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.

How To Improve Your Home's Security And Privacy

Because of the prevalence of door-to-door solicitation in some communities, criminals seeking to "case your place" for some future action and investigators hoping for a quick look inside often use the guise of a solicitor.

Furthermore, even "legitimate" solicitors may be difficult to get rid of until you agree to purchase whatever they are hawking or support the group they are advocating.

To keep unwanted company from knocking on your front door, it is necessary to place a barrier between thepublic street and your front door. This barrier does not need to be a 12-foot-tall electric fence, but rather anything that keeps people from easily approaching your home from the public street.

A decorative fence around your yard combined with a locking gate will keep solicitors at bay.

Not everyone however has a yard around which to erect a fence. A gate blocking the steps onto your front porch can prove just as effective, as can a locked door at the main entrence of an apartment building. The idea is to make the approaching your front door more effort than it is worth for the solicitor, salesman, or snoop.

That said, the effectiveness of a dog in deterring solicitors, trespassers, and other door-to-door nuisances cannot be overlooked (altough a dog does not have the same effect as a physical barrier). Of course, the effectiveness of a dog in discouraging people from approaching your door depends a great deal on the disposition of the dog.

Almost any dog will bark at the approach of a stranger; however, a barking dog may not prevent someone from approaching your door unless it is clearly of a mind to do so. Many door-to-door solicitors are used to dealing with dogs and many simply ignore the dog's bark unless the dog appears ready to back the bark up with some bite.

This does not mean that your dog must be Cujo on steroids to deter solicitors, but it must give enough of an aggressive appearance that solicitors won't be willing to tempt fate and the dog's temperament for the sake of a sale.

Even if you dog happens to be Cerberus who guard the gates of hell, there should be still be a locked gate for him to guard.

I strongly believe that dogs provide an excellent addition to your personal and home security, and their acute senses detect trespassers where people may not, but a dog is not a replacement for a physical barrier. Rather, he is an addition to it!

Max Penn is one of four people behind the well respected Spy Equipment Buying Guide. To find more check out surveillance equipment

Beyond Home Security: Internet remote monitoring and family life.

Defending your material possessions is nowadays a lot easier than what it used to be even just a few years ago. Technology has raised the level of protection achievable exponentially.

The use of wireless video cameras, motion detectors and video recording in combination with web based remote monitoring are definitely forcing a good number of "old school" burglars to seriously consider a career change.

A higher level of protection for your material possessions though it is not the only advantage that these latest technologies have to offer. There is another level of home security, growing along side with financial loss prevention, which can be considered even more valuable.

Imagine the convenience of being able to check what is happening on your property at any time, from wherever you are. That is exactly what you can do with an internet based home security camera system.

How many times have you found yourself in a time crunch because something in your house was in urgent need of repair and the only way to get it done was for you to be present. Think of how convenient could be being able to supervise the work from your office instead.

You could also have your housekeeping done in all tranquillity as you keep your productivity and income flowing. This would also mean that you would not have to spend your free time, working hard to keep the house clean.

Some of us have pets which are by necessity left alone in the house. Well, I am sure that if you are one concerned pet owner you would certainly feel much better if you could see how your best friend is doing, any time you whish to.

And then of course the most obvious of all supervising needs... kids.

If your kids are of young age he or she, or they, will have to be in company of a baby sitter, but even if they are not alone, I have no doubts about it because I am a parent myself, you would be able to carry through your working day in a much more relaxed manner if you were able check on them every now and then.

Not to mention of course those horrible cases of child abuse that we hear about occasionally in the news. Your cameras are running all the time and even if you are not "watching" all the time, it's all being recorded. You could, just to be safe, go over a portion of the recorded video sometimes... being parents is hard enough without having to deal with extraordinarily challenging situations.

Imagine the typical scenario of an average middle class family where both parents have to work in order to be able to afford their somewhat comfortable life style. The children are already at the point when they don't like to be called children anymore. You know, when the girls start using make up if you are not there and the boys don't want to be kissed in public anymore...

I can assure you, from personal experience, when the kids are in their teens you want to be there, especially if you are not. In this particular case a remote monitoring security camera system is "The" most useful tool you may have around the house.

On a closing note security cameras with online remote monitoring gives you the opportunity to make sure everything is all right any time you whish to do so, giving you peace of mind if you have kids, pets, cleaning service, baby sitter, gardner, work done at the house... you name it. It really is an investment which increases exponentially the eventuality of a much safer future for you and your family, and that is much more precious than any material possession.

Mark Van Neem

The author owns four websites covering all aspects of Home Security. To find resources and information about companies specialized in security consulting and alarm systems installation visit www.SecurityCameraHome.info.

Home Security Systems - An Insiders Guide To Saving You Money

Security Systems Reduce Burglaries...

Homes without security systems are about 3 times more likely to be broken into than homes with security systems.

Source: Simon Hakim, Temple University, 215-204-7476

Monitoring your home security system has never been easier but there are several things you need to consider before committing yourself to a long term monitoring agreement with any alarm company

Alarm companies don?t make the majority of their profit from selling security systems, it comes from accumulating a large base of alarm-monitoring contracts. In fact these monitoring contracts are so profitable that they are frequently bought and sold like mortgage notes.

Tip #1 Ask if they are an authorized alarm dealer or a represent a marketing company.

Marketing companies have learned to flood a market with fantastic offers on security systems with the sole purpose of selling the contracts at a profit. They often use any sub-contractor available, which can lead to poor customer service once the marketing company leaves town.

Once you find a reputable alarm company ask them to come out to your home and give you a quote. You?ll find that most will quote you a basic security system at a reasonable price. These basic security systems generally include an control panel, keypad, motion detector, a couple of door contacts, inside siren, a yard sign and warning decals

Tip #2 Make sure the equipment can be monitored by any alarm company not by just the one selling it to you.

If they use proprietary security equipment you could be left in a bind should you become dissatisfied with their service for any reason. Ademco, DSC,& Caddx are well known manufacturers and can be monitored by any one.

Some companies offer low a low installation charge of $99.00 or will give you a ?FREE? security system. Many do so if you put a security sign in your yard for advertising purposes and commit to a long-term alarm-monitoring contract.

Since the installation charge doesn't cover the true cost of the equipment and labor, you are charged a substantial monthly fee to recoup their investment. These ?deals? or equipment leases aren't necessarily bad but make it hard to evaluate the true cost to you over time.

The best way to evaluate your contract is to ask the salesman to give you a quote to purchase the security system outright and show the home alarm-monitoring fee separately. Most of the time you are better off buying the alarm system because your monitoring fee will be much less.

For example. Say for $99 your monitoring fee is $35 per month for 3 years you total cost for monitoring your home alarm is $1359.00 Your fee will remain $35 per month or even increase.

On the other hand say you pay $599.00 installation and $20 dollars a month your total cost is $1319. Not only is your overall cost less but from year 3 on your will be saving $180 per year. This savings would be better spent on upgrading your alarm system to include fire monitoring and added perimeter protection

Tip #3 Don?t pay additional charges for medical or fire monitoring.

It?s ok to pay for the equipment needed but some companies charge $2-$5 extra for these services. These options are easily programmed into the alarm system and don?t require any additional effort to monitor.

Is A Basic Security System For You?

The answer is probably not. Basic systems only cover your doors and are supplemented by the use of a motion detector. This detector is usually mounted in the main hallway to catch a burglar crossing the center of the home. If they come through a bedroom window and never pass by the motion detector, the alarm system will never sound. Imagine being home at the time this happens. Basic security systems are best used as a deterrent to a break in and to notify the authorities an alarm condition exist.

Adding perimeter protection such as window contacts or glass break detectors should be high on the list of upgrades. These types of upgrades not only activate the alarm system instantly but also will give you piece of mind while you are home.

Protect Your Financial Interest Not Just Your Home

Get all quotes in writing and make sure the quote is a binding quote. At a minimum the following should be included in your contract.

Length of contract and if / how it renews. Does it renew automatically? What type of notice do you have to give to terminate the monitoring agreement

Will your fee increase and is there a limit on the increase. If at all possible lock in your monitoring fee for the entire contract otherwise you could see an increase every year. Don?t be afraid to walk away on this point alone.

Do you own the equipment or is it a lease? A lease means lower initial installation cost but high monitoring fees.

Warranty:

Most of the alarm equipment comes with it?s own warranty in addition to what is offered by your company. Specify the warranty for each item so that you aren?t charged if it fails.
Also specify how long the warranty on labor is. Expect to pay some labor cost for replacing under warranty items

Service Calls

Alarm technicians are usually well trained to diagnose and fix problems with your security system. Be prepared to pay in the neighborhood of $55 per hour. The fee can seem high when compared to your original installation cost but is not out of line. Think about how much you pay for your car or computer to be worked on.

How long is the response time to service your alarm system. 48 hours is a reasonable time.

Do they provide an installation certificate for your home owner?s insurance. Many insurance companies offer a discount for monitored home security systems.

Don?t Wait Until You Have A Break-In To Get An Alarm System!

You can replace most things but you may never replace your sense of security in your own home.The author has more than 15 years experience in the home security industry. Learn more by clicking here http://www.cornerstonesecurityservices.com