New Year, New Perspective: Security Questions Every Museum Should Ask

New Year, New Perspective: Security Questions Every Museum Should Ask

The start of a new year is a natural moment for museums to pause, reflect, and plan ahead. Budgets are being reviewed, priorities are shifting, and teams are looking for ways to work smarter—not just harder. One area that often deserves a fresh look is security.

Rather than jumping straight to solutions, the most effective upgrades begin with the right questions. As part of our 25 Questions to Ask Before You Upgrade Your Museum Security guide, the following considerations are especially timely as institutions plan for the year ahead.

1. What Are Our Total Expenditures on Security?

Before making any changes, it’s essential to understand what security truly costs today. This means looking beyond obvious line items and documenting all related expenses:

• Staffing and overtime

• Security technology, such as cameras, sensors, or access controls

• Insurance premiums tied to risk mitigation

• Costs associated with incident response, investigations, or repairs

Seeing these expenses together often reveals patterns—areas where spending has quietly increased over time or where multiple resources are supporting the same function. A clear financial picture provides a strong foundation for smarter planning.

2. Are Budgetary Constraints or Funding Sources Likely to Influence Upgrades?

Security planning doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Grants, capital funding, donor restrictions, and operating budgets all shape what’s possible in the coming year.

Ask yourself:

• Are there funding sources that limit how security dollars can be used?

• Are there upcoming budget pressures that could delay upgrades?

• Are there new opportunities—grants or partnerships—that might support improvements?

Understanding these constraints early helps align expectations internally and ensures that any proposed upgrades are realistic, sustainable, and defensible.

3. How Much Time Does Staff Spend on Security-Related Issues?

Security isn’t just a budget line, it’s a time investment. Consider how many hours staff members spend on:

• Monitoring galleries or responding to alarms

• Managing incidents or near-misses

• Completing reports or follow-ups

• Performing recurring security tasks that pull focus from other responsibilities

When security work consumes significant staff time, it can impact visitor engagement, operational efficiency, and morale. Identifying tasks that are repetitive or manual can highlight opportunities to streamline processes without compromising protection.

4. Are There Specific Stakeholder Concerns We Must Address?

Security decisions often involve more voices than expected. Board members, insurers, donors, facilities teams, curators, and front-line staff may all have concerns or expectations about risk, visibility, or visitor experience.

Taking time to examine these perspectives early can prevent friction later. It also helps ensure that future upgrades address not just operational needs, but institutional trust and accountability as well.

5. What Are Our Primary Goals for Upgrading Our Security System?

Finally, it’s worth asking the most strategic question of all: What are we trying to achieve?

Goals might include:

• Reducing incidents or near-misses

• Improving response times

• Lowering long-term costs

• Reducing staff burden

• Enhancing the visitor experience while maintaining protection

Clear goals make it easier to evaluate options and measure success over time. Without them, even well-intentioned upgrades can fall short.

Starting the Year with Better Questions

The new year doesn’t have to mean an immediate overhaul—but it is the perfect time to reassess. By asking thoughtful, targeted questions about costs, time, constraints, stakeholders, and goals, museums can approach security planning with clarity and confidence.

Strong security strategies aren’t built on quick fixes. They’re built on informed decisions, and those start with asking the right questions.