When designing any kind of system, you generally want as few points of possible failure as possible. By reducing the complexity of a system, you reduce the amount of time and effort that are required as inputs to keep it running smoothly.
Unfortunately, due to the complex legal, societal, and financial circumstances that dominate the legal cannabis industry, creating a simple system for any business process is often out of reach to legal cannabis operators (LCOs). This is especially true for security systems, which often involve three or more vendors per element, as Chris Eggers of CCSS explains in Chapter 20 of his book Securing Cannabis: A Comprehensive Guide To Increase Security, Reduce Costs, Reduce Liability, and Avoid Landmines.
The chapter begins with Eggers stressing the importance of defining your goals when taking a systematic approach to revamping your security program. Are you looking to improve the performance of a particular security system, fortifications, an integrated security system, or your entire security program?
Each of these comes with its own needs and complications. For example, installing a new or upgrading an existing video surveillance system can involve three to five different vendors. LCOs need to ask themselves if they have the time, technical ability, and expertise to accomplish that task or if they would be better off leaving it to a Managed Security Service.
This question represents the fundamental question of the chapter and the book as a whole: do you have the time and capacity to manage your security system, or are you better off leaving it to an outside professional? By using a Managed Security Service, you effectively reduce the points of failure for your security program to a single vendor.

The answer to this question depends on the resources available to your business. If you have a professional security staff that has the resources needed to take care of the system, it may be better to keep it in-house. If you are a smaller firm whose security contact also handles payroll and procurement, utilizing a Managed security service may be better.
If you decide that hiring a Managed Security Service works better for your needs, they will need to be adequately screened to ensure they are qualified to handle the work. Eggers provides a checklist of items that should be considered when screening for a solutions provider or a Managed Security Service. These include:
- Prior experience
- Customer success stories
- Commercial contracts
- Experienced security professionals
- Networks and relationships
- Independence from vendors
- Varied client list
- Client references
- Acceptance and adoption of new technologies
- Commercial insurance
- Risk management plans
Outside of Managed Security Services, LCOs may also consider utilizing the services of consultants or even hiring on a Security Director. While both options can provide significant benefits, the consultant or director must be equipped to work with an integrated security program and be willing to act as the point of contact for any failure in the program or system.
The chapter ends with a comprehensive checklist for helping define and address your security needs and objectives on an integrated basis. To access this checklist and every other piece of information you need to create an effective and compliant security system, we recommend checking out the full book. Securing Cannabis: A Comprehensive Guide To Increase Security, Reduce Costs, Reduce Liability, and Avoid Landmines is now available here!
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