Enrique Tapia Padilla, our guest as CPP of the month, has more than 16 years in the security industry and, since 2005, has been CPP certified by ASIS.
by Santiago Jaramillo Hincapié
In light of his degrees, Enrique Tapia Padilla could be said that he does not have a training very close to security, however this Bachelor in Marketing, with a Master's Degree in Business Administration, already has more than 16 years in the industry and since 2005 is CPP, in addition to this he has a Diploma in Management Skills in Integral Security.
In addition to the above, he has received extensive training in Mexico, the United States and Europe in matters of Physical Security, Executive Protection, Corporate Security and Responsibility Analysis, among others, which well endorses him as a full-fledged professional.
That is why he is a permanent security advisor in various business associations in Mexico. He is Managing Partner of ALTAIR Consultores en Protección, a firm specialized in consulting, intelligence and training in corporate security, executive and family protection with more than five years in the sector.
He is also a speaker, and actively participates in radio, television and print media forums as an analyst of corporate strategies on issues of business security, executive and family protection.
As a philanthropic work he had the honor of being President of ASIS Mexico Chapter in 2011 winning the World Chapter of the Year Award among the almost 250 in the world.
Since 2012 he is Regional Vice President of ASIS International supporting the five chapters that exist in Mexico to meet their objectives. Last year, our guest says, they won more than 20 awards that ASIS International distributes around the world, something unprecedented. Personally, ASIS International awarded Enrique Tapia Special Honors for his performance during that year.
Linking to the industry
Like surely many of his colleagues, our guest, as he himself relates, came to the industry by "accident"; "As a master's student in 1997, I started working in the commercial area of a private security company that has now been absorbed by a Swedish company with a presence in Mexico. I was so passionate about security that for many years I have trained in the subject to be able to work as a consultant specializing in corporate security, executive and family protection, that, with the strategic vision that my academic training gave me, I was able to potentiate the results and understand the business mentality of our clients, "says Tapia.
More than a certification
The CPP is the Maximum Certification in Security Management worldwide, for its acronym in English means Certificate of Professional in Protection and is recognized at the orbital level, it is mainly aimed at Managers and Directors, security professionals with proven experience, both in security and management.
The road to obtain certification is hard without a doubt, the one who wants to get it must pay the price in sacrifice, enthusiasm and determination, of course, the experience in security is imperative in it, explains Enrique Tapia.
He also emphasizes that "we must recertify every three years to give a guarantee that we are current and updated in the environment, duly trained. The person who seeks to be a CPP must be an exemplary professional who constantly seeks perfection in what he does, who is proud of his activity and impeccability in his actions, in addition to being a great security colleague. "
On the other hand, our guest talks to us about what are the analyzes that a CPP must perform in a place in terms of security. He points out that there are many, from criminal analysis that impacts your business and the various solutions from the technical point of view, to financial analysis and investment returns to decide the best option to counter threats.
"A CPP must be able to carry out a business plan and an annual investment budget in security perfectly justified and aligned towards the objectives of the companies and always in accordance with the assets and image of the company and the integrity of the people to be protected," he stresses.
As for the purpose of being certified as a CPP and how this helps the industry, the Regional Vice President of ASIS states that without a doubt being CPP "takes you to another level", gives a certain guarantee to the client or the company of the person who is hiring has a level of professionalization in the matter and is a strategist, helping to have in the middle more professional colleagues and fewer improvised and opportunistic people.
"Nowadays more and more global companies ask as a requirement in the profile of the position of management or direction of security the distinction of CPP, proof of the reputation that it has. Although I also know exemplary colleagues in security without certification and to whom I have learned a lot without a doubt, "he says.
Most common problems
According to our Mexican incite, the CPP must become a strategist that provides the best security practices to maintain security control in organizations.
"Total safety does not exist, but without a doubt the control of risks is decisive. The problems can be so diverse and from mild to catastrophic, from a simple problem in an access control, to a situation of fraud, through extortion, blackmail, internal theft ... the list seems endless depending on the nature of the business. The good guardian begins with oneself, so it is important that concentric circles of security also reach who is in charge of the helm of security, oneself, "he emphasizes.
After being asked about what additional knowledge the certification provides that supports his work performance and as a security professional, Enrique Tapia said that "for those of us who started via senior management, various technical operational security knowledge from issues of physical security, investigations, knowledge about prohibited substances, laws and personnel safety among others; for those who started in security, the principles and practices of the company or emergency management, give them that strategic management that adds value to their work, "he ponders.
Already in what has to do with the challenges he faces in the day to day as CPP, this representative of the Mexican industry points out that one is a great responsibility they have when carrying this label, "morally we are obliged to keep updated on the latest security trends and in the administration that shows and provides efficient solutions to our companies, I give ethical principles as a basis, not only of the CPP, but of any security professional (although I would love it to be from society in general and even not have to mention this issue and take it for granted). By showing the CPP badge our obligation is to provide a high quality service, to show at every moment why we are certified. We also have a code of ethics that governs our walk through society," he emphasizes.
In the same way, our guest emphasizes that electronic security is an important part of the CPP, which must be constantly updated and be in force in the changing world of technological security. "Today electronic security is a very important complement in security in terms of prevention, but also in the stages of deterrence and reaction, which has also been demonstrated in both the private and public sectors, for example, in Mexico City, with more than 10,000 cameras installed in the streets, crime levels have been reduced by several digits and allows an efficient reaction avoiding impunity that harms so much. it makes us."
Moving on to the issue of the objectives that a CPP must achieve in the field of security, Tapia Padilla stresses that reducing risk levels thus increasing security levels always with a return on investment is very important.
He also emphasizes that "a CPP must be a great support in the fulfillment of the objectives of the company for which he works, a person who constantly paves the way to senior management, but with that delicacy and intelligence that allows us to aspire to a new culture of safety with the support of all employees, that permeates from the top management with a broad conviction that preaches by example, nothing easy but that is what we are there for, to achieve transcendental things".
He also notes that the leadership of the security professional must constantly adapt to the circumstances and people in front of him. "We must build that bridge of trust with senior management, without trust in this medium things are not achieved," he says.
Perspective of the region
Enrique Tapia affirms that Latin America is a medium in constant movement and evolution to meet the changing demands of the market and society in general.
"While in developed countries private security is well established and well regulated, in emerging countries such as those of Latin America, its legal framework is still growing and developing," he points out.
In the same way, he concludes that he is sure that together with his security colleagues in the Latin American region they are making the best effort to provide quality and reliable services that add value to companies, which is the only sustained path to succeed in the environment and face the challenges they have in the region.
Sentence
"Dedicating ourselves to security is a noble task that allows us to help society to live safer and quieter and, to our clients to meet the objectives of senior management that are set year after year."
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