchalk is widely recognized for his sustained commitment to education in Home and Business security throughout North America as a result of his syndicated newspaper columns. Mr.Fourchalk has written for The Toronto Star, The Vancouver Province and several other daily newspapsers including the New York Post.

Finding The Perfect Home Security System

In this day and age, peace of mind is sometimes hard to find. That is why home owners are turning to home security systems to attain that peace of mind.

Basic home security systems will usually cost between $25 and $35 monthly and provide home owners with 24 hours coverage 7 days per week. Most home owners will agree that this is a small price to pay to protect their home and their loved ones. Home security systems possess some essential components that allow the system to alert home owners and the proper authorities of home invasions. The five main elements include contacts, motion sensors, a control panel, a keypad and a siren.

These elements all play an essential part in home security. When the contacts are tripped, they send a signal control panel which begins to beep. The home owner must input the security code into the keypad before the 30-45 second time limit is up or the home security company contact center will be alerted. The motion sensors do essentially what their name implies. They detect motion and send a signal to the control panel if the alarm is set and motion is detected.

The control panel receives signals sent by the contacts and the motion detectors and is basically the system?s command unit.
The keypad allows the user to arm, disarm, turn off or alert the system monitoring cent re. There may also be buttons for specific emergencies located on the keypad. Different companies are likely to manufacture keypads with different options.

The basic task of the siren is to scare away intruders. The particular sound of the siren is often at the home owner?s choosing. When deciding on what type of home security system to buy, consider what type of life you lead. Do you have a family? Does your home contain many valuables? Do you have a pet? What kind of neighborhood do you live in? The answers to these questions will help you determine what kind of system you
need. If you live in a posh neighborhood, you may wish to have a complex system because these neighborhoods are often targeted. If you do not have a family and you live in the country, your need for a complex home security system would be greatly diminished. When you are in the market for a home security system, make sure to shop around.

You will want to make sure that the company will provide you with 24/7 coverage and that the company operates their own monitoring center.

Check out the policies offered by the company in terms of coverage and look for any loopholes. Also, do not necessarily for the system with the most options. Go for the system with the options that are right for you. Home security is not a subject to take lightly.

When it comes time to purchase your home security system, make sure that you are well educated on the subject. In the event that something does happen, you will take comfort in knowing that you took the time to shop around for the perfect home security system and that you and your family will be safe because of that.

Martha Mountjoy writes for homesecurityhut.com a website packed with home security articles and security camera information.