ASIS officials say they plan to develop new business continuity guidelines and a general security risk assessment, both of which will be based on the organization's American National Standard guidelines.

The business continuity management guidelines are an effort to develop crisis and disaster management preparedness criteria for business and operational continuity, while ASIS officials say the general security risk assessment guidelines are an analysis of the risk management controls efficacy for businesses.

The security standards guidelines for businesses by ASIS are voluntary, but officials say in an evolving security climate the new standard practices are part of an initiative to assist in making effective security decisions, among other risk benefits.

"In the United States and globally, standards are becoming a major influence on the security scene," Mark Geraci, ASIS commission on standards and guidelines chairman, said in a statement.

"They are seen as one of the major dynamic tools to help nations, communities, societies, organizations and individuals improve their resilience in the face of security threats both natural and manmade."