The Physical Security Professional: Formulating a Novel Body of Knowledge

Abstract

© 2015, Copyright © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. Physical security cannot be considered a profession until its practice is based on a consensual body of knowledge and educational standards. Therefore, this study undertook a cultural domain analysis of physical security professionals' knowledge. The study applied a multiphase approach: conducting expert interviews, quantitative validation and group analysis. Study findings demonstrate that the physical security body of knowledge is a matrix, which is broad and ranges from facility contextualization to explicit aspects such as locks. Such knowledge has a hierarchical structure, organized on the tasks of diagnosing the security problem, inference to reach the optimal resolution and finally, treatment.