Why do thieves skip some houses?
A thief walks down a street. One house has a loud alarm box and a camera. Another has neither. Which does the thief choose?
Nothing stopped the thief at the first house. They simply chose not to try. That is a deterrent: it works on the mind.
Key words
| Word | What it means | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Deterrent control | A control that puts people off before they try. | |
| Pre-emptive | Done early, to stop something before it starts. | |
| Security guard | A person who watches a site and can challenge people. | |
| Alarm system | A system that makes a loud noise or sends a message when it is set off. | |
| Surveillance | Watching with cameras or other equipment. | |
| Code of conduct | Rules for how staff must behave. | |
| Acceptable usage policy | Rules for how staff may use the company's computers and network. | AUP |
| Procedure | A set of steps people follow, the same way each time. | |
| Network | Computers and devices joined together so they can share data. |
The cells students fill in are left blank in this preview.
By the end of this lesson
Note
I can name deterrent controls and explain why they work even though they do not stop anyone physically.
Starter: what you already know
Have a go
Starter: what you already know
3 questionsYour answers are marked here and are not kept. A college account keeps every student’s marks.
Cycle 1: you can see them
A security guard is a deterrent. A thief sees a person who can challenge them.
An alarm system is a deterrent when people know it is there. A box on the wall tells them they will be noticed.
Visible surveillance such as cameras with signs works the same way. People behave when they know they are watched.
Cycle 2: you can read them
Some deterrents are written down.
A standard operating procedure can set the alarm each night. A fire drill shows that the company takes safety seriously. An employment contract can include a code of conduct. Staff know that breaking it can cost them their job.
An acceptable usage policy says what staff may and may not do on the company network. Breaking it has a consequence.
Deterrents and why they work
| Deterrent | Why it puts people off |
|---|---|
| Security guard | A person can challenge you |
| Alarm system | You will be noticed and a response will come |
| Visible cameras | You will be recorded |
| Setting the alarm each night | Shows the site is watched |
| Code of conduct in the contract | Misuse can cost you your job |
| Acceptable usage policy | Misuse has a known consequence |
The cells students fill in are left blank in this preview.
Check: why it works
Have a go
Check: why it works
4 questionsYour answers are marked here and are not kept. A college account keeps every student’s marks.