Last month’s column that touched on rough economic times and technology that can help extend the value of an existing access control system. As the impacts of the current economic turmoil continue to be felt by security departments, some security practitioners have experienced a “second hit” on their security technology programs: downsizing within the IT department. This has brought an unexpected wrinkle to their efforts to collaborate with IT regarding their physical security technology.

Two examples illustrate the challenge.

Q: What impacts have the economic situation had on your company’s security program?

A:I tried to arrange a meeting with my systems integrator and a network designer from the IT Department, for network design planning. IT sent a database administrator! That was the only person they had available.

— Security Director, Global Manufacturer

A: We have been working to connect our Security LAN to the corporate network. My security tech specialist has gotten himself up to speed on our networking requirements, and now we wanted to find out what IT requirements we would have to comply with. The IT Department sent us a help desk person because after the workforce reduction, everyone is over-tasked — especially the network and IT security folks.

— Security Manager, Major Manufacturer

This hit home for me because I had a similar experience on a project. My client’s IT group had been severely impacted by their workforce reduction. The person IT had sent to us was not familiar with the corporate network or the computer and security requirements that we needed to comply with on the upcoming project. Although she didn’t have the technical expertise expected, she turned out to be a very smart and practical person, whom I think will be a valuable ally for Security going forward.

Her view is that her company needs her to do whatever is required to keep IT going and doing its job, regardless of how much learning this requires on her part. Her IT colleagues are now operating in a highly collaborative mode. They are networking more and reaching out to others through the local chapters of the associations they belong to — such as the International High Technology Crime Investigation Association (HTCIA); the Information Systems Security Association (ISSA); the Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA); and Women in Technology International (WITI).