Last week we continued our discussion on data in security operations by gaining a better understanding of the term operational intelligence, which is the use or applicability of intelligence in real time or as near real time as possible. This week I want to discuss the term strategic intelligence.
Strategic intelligence involves the process of collecting and analyzing data and focuses on the long-term implication and application of that information. Where operational intelligence focuses on the redirection of assets on a particular shift, strategic intelligence focuses on the development of organizational policy and the planning for resource development across months and years. Strategic intelligence is the part of your intelligence program that allows you to cast a more predictive vision for the future.
Strategic intelligence gives context to the operations of a security program over time. It is the collection and analysis of data that allows us to better understand both the value of the work we have done and the necessity of the work we still need to do. For example: operational intelligence might include information relevant to a violence risk associated with a particular patient, thus compelling patrol resources to be redirected to rounding on that patient as part of a violence prevention plan. Strategic intelligence would be the aggregate data collected through the analysis of the number of patients identified with a particular level of violence risk over time within multiple clinical units. That information could direct us to recommend additional violence prevention training, over time, for the staff of the unit with the most at-risk patients. Another example of strategic intelligence might be the number of violent crimes involving a weapon over time, both within your facility and within a defined geographic area around your facility. That information, if trending in a particular direction, might help lead your organization to add firearms to the tools available to your security staff or increase the use of metal detectors at your facility entrances. In either case, you are leveraging your ability to collect and analyze information to make significant policy decisions for your overall security program.
Both modes of intelligence are needed to build an effective use of data within your security program. Operational intelligence is critical to building an adaptive and preventive use of your resources every day, and strategic intelligence is critical to developing your overall security policy over time.
How do you use strategic intelligence to enhance your security program? Do you maintain an understanding of the data that impacts your security program? What key indicators do you use to predict the future needs for your facility? Join the conversation in the comments below, and don’t forget to like, follow and share to support the Proactive Security Blog.
