Security glossary
Security terms, clearly explained.
A glossary of physical security, event security, access control and security technology terms. Each term is explained concisely and linked to a relevant service.
Term archive
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The glossary explains abbreviations and terms. If you already have a specific assignment, continue to the relevant service or see the frequently asked questions.
73 matching terms
Most common terms
Start with terms that most often appear when enquiring about event, site or operational security.
PZTS (EZS)
Intruder and hold-up alarm system, formerly electronic security signalling.
Meaning in practiceTechnologyFire alarm system
Fire safety equipment for early smoke or fire detection.
Meaning in practiceTechnologyCCTV camera system
Closed Circuit Television for visual monitoring and recording.
Meaning in practiceTechnologyACS access control system
An electronic system for controlling access and recording passages of people and vehicles.
Meaning in practiceAll terms by category
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Legislation
17 terms
Necessary defense (§ 29 TZ)
Circumstance excluding illegality. The right to repel an imminent or ongoing attack.
Meaning in practiceLegislationExtreme emergency (§ 28 TZ)
Circumstance excluding illegality, when the danger directly threatening an interest protected by criminal law is averted.
Meaning in practiceLegislationDetention of a person (§ 76 of the Code of Criminal Procedure)
Restriction of liberty when a person is caught committing a criminal offence or immediately afterwards, subject to Section 76(2) of the Czech Code of Criminal Procedure.
Meaning in practiceLegislationGuard (68-008-E)
A professional qualification that provides one statutory route to demonstrate competence for guarding property and people.
Meaning in practiceLegislationLicensed business: security of property and persons
A business regime where free trade is not enough; operation is subject to a license and the fulfillment of legal conditions.
Meaning in practiceLegislationOSH in the security service
Occupational health and safety: rules that reduce risks to workers and other people on site.
Meaning in practiceLegislationGDPR: Legitimate interest
Legal title to the processing of personal data, if the processing is necessary and the rights of the data subject do not prevail.
Meaning in practiceLegislationBalance test
Assessing whether the data controller's legitimate interest prevails over the rights and freedoms of the persons concerned.
Meaning in practiceLegislationInformation obligation for cameras
Obligation to inform persons that they are being scanned, who is processing the data and why.
Meaning in practiceLegislationCamera recording retention time
Setting record retention to be necessary, justified and documented.
Meaning in practiceLegislationCameras in the workplace
Specific camera mode if the footage touches employees (higher sensitivity and purpose limitation).
Meaning in practiceLegislationDPIA (Data Protection Impact Assessment)
Formal risk assessment of personal data processing before launch (mandatory for selected cases).
Meaning in practiceLegislationFire alarm inspections and functional tests
Mandatory regular inspections and tests of electrical fire alarm operation.
Meaning in practiceLegislationFire safety at events
Organizer's set of responsibilities: escape routes, capacity, resources, patrols and instructions to participants.
Meaning in practiceLegislationVisitor rules
Rules for visitor conduct and a framework for stewarding and security service procedures.
Meaning in practiceLegislationPowers of event stewards
A stewarding service has no special powers beyond those of an ordinary citizen; it relies on house rules and general legal institutes.
Meaning in practiceLegislationFire evacuation plan
A document that establishes the rules and procedure for evacuating people from the building in the event of a fire.
Meaning in practiceRoles
9 terms
Bodyguard (CPO)
Close Protection Officer.
Meaning in practiceRolesSteward
Worker ensuring service, navigation and safety of visitors at events.
Meaning in practiceRolesSecurity dog handler (K9)
A security guard with a specially trained service dog.
Meaning in practiceRolesReception Center Operator
An external workplace operator who receives alarms, validates them and triggers reaction scenarios.
Meaning in practiceRolesShift leader (Supervisor)
A person who manages people on shift, distributes tasks and maintains the quality of service.
Meaning in practiceRolesSafety Officer
Role responsible for the security arrangements and coordination of security measures at the event.
Meaning in practiceRolesFire protection preventer
Person responsible for reviewing fire safety compliance and training.
Meaning in practiceRolesDPO (Personal Data Protection Officer)
An internal or external expert who advises an organization on privacy and oversees compliance.
Meaning in practiceRolesSecurity Systems Technician
Specialist in installation, service and configuration of PZTS/EPS/CCTV/ACS including integrations.
Meaning in practiceServices
11 terms
Action Safety Plan
Plan of routine and procedures in the event of incidents intended for security personnel until the IZS situation is taken over.
Meaning in practiceServicesCoordination plan
Coordination plan of the organization's management and partners (including emergency scenarios).
Meaning in practiceServicesCommunication plan
Defines communication processes for both routine and incidents (channels, escalations, contacts).
Meaning in practiceServicesEvacuation / shelter-in-place plan
Scenario for getting people out (evacuation) or hiding inside (invacuation).
Meaning in practiceServicesGuard service
An older term for physical security: a permanent guard presence protecting a site, entrances and property under a set regime.
Meaning in practiceServicesStewarding service
Event staff who provide directions, manage visitor entry and support safety.
Meaning in practiceServicesMobile Patrol
A motorized (or foot) patrol that inspects multiple sites or a perimeter as planned.
Meaning in practiceServicesKeyholding
A service where the security company holds the keys and responds to alarms or trips outside of working hours.
Meaning in practiceServicesVideo alarm verification
Alarm verification via camera (live or clip) before exit or police escalation.
Meaning in practiceServicesRemote guarding
Remote surveillance combining CCTV, analytics, operators and immediate intervention (e.g. by voice call).
Meaning in practiceServicesRisk analysis
Systematic identification of risks, their impacts and measures (basis for plan and pricing).
Meaning in practiceTactics
15 terms
Proxemics (Reaction Zone)
Safe distance between guard and potential aggressor.
Meaning in practiceTacticsVerbal Judo
Tactical communication technique for de-escalating conflicts and gaining cooperation.
Meaning in practiceTacticsInterview stance
A safe communication stance that protects the reaction zone and at the same time does not seem unnecessarily confrontational.
Meaning in practiceTacticsConflict de-escalation
Deliberate reduction of tension in a crisis situation to prevent physical conflict.
Meaning in practiceTacticsAdvance Work
Preparation of routes, locations and security screening of places before the arrival of the protected person.
Meaning in practiceTacticsCrowd Management
Strategic management of crowd movement and behaviour at mass events.
Meaning in practiceTacticsSituational Awareness
The ability to perceive, understand and predict the development of the situation in space.
Meaning in practiceTacticsOODA loop
Observe–Orient–Decide–Act Decision Model for Fast Situations.
Meaning in practiceTacticsSafety briefing
Brief briefing of the team before the event (and post-event debrief).
Meaning in practiceTacticsSITREP (situation report)
Structured reporting of the situation to the event management or responsible team.
Meaning in practiceTacticsICP (Incident Command Post)
The location from which a tactical level intervention/incident is controlled.
Meaning in practiceTacticsDynamic risk assessment
Rapid risk assessment in real time as conditions change.
Meaning in practiceTacticsIngress / Egress
Management of arrival and exit routes, capacities and bottlenecks.
Meaning in practiceTacticsAAR (After Action Review)
Structured evaluation after the action/incident: what worked, what didn't and what we will change.
Meaning in practiceTacticsForce Use Continuum
A training model for selecting responses from communication to physical intervention, always within the law.
Meaning in practiceTechnology
21 terms
PZTS (EZS)
Intruder and hold-up alarm system, formerly electronic security signalling.
Meaning in practiceTechnologyFire alarm system
Fire safety equipment for early smoke or fire detection.
Meaning in practiceTechnologyCCTV camera system
Closed Circuit Television for visual monitoring and recording.
Meaning in practiceTechnologyPCO (Centralized Protection Desk)
External monitoring center for receiving and evaluating signals from security systems.
Meaning in practiceTechnologyPatrol system
A control system for recording guard activity using RFID chips or GPS.
Meaning in practiceTechnologyACS access control system
An electronic system for controlling access and recording passages of people and vehicles.
Meaning in practiceTechnologyTurnstile
Entry device dosing the passage of people (individually) and preventing "slipping".
Meaning in practiceTechnologyRFID access identifier
Contactless card/chip used as a “key” to the access system.
Meaning in practiceTechnologyMIFARE DESFire
A more secure contactless platform for access and ticketing systems (typically with AES).
Meaning in practiceTechnologyWiegand (interface / protocol)
Older de-facto standard for connecting the reader to the controller (DATA0/DATA1).
Meaning in practiceTechnologyOSDP (Secure Reader Protocol)
Open Supervised Device Protocol – a modern protocol for access systems (including Secure Channel).
Meaning in practiceTechnologyONVIF (standard for IP cameras)
Open interface for interoperability of IP security devices (mainly CCTV).
Meaning in practiceTechnologyPoE (Power over Ethernet)
Power supply of IP devices (typically cameras) via Ethernet cable.
Meaning in practiceTechnologyNVR (Network Video Recorder)
Network recorder for recording IP cameras.
Meaning in practiceTechnologyVMS (Video Management System)
Software for central management of cameras, recording, users, events and integrations.
Meaning in practiceTechnologyANPR/LPR (License Plate Recognition)
Technology that automatically reads vehicle license plates from camera images.
Meaning in practiceTechnologyAlarm Relay System (PPS)
Transmission of alarm messages between the site and the receiving center (alarm receiving center).
Meaning in practiceTechnologyDPPC / ARC (Surveillance and Alarm Reception Centre)
Workplace for receiving, evaluating and processing alarms.
Meaning in practiceTechnologyPSIM (Integrated Security Platform)
Software to integrate physical security into one console (CCTV + PZTS + ACS + others).
Meaning in practiceTechnologyUPS (backup power supply)
Backup battery source to bridge power failure.
Meaning in practiceTechnologyRAID (disk array for camera recordings)
Storing data on multiple disks for higher availability and/or performance.
Meaning in practice