GLOSSARY OF SECURITY TERMS

Glossary

Definition

Access Control

A security system installed at a site to provide access to authorised individuals or deny access to those not verbally or visually verified and authorised. This usually involves a speaker and call button. The individual wanting to enter the site must press the call button and speak to the remote monitoring station or other authorised personnel.

ACT Awareness

ACT Awareness e-Learning is a new counter terrorism awareness product designed for all UK based company’s organisations.

Approved Contractor

ACS covers those parts of the industry regulated by the SIA and the Private Security Industry Act 2001, requiring the SIA to establish a "system of inspection for providers of security services, under which those organisations who satisfactorily meet the agreed standards may be registered as approved.

Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC)

A centre that receives information from alarm systems. These centres (also commonly known as central stations) are manned 24/7 by security operators who receive and act upon the information as necessary.

An ARC will receive an alarm signal when the detectors have been activated at a site. The ARC’s operators will then respond accordingly to this signal, which may mean contacting the relevant keyholders, the emergency services or the site owner.

British Security Industry Association

A profile of the trade association for the UK’s security industry, the BSIA has helped shape security standards for half a century.

CCTV Close Circuit Television

The use of cameras to transmit a closed signal to a specific end point.

The signal is not ‘open’, so it can only be received by authorised end points. The signal may be transmitted from one point to another (point to point), from one point to multipoint or via wireless links.

Digital Key/Key Fob

This is a portable device used by security installers and integrators to ‘set’ or ‘unset’ a remotely monitored CCTV system. To set or unset a CCTV system means to activate or inactivate the system – setting the system will allow the remote monitoring station to receive alarms and footage.

Digital Video Recording

Both act as a video recorder and central point for CCTV systems. DVR’s tend to be used for analogue cameras, whereas the NVR is used for IP camera.

Facilities Management

A multidisciplinary profession that works towards managing the various elements of sites such as office blocks, arenas, educational buildings, shopping centres and so on.

The multidisciplinary elements may include security, cleaning, coordination of space, people management, and infrastructure care.

False Alert

The reason an alarm becomes a false alert can be due to several reasons, for example: a known fault with the security system is causing the alarm condition or because of an environmental change (foliage growing in front of cameras) is activating the system. As a result, the security operators will drop the alarm and categorise it in the system appropriately, for example as wildlife, environmental or overspill.

Incident

An incident is not the same as an alarm. An incident is when footage or alarm data signifies to the security operator that an emergency response is required and that the response agreement with the end-user should be actioned.

This may include criminal activity occurring on a site or an environmental emergency such as a fire. All incidents are reported to nominated parties,

KEY Holding

Individual(s) or a company authorised by the client/end user/customer to be contacted by the remote monitoring station when an incident occurs. Keyholders must be able to attend the site during their allotted time or 24/7 and the remote monitoring station must have their up-to-date contact information.

Manned Security

When a security guard(s) is employed to be present on a site.

PARiM

Time and attendance system

Remote Monitoring Station

Remote monitoring station (or centre) is the most used name for a location that monitors signals received from a variety of security and other remotely based systems.

Security System

A system that aims to protect a site from threats to the wellbeing of the site. This system can be a connected network of cameras, audio output devices, access control systems, fire alarms, temperature and humidity gauges, intruder alarms and other devices designed to detect unusual activity and respond to that activity

Security Industry Authority

They are the regulator of the UK’s private security industry.

SIA is an executive non-departmental public body, sponsored by the Home Office.

BS EN 9001:2015

ISO 9001 is the internationally recognised Quality Management System (QMS)

BS EN 14001:2015

BS EN ISO 14001 puts environmental management at the heart of an organization's operations, to help meet environmental regulations and improve efficiency and environmental performance.

ACILLIES

Is a pre-qualification accreditation that’s audits a company’s delivery of quality, environment and Health and Safety

Construction Line Gold

Construction Line Gold demonstrates to buyers your organisation has been subjected to increased scrutiny around governance and risk management and will allow you to bid for and win more work.

SSIP

SSIP accreditation demonstrates to a buyer that the supplier is competent in health and safety practices and procedures, and therefore a business that is safe to work with.

Chas Elite

CHAS Elite, also known as The Common Assessment Standard, is recognised across the industry and is backed by Build UK and CECA.

RISQS

Railway Industry Suppliers Qualification Scheme

ACS

Security companies with an Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS) status are subjected to regular quality assurance checks. This ensures clients that contractors have passed certain quality checks necessary to operate in the security ecosystem.

Project Griffin

Counter Terrorism Training

BS 7858

BS 7858 is a British Standard that specifies a Code of Practice for security screening of individuals and third party individuals to be employed in a security environment by an organisation, prior to their employment. 

This screening standard is a robust benchmark against which to screen.

·   Reference checks covering a period of 5 years.

·   All gaps in employment greater than 30 days.

·   Criminal record check (Basic Disclosure or Overseas CRC).

·   Identity, address history and financial probity (Credit Check).

Acronym

Definition

ACS

Approved Company Scheme

168

24/7 Security cover

Mobile

Vehicle mounted security

WLAN

Wireless Local Area Network

PARiM

Time and Attendance system

SIA

Security Industry Authority

Hi Vis

H&S reflective clothing