Sentinel Consulting, a full-service security consulting firm, announced the launch of a new service offering to assist clients in developing robust standards for the lifecycle management of security technology. 

Security Standards by Sentinel is a dedicated program that creates a roadmap for companies to follow as they implement, maintain and update technology-driven security solutions. The program is said to help clients reduce costs, increase efficiencies and avoid litigation. 

According to the announcement, security standards play a critical role in helping security professionals overcome many common obstacles that interfere with sound decision-making and program execution, including: 

• Misaligned departments and stakeholders driving security initiatives
• Lack of direction, support, and funding from management
• Unclear metrics for performance and quality control
• Litigation exposure from program inconsistencies 

Security Standards by Sentinel is said to engage stakeholders in defining and documenting the steps needed to ensure the consistent quality, reliability and compliance of their security technology. They are predicated on each client’s specific environment and resources. Once complete, the standards become a go-to resource that directs stakeholders on how to evaluate security solutions through a strategic lens, share and distribute responsibilities based on individuals’ roles and expertise, and streamline system implementation. 

The process begins with a client self-assessment, made possible by a free online tool on Sentinel’s website. The interactive questionnaire predicts the ease with which a company’s future security projects will deliver against its security objectives. From the survey’s instantaneous results, clients can then determine the degree to which they need assistance refining and expanding their existing documented standards, or creating them from scratch. 

Sentinel’s Security Standards program, which is available in three tiers (basic, advanced and premium) takes approximately six weeks to complete and is headed by Sentinel Director of Technical Security Consulting Al Palumbo. 

“The most expensive security projects are the ones that fail to perform as intended. Their costs include money spent on the wrong technology, harm to people and assets that occur as a result, and the expense of litigation,” stated Paul Benne, president of Sentinel Consulting. “Well-crafted security standards make those things of the past, thereby delivering a tremendous return on investment. Our team at Sentinel is highly skilled at writing standards that are comprehensive and attainable, and we are pleased to now offer this service as a straightforward, stand-alone option.”