INTRODUCTION

The discussion and definitions of key concepts in this chapter are important for two reasons: firstly, to provide clarity as far as the use of these concepts are concerned, and, secondly, to provide an early indication of the direction of the discussions in this book. Different definitions and interpretations of important concepts were discovered in the literature and other sources, including official publications and personal interviews. For some concepts, no definitions could be found, hence a “lay person’s” interpretation was provided to give meaning to its application. It is important to define and discuss the key concepts, so that readers will have a common understanding of the important concepts. The following important concepts will be explained:

• • security

• • security service

• • security management

• • security information management

• • security incident

• • security threat

• • security vulnerability

• • security information collection

• • security information analysis

• • security risk control measures

SECURITY

“Security implies a stable, relatively predictable environment in which an individual or group may pursue its ends without disruption or harm and without fear of such disturbance or injury” (Fischer, Halibozeck, and Green, 2008). According to Smith and Brooks (2013), a traditional definition of security may be the provision of private services in the protection of people, information and assets for individual safety or community wellness. In addition, Post and Kingsbury (1991), consider the security of private and commercial property as the provision of paid services in preventing undesirable, unauthorised, or detrimental loss to an organisations assets. Private security refers to those efforts by individuals and organisations to protect their assets from loss, harm or reduction in value, due to threats. These assets may include people, fixed and immovable property, business rights, information, company image, operational strategies, contracts, agreements and policy (Bosch, 1999).

SECURITY SERVICE

According to section 1 (1) of the Private Security Industry Regulatory Act, 56 of 2001: “Security service” means one or more of the following services or activities:

• • protecting or safeguarding a person or property in any manner;