ISO 18788: 2015 Private Security Operations Management Systems: Part 1: International Certification

Introduction

Any Security Operations, whether Corporate, in the Public or Private Sector, strives to be accredited by a standard specifically developed for the Management System for Private Security Operations (MPSO). The lack of certification of the MPSO is critical in the effective and efficient implementation of a Security Operations Management structure, whether you are heading up the mine security, the banking security, rail-; air transport, property security (shopping centres, hospitals, government buildings) or any other Private Security Operations.

The lack of standardisation, effects Security Managers, whether they are Chief Security Managers (C-Suite), Executives, or Vice Presidents, as business does not recognise the need for improvements, whether human, processes, technology or systems. In most cases, Security Managers cannot sell or quantify the Return on Investment (ROI) to business and business cannot conceptualise the expenditure needed by Security Operations. On the other hand, the Safety, Health, Environmental and Quality (SHEQ) drives business and business see the ISO 9001, 14001, 18001 / 45001 as critical business enablers.

What is ISO 18788?

The ISO 18788 standard provides a Management System Framework for Private Security Operations through elaborating on the principles and requirements for establishing, implementing, operating, monitoring, reviewing, maintaining and improving the management of security operations. ISO 18788 provides a Business and Risk Management Framework for the effective conduct of Security Operations. It places a strong importance in identifying your stakeholders, internal and external and the measurement against a set criterion regarding the importance and criticality of each for the business and for business continuity (ISO 22301). This includes employees, customers, local communities and subcontractors.

Moreover, ISO 18788 provides Assurance (Principle 15 of King IV) in the quality and expertise of security organizations working in complex and fragile environments. Human Rights are the critical route through this standard. Benefits of being ISO 18788 certified

This section will address the benefits for the organisation and the benefits for the customers. Each of these benefit structures will be addressed separately.

Benefits of ISO 18788 certification to your Organization:

  • Imposes credibility and helps protect your reputation
  • Boosts the probability of operational success
  • Provides assurance for customers, governments and communities
  • Demonstrates accountability to law and respect for human rights
  • Increases organizational productivity with the best practice “Plan, Do, Check, Act” approach (Demming & ISO 9001)
  • Presents consistent and comprehensive means of demonstrating effective corporate governance from board level to physical delivery

Benefits of ISO 18788 to your customers:

  • Helps your customers protect their reputation
  • Provides commitment to security operations best practices 
  • Demonstrates compliance with legal obligations and relevant principles
  • Provides adherence to human rights and fundamental freedoms

ISO 18788 Certification

ISO 18788 certification (also known as “registration”) is a third-party audit performed by a certification body such as Crest Advisory Africa (Pty) Ltd, through our international partner the Professional Evaluation and Certification Board (PECB) which upon verification that an organization is in compliance with the requirements of ISO 18788, will issue an ISO 18788 certificate.

This certification is then maintained through regularly scheduled annual surveillance audits by the registrar, with re-certification of the Private Security Operations Management Systems performed on a triennial basis.

What's next in the ISO 18788 Series?

This is the first article on this very important standard. CAA will be bringing a series of these articles to explain the various sections within the standard and to create awareness of the Management System Framework for Private Security Operations.

In our next articles CAA will look at:

  • MPSO and Human Rights
  • MPSO and Stakeholder Management (Internal and External)
  • MPSO and the Use of Force
  • MPSO and Capabilities (Knowledge, Skills and Behaviour)
  • MPSO and Resources (People, Processes, Technology, Systems)
  • MPSO and Risk Management
  • MPSO as an Integrated Management System
  • MPSO and Leadership
  • MPSO and Business Continuity
  • MPSO and Assurance
  • MPSO and Audits, Self-Audits and Compliance Audits
  • MPSO and the minimum requirements in Tenders (setting the standard)
  • MPSO and Return on Investment