Security consulting

Concern over corporate security has grown sharply since the September 11 attacks, and companies today are more focused on protecting their operations than at any point in recent memory. Threats such as terrorism, sabotage, theft, and disruption could cripple a business, and that anxiety has created real openings for private investigators and security specialists who work as outside consultants. Retired police officers and former security managers are often among those looking to build a private consulting practice.

A core task for consultants is the in-depth security survey, which examines an organization to reveal its weak points and the areas that need strengthening in order to reduce its exposure to these risks. This third edition is written for security and law enforcement professionals considering consulting as a career. It offers practical guidance for launching and sustaining an independent practice from the ground up, along with proven methods for running the business.

The revised edition expands coverage of marketing, fees and expenses, forensic consulting, the use of computers, and ongoing professional development. It also updates the sample forms, adds new ways to promote a practice, and explains how to use the Internet for research.