A Homeland Security Assessment

One main reason that a Homeland Security Assessment needs to be conducted for an organization is to protect their infrastructure. The need for this assessment would be more crucial if an organization was identified as a high risk of being a potential target. Organizations that would fall under this umbrella would include but are not limited to “sea and water ports, airports, gas pipelines, sewer and power plants as well as biological or chemical facilities” (Fisher, 2014). In this day and time, we can also add educational facilities to this list, as there have been several attacks on universities that were believed to have been terrorist related.
There are several other reasons why Homeland Security Assessment should be performed on an organization,
The personnel that make up this management team would need to be assessed on how well they would follow as well as deliver instructions in protecting their infrastructure. It will evaluate the effectiveness and development of the organizations emergency strategies not only on an internal basis but on the organizations safety precautions in protecting their customers and suppliers. Even if an organizations customers and suppliers were not directly hit by a terrorist attack they could still suffer extensive damage to their communications and data information as a consequent from the organization that was the target of a terrorist attack. Using the Baldridge Criteria as a benchmark to gauge their strengths and opportunities for improvement, and measurement of the overall alignment and integration of key processes” (Farm, 2004).
References
Fisher, D. C. (2004), Homeland security assessment manual: A comprehensive organizational assessment based on Baldrige criteria. Milwaukee, WI: ASQ Quality
Press
University, B. (2004). Journal of Environmental Health Retrieved October 13,