Strong management support for security operations is essential. Management should communicate clear policies with common sense flexibility and a theft and prosecution policy that is known and followed. The recruitment of quality security staff involves pre-employment screening, effective training, innovative human resources, meaningful staff incentives, and regular performance evaluations. Security needs, including equipment needs, should be specified. Security decisionmakers should also prioritize threats; top security concerns in 1989 were substance abuse, property crime, white collar crime, violent crime, and liability. Common problems in failed security and possible solutions are listed. 4 figures.