Certified Protection Professional: What makes security professionals better than others?

A retired military officer whom I have helped find his way in the security industry few years ago recently asked me point-blank if being a Certified Protection Professional makes me better than him. Suddenly, this officer felt as if he’s on top of the food chain when he got the job as head of security of a big multinational corporation and looked down on CPPs employed by smaller corporations. I didn’t bother answering him then because his gall to question me, his mentor for years, shows the difference between a professional and a plain security officer.

The security landscape has grown and changed tremendously in the past decade.  There is still a growing demand from all sectors for security professionals who can survive corporate boardroom.

In today’s ‘credentialized’ world, the need for certified protection people is inevitable. Companies require that certified architects and registered engineers design their buildings and offices. These companies prefer that certified finance people and certified public accountants handle their finances. We want to be treated by licensed doctors of medicine and taken care of by registered nurses. Should we then require that certified protection professionals protect ourselves and our assets?

Today, organizations place high importance on the credentials of the security practitioners they hire as consultants, regular employees, or partners. Being a former military officer, I find myself lacking in knowledge about corporate asset protection concepts when DHL Worldwide Express first hired me as country security manager. So I took certification review classes and exam. Being a CPP helped me in many ways when I was with Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts. It was my credential against non-credentialed foreign auditors who sulked upon knowing my CPP designation. They were like veteran accounting graduates auditing a seasoned certified public accountant.

Today’s challenges are complex security and protection issues that are detrimental to the well-being and preservation of a great number of people and tangible assets of governments, private corporations and large organizations.  Recognizing the need for professionals in the field of asset protection, ASIS International administers the Certified Protection Professional program worldwide. The CPP is now recognized as the highest global designation and is recognized by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), the US member of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) under the Support Anti-Terrorism by Fostering Effective Technology (SAFETY) Act of 2002 awarded the Designation to the ASIS certification program.

ASIS International describes CPP as the “preeminent designation awarded to individuals whose primary responsibilities are in security management and who have demonstrated advanced knowledge in security solutions and best business practices.”

CPPs are expected to be competent in addressing the growing complexities of personal and personnel security, information security and security management. It is a designation that identifies professionals and those dedicated to the security profession. It’s one designation that I really cherish because of the vast array of subjects to be studied prior to the certification exam and the code of ethics that a CPP strictly adheres to. The exam itself is the only one beyond question or integrity issues, administered by professionals worldwide.

I am still validating if the strict adherence to the ASIS CPP Code of Ethics discourages many security officers to get the designation.

A CPP applies for recertification every 3 years to guarantee that a professional is actively practicing his profession by attending networking assemblies, publishing articles on asset protection, and giving presentations or lectures.

With the objective to advance security nationwide, the Philippine Chapter of ASIS International partnered with Ace And Associates, Inc in the conduct of the first ever Asset Protection Lecture series this 18 to 20 April 2012 at The Bayleaf Intramuros.

The participants, even if they opt not to take the CPP exam yet, will still learn about subject matters common among CPPs and ASIS International members. They are expected to “speak the same language” with the 10,000 other CPPs worldwide.

The lecturers are all CPP and ASIS International members of good standing. They are employed by big global corporations and owners of their own businesses. They will tackle body of knowledge such as security principles and practices, business principles and practices, personal security, physical security, information security, emergency practices, and investigation.

Is the person in charge of your company asset protection certified?