Downsizing, profit-center doctrine, and a focus on rapid returns on investment all threaten security operations. However, the security program is more than a cost center. It contributes to a company's profitability by preventing problems, recognizing the warning signs of a problem, and providing emergency responses. It also provides the intangible benefits of employee comfort and customer satisfaction. However, specifying the paybacks from security measures is difficult, and many of the benefits represent long-term returns rather than immediate gains. Some examples of cost-effective programs include the use of civil recovery rather than prosecution of shoplifters by Eckerd Drugs, the changes in security officer tasks by AT and T Bell Laboratories, the development of a security newsletter to improve communication with employees of Michigan Bell, and the provision of a shuttle bus service for patients and visitors to Floyd Memorial Hospital in Indiana. Photographs and figures.