IFPO: Security Supervision and Management
Chapter 1: What Is Asset Protection?
Introduction
Organizations and professionals ought to be capable of stating, with some clarity, what asset protection,
security, and safety are, and what they do. This chapter covers these basics. It also introduces the reader
to different aspects of asset protection—how asset protection covers a wide range of activities and what
the field looks like for a practicing professional.
Objectives
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Explain the difference between safety and security.
Explain the goals of asset protection.
Understand the many applications of asset protection.
Understand the nature of the job of asset protection.
Key Terms
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asset protection
red team
risk assessment
safety
security
Critical Thinking Questions
1. How does this usage differ from what is discussed in the text? How is it similar?
Guidelines: The author of the text goes to some length to share and discuss dictionary
definitions of safety and security. The difference in meanings between the terms, however,
remains rather nuanced.
2. Does making these definitions more concrete help your understanding?
Guidelines: The author of the text goes to some length to share and discuss dictionary
definitions of safety and security. The difference in meanings between the terms, however,
remains rather nuanced.
3. Is it practical for a company to place its trust in an employee’s character? How can character
be demonstrated? How managers determine a candidate’s character?
Guidelines: The author doesn’t go into the how of the question too much, so this is up for
discussion.
Discussion Points
Security vs Safety
Mission statements
Legal aspects of asset management
Strong character, moral demeanor