Global Protective Management Inc. a Nanaimo-based software company, is poised to make it big on the international security scene.

In September 2001, shortly after the attacks on New York City, Global's product was named best new security product of the year at the annual convention of the American Society of Industrial Security in San Antonio Texas out of 1,944 exhibitors.

This year, it won the Grand Prize for best new product by the Canadian Security Magazine.

"We're expecting very steep growth," says managing director Roger Bresden.

"We knew this when we started the project and I think the growth is coming sooner than we expected."

The product Bresden and director John Hess have created is a piece of software that is revolutionizing the security business. Government departments, large corporations and many businesses hire security personnel to patrol buildings and grounds and check to make sure all security systems are working. Unfortunately items are often missed. The process is a long and tedious one.

Global's product, called General Security Assessment (GSA) is a piece of software that computerizes 350 questions for all security personnel. The checklist can be custom tailored to fit a company's specific needs.

"The way we describe is that it's a canned product, but the lid's off," Bresden says.

"We've made the process of going through a security assessment more effective and more efficient."

PORTABLE SOFTWARE

The software is portable and can be loaded on hand-held computers to be used in the field.

Bresden says it reduces the time of data collection and reporting by 50 to 75 per cent.

Since the trip to San Antonio Global Security Systems has acquired clients in Canada, the United States, and England. Distributors have come on board in Mexico, South America and Europe. Federal governments and large corporations all over the world have downloaded a trial version of the product from the Global's web site and have begun to make product inquiries.

Currently two companies in Washington State ? an airplane manufacturer and a large software producer, are assessing the product.

"We're overwhelmed," Bresden says.

The company has recently completed two more security software programs: one specific to high rise apartments and one for the health care industry.

With its continued growth, Bresden expects Global Protective Management to open larger offices in Nanaimo and to begin hiring administrative staff to meet the growing demand.

© Copyright  2002 Nanaimo Daily News