Can you get it for free? How to keep abreast of new info and advanced training resources

Perhaps security practitioners are more affected in times of tight budgets than other areas of building and facilities management. Their problems don't diminish, just the funding they can count on. Fortunately, there's now a new aggregating source for these same strapped professionals to keep abreast of critical new information and advanced training resources that are either low-cost or free. The information we're talking about isn't a substitute for the basic guard training or regular OJT that's required for your security force, where you rely on contractors to deliver the essentials. Instead, this is training and education that gives your managers and directors an edge. It's focused so they can better meet your advanced requirements for top-performing leadership with wider and more in-depth understanding of issues, technology and methodology that helps enhance integrated building security services overall. Okay, what is it and how do you get it? As part of Security Directions Publications, the new ACTION DIGEST, an email-format newsletter, brings together news about training and information resources that real estate organizations need - all aggregated and available for security teams to review on a computer "desktop." ACTION DIGEST is published almost every week, highlighting unique and timely programs that are sponsored by various professional organizations, government agencies, universities and private entities, along with material about on-line training that can be a significant boon for staff education and advancement. A number of the programs in every issue happen within days of the e-newsletter's release. So it isn't a publication to leave unopened in the vast wasteland of the "inbox." Often, you will have to have your security directors register immediately so they don't miss something essential. Much of the training didn't just become available yesterday. Yet it is as if these programs have been "secret." Here's why: Prior to Security Directions e-Magazine being released in 2011, which now reaches 15,000+ security professionals around the country, people who were aggregating the information didn't have an easy way to share material. Now, we've added the abbreviated ACTION DIGEST publication and a whole new group of security leaders can tap into the resources. Luckily, many of the programs occur in and around the metropolitan area, making this a significant resource since overnights aren't involved. Response in the last couple of months since ACTION DIGEST began, has been overwhelming. We even had the security director for one municipality require every member of his team to sign up for a subscription so there wouldn't be excuses about information slipping through the cracks! Although we don't recommend that you force everyone to get their own copy, if you are in the real estate industry you can, at no charge, put your key people on the subscription list by simply submitting their names, titles and email addresses to: [email protected]. Some of the training programs do have minimal fees, or ask that your security people become members of the associations sponsoring the programs. Give consideration to these as well because it may be more cost-effective than trying to put together the same material on your own. Also, if you are sponsoring a webinar or other on-line program, please send information to us so we can include your program in upcoming releases. For more information, please call: 631-331-6001 or email: [email protected]. Erica Harrison, CPP, is the president of AIMS Testing Co., Inc., Miller Place, N.Y.