Security glossary
A glossary of physical security, event security, entrance procedures and security technology. Each term is explained briefly and in an operational context.
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The glossary explains abbreviations and terms. If you already have a specific assignment, continue to the relevant service page for the practical process and enquiry requirements. Answers to common questions before an enquiry are available in the FAQ.
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.
Fire alarm system
Fire safety equipment for early smoke or fire detection.
CCTV camera system
Closed Circuit Television for visual monitoring and recording.
ACS access control system
An electronic system for controlling access and recording passages of people and vehicles.
Patrol system
A control system for recording guard activity using RFID chips or GPS.
Crowd Management
Strategic management of crowd movement and behaviour at mass events.
Deeskalace konfliktu
Deliberate reduction of tension in a crisis situation to prevent physical conflict.
Ingress / Egress
Management of arrival and exit routes, capacities and bottlenecks.
All terms by category
The complete glossary is available directly on this page. The search and filters above only help you find terms faster.
Legislation
17 termsNecessary defense (§ 29 TZ)
Circumstance excluding illegality. The right to repel an imminent or ongoing attack.
Extreme emergency (§ 28 TZ)
Circumstance excluding illegality, when the danger directly threatening an interest protected by criminal law is averted.
Detention of a person (§ 76 of the Code of Criminal Procedure)
The right of every citizen to limit the personal freedom of a person caught in a criminal act.
Guard (68-008-E)
Professional qualifications required for the performance of work in a security agency.
Licensed 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.
OSH in the security service
Safety and health protection at work, i.e. rules for limiting the risks of workers and persons in traffic.
GDPR: 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.
Balance test
Assessing whether the administrator's legitimate interest prevails over the rights and freedoms of the persons concerned.
Information obligation for cameras
Obligation to inform persons that they are being scanned, who is processing the data and why.
Camera recording retention time
Setting record retention to be necessary, justified and documented.
Cameras in the workplace
Specific camera mode if the footage touches employees (higher sensitivity and purpose limitation).
DPIA (Data Protection Impact Assessment)
Formal risk assessment of personal data processing before launch (mandatory for selected cases).
EPS: kontroly provozuschopnosti
Mandatory regular inspections and tests of electrical fire alarm operation.
Fire safety at events
Organizer's set of responsibilities: escape routes, capacity, resources, patrols and instructions to participants.
Visiting regulations
Rules of conduct of visitors and framework of procedures of the organizing/security service.
Powers of the Organizing Service
A stewarding service has no special powers beyond those of an ordinary citizen; it relies on house rules and general legal institutes.
Fire evacuation plan
A document that establishes the rules and procedure for evacuating people from the building in the event of a fire.
Role
9 termsBodyguard (CPO)
Close Protection Officer.
Steward
Worker ensuring service, navigation and safety of visitors at events.
Psovod (K9)
A security guard with a specially trained service dog.
Reception Center Operator
An external workplace operator who receives alarms, validates them and triggers reaction scenarios.
Shift leader (Supervisor)
A person who manages people on shift, distributes tasks and maintains the quality of service.
Safety Officer
Role responsible for the security regime and coordination of security measures at the event.
Fire protection preventer
Person responsible for reviewing fire safety compliance and training.
DPO (Personal Data Protection Officer)
An internal or external expert who advises an organization on privacy and oversees compliance.
Security Systems Technician
Specialist in installation, service and configuration of PZTS/EPS/CCTV/ACS including integrations.
Services
11 termsAction Safety Plan
Plan of routine and procedures in the event of incidents intended for security personnel until the IZS situation is taken over.
Coordination plan
Coordination plan of the organization's management and partners (including emergency scenarios).
Communication plan
Defines communication processes for both routine and incidents (channels, escalations, contacts).
Evacuation / evacuation plan
Scenario for getting people out (evacuation) or hiding inside (invacuation).
Guard service
An older term for physical security: a permanent guard presence protecting a site, entrances and property under a set regime.
Stewarding service
Event operations people who provide navigation, input mode and security support.
Mobile Patrol
A motorized (or foot) patrol that inspects multiple objects or a perimeter as planned.
Keyholding
A service where the security company holds the keys and responds to alarms or trips outside of working hours.
Video verifikace poplachu
Alarm verification via camera (live or clip) before exit or police escalation.
Remote guarding
Remote surveillance combining CCTV, analytics, operators and immediate intervention (e.g. by voice call).
Risk analysis
Systematic identification of risks, their impacts and measures (basis for plan and pricing).
Taktika
15 termsProxemics (Reaction Zone)
Safe distance between guard and potential aggressor.
Verbal Judo
Tactical communication technique for de-escalating conflicts and gaining cooperation.
Interview stance
A safe communication stance that protects the reaction zone and at the same time does not seem unnecessarily confrontational.
Deeskalace konfliktu
Deliberate reduction of tension in a crisis situation to prevent physical conflict.
Advance Work
Preparation of routes, locations and security screening of places before the arrival of the protected person.
Crowd Management
Strategic management of crowd movement and behaviour at mass events.
Situational Awareness
The ability to perceive, understand and predict the development of the situation in space.
OODA loop
Observe–Orient–Decide–Act Decision Model for Fast Situations.
Safety briefing
Brief briefing of the team before the event (and post-event debrief).
SITREP (situation report)
Structured reporting of the situation to the event management or responsible team.
ICP (Incident Command Post)
The location from which a tactical level intervention/incident is controlled.
Dynamic risk assessment
Rapid risk assessment in real time as conditions change.
Ingress / Egress
Management of arrival and exit routes, capacities and bottlenecks.
AAR (After Action Review)
Structured evaluation after the action/incident: what worked, what didn't and what we will change.
Force Use Continuum
The principle of gradual selection of means from presence and communication to physical intervention.
Technology
21 termsPZTS (EZS)
Intruder and hold-up alarm system, formerly electronic security signalling.
Fire alarm system
Fire safety equipment for early smoke or fire detection.
CCTV camera system
Closed Circuit Television for visual monitoring and recording.
PCO (Centralized Protection Desk)
External monitoring center for receiving and evaluating signals from security systems.
Patrol system
A control system for recording guard activity using RFID chips or GPS.
ACS access control system
An electronic system for controlling access and recording passages of people and vehicles.
Turniket
Entry device dosing the passage of people (individually) and preventing "slipping".
RFID access identifier
Contactless card/chip used as a “key” to the access system.
MIFARE DESFire
A more secure contactless platform for access and ticketing systems (typically with AES).
Wiegand (interface / protocol)
Older de-facto standard for connecting the reader to the controller (DATA0/DATA1).
OSDP (Secure Reader Protocol)
Open Supervised Device Protocol – a modern protocol for access systems (including Secure Channel).
ONVIF (standard pro IP kamery)
Open interface for interoperability of IP security devices (mainly CCTV).
PoE (Power over Ethernet)
Power supply of IP devices (typically cameras) via Ethernet cable.
NVR (Network Video Recorder)
Network recorder for recording IP cameras.
VMS (Video Management System)
Software for central management of cameras, recording, users, events and integrations.
ANPR/LPR (License Plate Recognition)
Technology that automatically reads vehicle license plates from camera images.
Alarm Relay System (PPS)
Transmission of alarm messages between the object and the receiving center (alarm receiving center).
DPPC / ARC (Surveillance and Alarm Reception Centre)
Workplace for receiving, evaluating and processing alarms.
PSIM (Integrated Security Platform)
Software to integrate physical security into one console (CCTV + PZTS + ACS + others).
UPS (backup power supply)
Backup battery source to bridge power failure.
RAID (disk array for camera recordings)
Storing data on multiple disks for higher availability and/or performance.