Key Quality Criteria for Private Security in the Protection and Resilience of Critical Entities

Abstract

Security is a key concern in societies worldwide. Moreover, societies are dependent on the continual operation of critical infrastructure i.e., critical entities (sectors: energy; transport; banking and finance; water; health; digital infrastructure; food; public administration; space) that are key and vital for national security, economic vitality, and public health and safety, and relevant regionally and globally, due to its physical, cyber, geographic, and logical interdependency. However, in the dynamic security context, there are risks and threats to critical infrastructure with potential cross-sectoral or cross-border nature, including accidents, natural disasters, public health emergencies, such as a pandemic, and hybrid threats, including terrorist offences, criminal infiltration, and sabotage. Hence, strengthening the security and resilience of critical infrastructure is high on the agenda of authorities. Private security companies are part of the security continuum and have always complimented state security efforts. Moreover, the increasing security risks to critical infrastructure driven by natural and geopolitical events have increased the role of private security services, and security companies and personnel are an integral part of Critical Infrastructure Protection. The main tendency of this paper will be to elaborate on the new EU Directive on the resilience of critical entities 2022/2557 of 14 December 2022. The theoretical explication will cover the wider critical infrastructure protection and resilience concept. The main focus will be to analyze the role of private security in critical infrastructure protection. Furthermore, this paper will elaborate on the sector-specific Standard EN 17483, Private security services -Protection of critical infrastructure, which illustrates requirements for quality in organizations, processes, personnel and management. The final goal will be to systematize the body of knowledge about the key quality criteria of private security in the protection and resilience of critical entities.