Encyclopedia of Security and Emergency Management

Book excerpt: This Encyclopedia is a comprehensive reference work covering the interdisciplinary facets of security. The topics range from security threats (for example: cybercrime, terrorism, shoplifting and fraud), to applications on the job, to coordination between public and private sectors in handling security and emergency situations nationally and internationally. Special attention is given to security concepts, methods, functions, theories, organizations, and technology. It will also cover the history and current state of the discipline. As a resource, contributions cover best practices in security, weaknesses in current techniques, risk assessment and vulnerability in a range of businesses and critical infrastructure sectors (including heathcare, finance, energy, natural resources, government facilities, communications, and IT), and mechanisms for managing natural and human-made disasters. As an interdisciplinary tool, it will provide practical, authoritative information both for those involved in crime and security studies, as well as those from related disciplines who increasingly need to consider security as part of their work, such as police studies, counterterrorism, urban planning, public policy, and information technology.