RiskXtraJune2019

The Security Institute’s View
in physical security and close protection is
accepted, but I cannot rest on my laurels. I’m
obliged to maintain a regime of Continuing
Professional Development, something which I
take very seriously indeed.
CSyP: What it’s all about
The Privy Council sets the standards for
Chartered accreditation and the highest levels
of professionalism in given business spheres.
Security is no exception. Attaining Chartered
status doesn’t mean you’re an expert in all
areas of security, though. That’s virtually
impossible. Like Chartered Engineering, Adam
may be a civil engineer building motorways and
Eve could well be an electrical engineer
constructing computers. They’re not the same,
but both are Chartered.
In CSyP terms, Mahbubul Islam is a CSyP
with the highest cyber security skills and Julia
McClelland is a CSyP due to her specialism in
nuclear security.
Reaching this level in security means that an
applicant can often be in the later years of a
successful career, holding a position of
leadership that means they may soon retire and
thereafter have no professional use whatsoever
for the accreditation. That said, our business
sector is now promoting younger thought
leaders into these positions. It’s essential that
such leaders demonstrate their capability so
that our industry is recognised as a profession
with career goals at every stage of
development. My challenge, then, to those
security leaders who hold applicable positions
and knowledge is to step forward and be
recognised by attaining CSyP status.
Our sector employs specialists with
comprehensive experience and academic
qualifications. That being so, the Chartered
Security Professionals Registration Authority
(CSPRA) accepts the fact that some leaders may
not have degrees, but still accrue vast strategic
experience and are therefore capable of
attaining the CSyP designation.
Routes to attainment
There are two routes to attaining CSyP status:
the direct route for those with degrees in
security and an individual pathway for those
without. While the individual pathway requires
a written assessment (a research project, if you
like), it’s still achievable. Accreditation is equal
whichever route is taken.
The Security Institute manages the Register
and its application process. We do not own it.
That’s the preserve of The Worshipful Company.
The CSPRA is presided over by Baroness Ruth
Henig CBE DL, with the competency framework
and admittance overseen by the Registrar,
namely David Gill CSyP. The Board consists of
senior Board members from The Worshipful
Company and the two licensees: The Security
Institute and ASIS UK Chapter 208. Either
organisation can offer strategic security
professionals personal one-to-one guidance and
mentoring to help them achieve their goal.
Indeed, The Security Institute hosts monthly
application workshops across the UK to assist
applicants in navigating the evidence-based
process which is arduous (as you would
expect). The common mistake on application is
that the candidate doesn’t sell their personal
strategic influence as much as they do that of
their parent company or team.
Isn’t that just typical of security professionals
and our tendency to downplay our personal
achievements, instead accrediting our teams
with the success of a project?
Candidates should see past that desire and
provide evidence of what they deliver on a
personal level within the team. It’s their own
knowledge and leadership that’s assessed.
Five competencies
There are five competencies that must be
demonstrated, with evidence of work included
to support a claim of strategic leadership.
These are Security Knowledge, Practical
Application, Communication, Leadership and
Personal Commitment.
The CSyP standard is recognised by both the
Security Industry Authority (SIA) and the Centre
for the Protection of National Infrastructure.
The latter holds registrants in the highest
regard and, as such, lists CSyPs alongside
Chartered Engineers on the Register of Security
Engineering Specialists.
Further, CSyPs are invited to work with the
CPNI on the security of Critical National
Infrastructure, permitting attendance on CPNI
courses (not available to anyone outside the
realms of CNI security) and affording access to
its Extranet where incredible resources and
cutting-edge advice (that will, no doubt, benefit
any security leader) is to be found.
With Government and the wider industry
collaborating to create comparative career
pathways and professional development, The
Security Institute and the CSPRA are aligning to
support this initiative. Chartered status is the
pinnacle to which all should aspire.
The Security Institute’s View
is compiled and edited by Dr
Alison Wakefield FSyI
(Chairman of The Security
Institute) and Brian Sims BA
(Hons) Hon FSyI (Editor of
Risk Xtra)
*If you believe that you can
demonstrate strategic
influence in security, feel free
to explore an application for
CSyP by sending an e-mail to
di@security-institute.org
Further details on the Royal
Charter and application
process can be found on the
CSyP website at
www.charteredsecurity
professional.org
Rick Mounfield CSyP FSyI:
CEO of The Security Institute
“The CSPRA accepts the fact that some leaders may not have
degrees, but still accrue vast strategic experience and are
therefore capable of attaining the CSyP designation”
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