Introduction
Security convergence refers to the integration of security management information and functions into a common platform such as an IP network. It enhances corporation between the public (the U.S government) and Private Corporation thus promoting effectiveness in maintaining national security. Therefore, security convergence is a powerful tool in fighting extremism, cyber defense, emergency responses, assessment of intelligence and manufacturing weapons (O’Reilly, 2015).
Three Essential Elements of Convergence within Security Organizations
Intelligence personnel, policy and technology have been identified as the three important elements that can be converged within the realm of private and public security. Convergence of technology between the public and private sector involves leveraging of technology in order to enhance performance of security functions. Technology integration promotes interaction thus improving the ability to adequately collaborate and share information. For instance, technology can allow sharing of information from computers in a private sector to computers in a public sector about infiltration of a malware. Therefore, leveraging technology facilitates automated exchange of data providing both security sectors with the capability to be alerted promptly and conduct an analysis of the data. Moreover, it allows both security agencies to quickly develop courses of actions and implement the decisions to combat the detected threat (O’Reilly, 2015).
Convergence of intelligence personnel between private and public security corporation promotes formation of useful collaborative partnerships towards strengthening American’s national security. It enhances conducting of common security roles such as joint public/private investigations, effectively handling of intelligence information, and efficient auditing and accountability. Moreover, effective collaboration enhances intelligence sharing, increases training opportunities, and creative problem solving (O’Reilly, 2015).
Security convergence will allow both private and public agencies to formulate effective policies that meet the common goal of maintaining national security. It promotes effectiveness in coordination of formal agreements on important security aspects to be included in the policy (O’Reilly, 2015).
Effectiveness and Extent of Convergence Efforts
It is hypothesized that the degree of convergence efforts would be very high and the effectiveness of private and public security agencies would be enhanced over the next decade. For instance, security convergence between private and public security sectors would enhance effectiveness in information sharing and this increases the capability to combat cyber threats. Information sharing would facilitate good organization of emergency response, enhance communications, efficiency in deployment of resources, increase protection of infrastructure and reduce liability. Sharing of threats and network security information between private and public sector would increase awareness of the security situation of the country. It would facilitate efficiency of the country’s communication systems and information technology that promotes formulation of strategic and operational decisions on how to safeguard and respond to security threats and attackers (Choucri, Madnick & Koepke, 2016).
The degree of security convergence will as well promote formation of collaborative partnerships that would contribute to collective directives, regulations and security awareness in both public and private agencies. This will contribute significantly to terrorism prevention. Also, security convergence would enhance sharing of resources between public and private agencies that can be beneficial to preventing terrorism. Private Security Corporations usually have extensive knowledge that the public security sector may lack (Choucri, Madnick & Koepke, 2016).
Conclusion
Intelligence personnel, policy and technology are important elements in security convergence between public and private security agencies. These elements contribute significantly towards improving the performance of these companies towards maintaining national security. It is hypothesized that in future, security convergence between the public and private security sectors would enhance effectiveness in information sharing, crime prevention and resource sharing.
References
Choucri, N., Madnick, S., & Koepke, P. (2016). Institutions for Cyber Security: International Responses and Data Sharing Initiatives. Retrieved on 5th October 2016 from: http://web.mit.edu/smadnick/www/wp/2016-10.pdf.
O’Reilly, C. (2015). The Pluralization of High Policing: Convergence and Divergence at the Public–Private Interface. British Journal of Criminology, 55(4), 688-710.