Security

Security is the act of protecting an entity from potential harm or unwanted coercion. It also refers to resilience, which is the ability to withstand or bounce back from damage. The things that need security are called referents. A referent can be a single person or a large social group. It can also be an object, a large institution, or an entire ecosystem. Security is important because it helps protect these referents from unwanted changes in their environment.

Security can be understood as both a state of reality and a state of mind. A person might feel secure even if they are not actually safe. Conversely, someone might feel insecure despite being in a safe situation. The term itself comes from the 16th-century English word derived from the Latin "securus." This Latin term means being without anxiety or care. This highlights that security involves both physical protection and the absence of worry.

To provide security, people use many different types of capabilities. Coercive capabilities involve using power to influence an environment, such as using firearms or aircraft carriers. Protective systems use physical barriers like locks, fences, walls, or antivirus software. Warning systems, including radar and alarms, help detect threats before they arrive. There are also diplomatic and social actions used to prevent insecurity from starting. Finally, policy can be used to build lasting economic or ecological conditions for stability.

Security is organized into many different domains or contexts. Computer security, often called cybersecurity, protects hardware, software, and data. It is vital because modern societies rely heavily on computer networks and the Internet. Corporate security focuses on protecting companies from theft, damage, or espionage. This has become more complex as businesses spread across many different countries. Environmental security, or ecological security, focuses on the integrity of the biosphere. It seeks to protect the diversity of life-forms within an ecosystem.

Political and social security are also major areas of focus. National security involves protecting a nation-state's people, economy, and institutions. Governments often use diplomacy, economic power, and military strength to achieve this. Human security is a newer way of looking at safety. Instead of focusing only on the state, it focuses on the individual. The United Nations supports this by promoting the right of all people to live with dignity and freedom from fear.

Resource security is a critical goal for many nations and businesses. It is the objective of ensuring that materials needed for human needs are reliably supplied. This includes protecting supplies of water, energy, food, and industrial raw materials. It addresses risks like global depletion or interference from terrorists and trade restrictions. Food security is a major part of this, especially as the world population grows. Climate change and the loss of productive land make food security even more urgent.

Governments have taken specific steps to manage these resources. In March 2012, the UK government published the Resource Security Action Plan for England. This was an interdepartmental initiative led by the Department for Environment, Food, Rural Affairs, or DEFRA. The plan focused on protecting the supply of specific metals and materials. In 2014, a group called the EEF released a report titled "Materials for Manufacturing: Safeguarding Supply." This report noted that relying too much on China for strategic supplies was a key issue.

Ultimately, the way people approach security is often a subject of debate. Some argue that security comes from having strong coercive and protective capabilities. They believe a state must be able to dominate its environment to remain safe. Others argue that true security comes from building equitable relationships. They believe that reducing tension and meeting fundamental needs creates lasting stability. These different views show how complex the concept of security really is.