PRIMIS Global

ISO 18788

ISO 18788

ISO 18788: Setting the Global Standard for Professional Security Operations

Discover ISO 18788:2015 – the definitive international standard for organizations committed to excellence in private security operations. This standard provides the framework for establishing, implementing, maintaining, and continually improving a robust Security Operations Management System (SOMS).

By focusing on effective risk management, ethical conduct, respect for human rights, and legal compliance, ISO 18788 helps security providers and contractors enhance their reputation, gain a competitive advantage, ensure operational reliability, and meet the demanding expectations of clients and stakeholders in any environment. Learn how adherence to ISO 18788 signifies true professionalism in security.

Achieve ISO 18788 Compliance with Primis Global

Successfully implementing the comprehensive requirements of ISO 18788 demands expertise and dedicated effort. Primis Global provides specialized consulting services nationwide to guide your organization through every step of establishing or refining your Security Operations Management System (SOMS).

Leveraging over 25 years of deep security industry experience, we offer:

  • Expert Training Guidance: Tailored support to ensure your team understands and can effectively implement the SOMS requirements.
  • Audit Readiness Consulting: Comprehensive preparation for internal reviews and successful third-party certification audits.

Whether you are a Private Security Organization seeking certification or a company aiming to ensure the highest standards from your security contractors, let our experience be your advantage.

Contact Primis Global today to discuss your ISO 18788 requirements and ensure your operations comply with this global standard.

Phone: (845) 208-9558

 

Main Sections

  • Foreword
  • Introduction
  • 1 Scope
  • 3 Terms and definitions
  • 4 Context of the organization
    • 4.1 Understanding the organization and its context
      • 4.1.1 General    
      • 4.1.2 Internal context    
      • 4.1.3 External context    
      • 4.1.4 Supply chain and subcontractor mapping and analysis    
      • 4.1.5 Defining risk criteria    
         
    • 4.2 Understanding the needs and expectations of stakeholders    
    • 4.3 Determining the scope of the security operations management system    
    • 4.4 Security operations management system    
  • 5 Leadership
    • 5.1 Leadership and commitment
      • 5.1.1 General    
      • 5.1.2 Statement of Conformance    
         
    • 5.2 Policy    
    • 5.3 Organization roles, responsibilities and authorities    
       
  • 6 Planning
    • 6.1 Actions to address risks and opportunities
      • 6.1.1 General    
      • 6.1.2 Legal and other requirements    
      • 6.1.3 Internal and external risk communication and consultation    
         
    • 6.2 Security operations objectives and planning to achieve them
      • 6.2.1 General    
      • 6.2.2 Achieving security operations and risk treatment objectives    
         
       
  • 7 Support
    • 7.1 Resources
      • 7.1.1 General    
      • 7.1.2 Structural requirements    
         
    • 7.2 Competence
      • 7.2.1 General    
      • 7.2.2 Competency identification    
      • 7.2.3 Training and competence evaluation    
      • 7.2.4 Documentation    
         
    • 7.3 Awareness    
    • 7.4 Communication
      • 7.4.1 General    
      • 7.4.2 Operational communications    
      • 7.4.3 Risk communications    
      • 7.4.4 Communicating complaint and grievance procedures    
      • 7.4.5 Communicating whistle-blower policy    
         
    • 7.5 Documented information
      • 7.5.1 General    
      • 7.5.2 Creating and updating    
      • 7.5.3 Control of documented information    
         
       
  • 8 Operation
    • 8.1 Operational planning and control
      • 8.1.1 General    
      • 8.1.2 Performance of security-related functions    
      • 8.1.3 Respect for human rights    
      • 8.1.4 Prevention and management of undesirable or disruptive events    
         
    • 8.2 Establishing norms of behaviour and codes of ethical conduct    
    • 8.3 Use of force
      • 8.3.1 General    
      • 8.3.2 Weapons authorization    
      • 8.3.3 Use of force continuum    
      • 8.3.4 Less-lethal force    
      • 8.3.5 Lethal force    
      • 8.3.6 Use of force in support of law enforcement    
      • 8.3.7 Use of force training    
         
    • 8.4 Apprehension and search
      • 8.4.1 Apprehension of persons    
      • 8.4.2 Search    
         
    • 8.5 Operations in support of law enforcement
      • 8.5.1 Law enforcement support    
      • 8.5.2 Detention operations    
         
    • 8.6 Resources, roles, responsibility and authority
      • 8.6.1 General    
      • 8.6.2 Personnel    
      • 8.6.3 Procurement and management of weapons, hazardous materials and munitions    
      • 8.6.4 Uniforms and markings    
         
    • 8.7 Occupational health and safety    
    • 8.8 Incident management
      • 8.8.1 General    
      • 8.8.2 Incident monitoring, reporting and investigations    
      • 8.8.3 Internal and external complaint and grievance procedures    
      • 8.8.4 Whistle-blower policy    
         
       
  • 9 Performance evaluation
    • 9.1 Monitoring, measurement, analysis and evaluation
      • 9.1.1 General    
      • 9.1.2 Evaluation of compliance    
      • 9.1.3 Exercises and testing    
         
    • 9.2 Internal audit    
    • 9.3 Management review
      • 9.3.1 General    
      • 9.3.2 Review input    
      • 9.3.3 Review output    
         
       
  • 10 Improvement
    • 10.1 Nonconformity and corrective action    
    • 10.2 Continual improvement
      • 10.2.1 General    
      • 10.2.2 Change management    
      • 10.2.3 Opportunities for improvement    
         
       

Annexes (Informative)    

  • Annex A: Guidance on the use of this International Standard    
  • Annex B: General principles    
  • Annex C: Getting started - Gap analysis    
  • Annex D: Management systems approach    
  • Annex E: Qualifiers to application    

 

Accelerate Your ISO 18788 Certification: Why Hiring an Expert Consultant Makes Sense

Achieving compliance and certification with ISO 18788:2015 signifies a commitment to the highest standards of professionalism, ethics, and effectiveness in private security operations. As outlined previously, implementing the required Security Operations Management System (SOMS) is a comprehensive and demanding process. While attempting this solely with internal resources is possible, partnering with an experienced ISO 18788 consultant offers significant strategic advantages, often leading to a more efficient, effective, and successful outcome.   

If your organization is considering adopting ISO 18788, here’s why engaging expert external guidance is a smart investment:

1. Deep Standard Expertise & Interpretation

ISO 18788, like any comprehensive management standard, has nuances and requires careful interpretation. An experienced consultant specializes in this standard. They understand the intent behind each clause, common implementation pitfalls, and how requirements apply across different operational contexts. This deep knowledge prevents misinterpretations and ensures your SOMS is genuinely compliant, not just superficially aligned.   

2. Efficiency and Speed to Implementation/Certification

Developing a compliant SOMS from scratch involves a steep learning curve. A consultant brings proven methodologies, templates (that they will help customize), and a clear roadmap based on previous implementations. This significantly accelerates the process, saving countless internal hours that would otherwise be spent on research, trial-and-error, and document drafting. They guide you directly to what needs to be done, minimizing wasted effort.

3. Objective Gap Analysis and Unbiased Assessment

It can be difficult for internal teams to objectively assess their own established processes and identify shortcomings against a new standard. An external consultant provides a fresh, unbiased perspective. They can conduct a thorough gap analysis, pinpointing precisely where your current operations meet the standard and where improvements are needed, free from internal politics or familiarity blindness.   

4. Resource Optimization: Saving Time and Internal Costs

While there's a fee for consulting services, consider the hidden costs of a purely internal approach: the extensive time your key personnel (management, operations, HR) must divert from their core duties, the potential costs of mistakes or rework, and the risk of a delayed or failed certification audit. A consultant streamlines the effort, often resulting in a more cost-effective path to compliance when internal resource time is factored in.

5. Tailored Solutions, Not Just Templates

A good consultant doesn't just hand you a template. They work to understand your specific organization, operational environment, risk profile, and client requirements. They help tailor the ISO 18788 framework and documentation to be practical, effective, and value-adding for your business, rather than creating a generic system that hinders operations.   

6. Navigating Documentation Requirements

ISO 18788 requires significant documented information (policies, procedures, risk assessments, logs, records). Knowing what needs to be documented, how to document it effectively, and how to manage it can be daunting. Consultants provide expert guidance to ensure your documentation is compliant, efficient, and genuinely useful for managing operations.   

7. Expert Audit Preparation

The certification audit is the final hurdle. Consultants with experience in ISO 18788 know exactly what third-party auditors look for. They can help conduct readiness reviews, prepare your team for audit interviews, and ensure all necessary evidence is organized and available, significantly increasing your chances of passing the certification audit successfully on the first attempt.

8. Leveraging Broad Industry Experience

An experienced consultant (especially one with decades in the field) brings insights and best practices learned from working with various organizations and scenarios within the security industry. This broad perspective adds immense value beyond simply interpreting the standard's text.

Conclusion: An Investment in Success

Implementing ISO 18788 is a strategic initiative that enhances credibility, manages risk, and improves operational quality. While challenging, the journey is significantly smoother and more certain with an experienced guide. Hiring an ISO 18788 consultant isn't just an expense; it's an investment in efficiency, expertise, and achieving your compliance and certification goals effectively, allowing your team to focus on delivering outstanding security services.   

Partnering with the right ISO 18788 consultant can transform a complex compliance challenge into a strategic advantage for your security operations.

The Road to ISO 18788 Certification: Understanding the Challenges

Achieving ISO 18788:2015 certification signals a significant commitment to professionalism, ethical conduct, and effective management within private security operations. It's a powerful differentiator in the marketplace, building trust with clients, stakeholders, and regulatory bodies. However, attaining this certification is not a simple administrative task; it's a rigorous undertaking that requires substantial organizational commitment, resources, and a genuine dedication to the principles embedded within the standard.   

So, how difficult is it to get ISO 18788 certified? While achievable for dedicated organizations, understanding the inherent challenges is crucial for setting realistic expectations and planning effectively.

1. It's a Comprehensive Management System, Not Just a Checklist

Unlike some compliance requirements that might focus on specific technical controls, ISO 18788 demands the implementation of a holistic Security Operations Management System (SOMS). This means integrating security considerations into the very fabric of the organization, involving:

  • Top Management Leadership: Demonstrable commitment and defined responsibilities.
  • Thorough Risk Management: Identifying, assessing, and treating operational, legal, and human rights risks specific to security activities.   
  • Detailed Operational Planning & Control: Documented procedures for all critical security functions.
  • Resource Management: Allocating sufficient personnel, infrastructure, and support.   
  • Performance Evaluation: Continuous monitoring, internal audits, and management reviews.   
  • Continual Improvement: A structured process for learning and enhancing the SOMS.   

Building and embedding such a system across an organization requires a coordinated effort, not just ticking boxes.

2. Significant Resource Commitment

Implementing an ISO 18788-compliant SOMS demands resources:

  • Time: Key personnel across various departments (Operations, HR, Legal, Management) need to dedicate significant time to developing procedures, conducting risk assessments, participating in training, and engaging in audits and reviews.   
  • Personnel: Depending on the organization's size and complexity, dedicated roles or considerable time allocation from existing staff may be needed to manage the SOMS effectively.
  • Financial Investment: Costs can include training programs, potential system upgrades (e.g., for reporting or documentation), consultation fees (if external expertise is sought), and the certification audit fees themselves.

Organizations must be prepared to invest appropriately to meet the standard's requirements.

3. Cultural Integration and Change Management

ISO 18788 often requires more than just new procedures; it necessitates a cultural shift. Key areas include:

  • Emphasis on Ethics & Human Rights: This is central to ISO 18788. Integrating deep respect for human rights and ethical considerations into every operational decision and action may require significant training and a shift in mindset for some organizations used to purely tactical approaches.  
  • Accountability & Reporting: Fostering an environment where personnel feel safe reporting incidents, near-misses, or concerns without fear of reprisal is vital but can require deliberate cultural change.
  • Documentation & Process Adherence: Moving towards a more formalized, documented approach requires discipline and buy-in at all levels.

Strong, visible leadership commitment is essential to drive these cultural changes.

4. Rigorous Documentation Requirements

Like all ISO management system standards, ISO 18788 requires substantial documented information to demonstrate compliance. This includes, but is not limited to:

  • The SOMS Policy and Objectives
  • Risk Assessment Records
  • Documented Operational Procedures
  • Competence and Training Records
  • Communication Records
  • Incident Logs and Investigation Reports
  • Internal Audit Results
  • Management Review Records
  • Corrective Action Records

Creating, maintaining, and controlling this documentation requires diligence and well-defined processes.

5. Demonstrating Effective Implementation (Not Just Paperwork)

Certification bodies don't just review documents; they audit for effective implementation. Auditors will look for objective evidence that:

  • Processes are actually being followed as documented.
  • Controls are effectively managing identified risks.
  • Personnel are competent and aware of their responsibilities.
  • The organization is monitoring performance and actively seeking improvement.  

Passing the audit requires proving the SOMS is a living, breathing part of the organization's operations.

Conclusion: Challenging but Achievable and Worthwhile

Obtaining ISO 18788 certification is undeniably a challenging process. It demands strategic planning, dedicated resources, company-wide buy-in, and a sustained commitment to the principles of professional, ethical, and effective security operations management.   

However, for organizations willing to make the investment, the rewards are substantial. ISO 18788 certification provides unparalleled credibility, enhances client trust, mitigates significant risks, improves operational efficiency, and positions an organization as a leader in responsible security provision. While the path requires effort, the resulting robust management system and international recognition make it a valuable strategic objective.  

 

Page 1 of 2

Main Menu
ISO 18788 Analysis
Search ISO 18788