BQ Reporter 
ISO Standards are relevant to the protection of assets and covers issues like facilities management, health, environment and safety, risk management, security and resilience, and IT and information security.[Photo/SGA Website]
Having clear mechanisms that demonstrate a coherent plan and approach in the security sector is key to providing the standards of service delivery. Through a clear, strategic direction, the approved standards enable us to deliver value to all our stakeholders.
In a Webinar dubbed Standards in Security moderated by SGA Tanzania Managing Director Eric Sambu, stakeholders from varied sectors took time to participate in the 2-hour virtual seminar that had an elaborate session on security standards that SGA implements in operations across East Africa.
He was assisted by various professionals in the security sector who shared their expertise with the participants including Guarding Services Manager Joakim Sabana, Health Safety and Environment (HSE) Manager Dickson Webi and Technical Manager Prochest Peter. Group IT Manager Allan Lwanyaga shared his expertise in the Cyber Security space.
“Standards are set on the principles of consensus, openness, due processes, and transparency. In the security arena, they can help nations, communities, societies, organisations, and individuals improve their resilience in the face of security threats, both natural and man-made. The guidelines are best practices used to enhance the quality and reliability of products, services, or processes,” said Eric Sambu.
ISO Standards are relevant to the protection of assets and covers issues like facilities management, health, environment and safety, risk management, security and resilience, and IT and information security.
SGA has operated an integrated management systems certification in each of the countries it operates in since 2008, by Bureau Veritas, on behalf of UKAS. Integrated management system is a bouquet of ISO 9001 (Quality Management System), ISO 14001 (Environmental Management System) and ISO 45001 (Occupational Health and Safety Management System). Any certified institution has to undergo an annual surveillance audit and a recertification audit after every three years. SGA has demonstrated ability to sustain the requirements of all these standards over the years, a secret to the success it has achieved sustainably.
Recently, SGA acquired ISO 18788:2015- Security Operations Management System (SOMS), the highest international standard that specifies requirements and provides guidance for organizations conducting or contracting security operations. Each of the countries were certified by Intertek, who are also accredited by UKAS. This industry-specific standard provides a business and risk management framework for the effective conduct of security operations.
It is worth noting that SGA Security is the only security company to attain this certification in our footprints in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. In addition, the company now subscribes as a Certified Member to the International Code of Conduct for Private Security Services Providers (ICoCA).
To ensure the sustainability of its operations, SGA operates an Enterprise Risk Management Framework, designed to conform with ISO 31000 – Risk Management – Guidelines. Supported by key principles and framework set therein, the risk management processes involve risk identification, assessment, evaluation and treatment that identifies and determine risk strategies and actions in a bid to assess its effectiveness.
In any security operations, choosing standardisation is a continuous improvement that guarantees quality to ensure our products and services not only meet clientele expectations but also prioritize compliance with relevant government regulations.
With over 40 business operations in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, our over 19,000 employees continue to play a central role in accomplishing tasks where businesses and consumers seek guidance in protecting homes, businesses and assets in the evolving changing security demands.
