Project Plans for Security Integrators

Author: Brian Rhodes, Published on Jan 26, 2018

How do security integrators typically plan projects? A detailed playbook with step by step execution? Just go out and do it? Somewhere in between?

100+ integrators told IPVM how they plan projects and what level of detail they use.

Project Work Planning Statistics

Based on responses, most integrators do plan projects out, but with only about a third of them answering they do so with high levels of detail:

However, the most substantial and detailed plans are tied to big projects, with many noting that smaller projects are often looslely defined or even not formally planned at all.

*** ** ******** *********** ********* **** ********? * ******** ******** with **** ** **** *********? **** ** *** *** ** it? ********* ** *******?

***+ *********** **** **** *** **** **** ******** *** **** level ** ****** **** ***.

Project **** ******** **********

***** ** *********, **** *********** ** **** ******** ***, *** with **** ***** * ***** ** **** ********* **** ** so **** **** ****** ** ******:

*******, *** **** *********** *** ******** ***** *** **** ** big ********, **** **** ****** **** ******* ******** *** ***** looslely ******* ** **** *** ******** ******* ** ***.

[***************]

Notable ******

*** ******* ******** *** **** ***, ******* *********** ****** ****** obvious ***** *** *******:

  • ******* ******** *** ***: ** ***** ** ************* ******** ******** ********** (******* *******)******, *** ** ** ********* *** **** *** ******, *** also *** ***** *********** ** ******* *** **** *** *** project **********. ******* ********* **** **** '*** ****' ********** **** change ***** ** **** ********** ** *************, *** ** *** PM ** *** ***** ** ****** *** ****, ** ******* becomes ***********.
  • ****** ******** **** **** ******** *****: ******* *** ** **** the **** ************* *** ************* ***** ***** ** *** ********. Indeed, **** ******* ********** ***** ** ****** *** ***** *** work ************ ** *** ** ***** ********** ** * *** days, *** ***** ****** **** **** ********* **** ****** ** phased **** ***** *** **** ** *********** ******* ******** *******.
  • ****** ******* *** ********** *** ***** ****: ** ***** ** which ********* *** **** ******* *** ****, ****** *** *** some **** ** ****** ** ********* ** *** **** **** for ******** ****.

** *** ******** *****, ********** ****** ********* ***** ***** ****** and ***** *** ******.

Big ******** *** **** *************

*** **** *** ********** ** * ******* ********* ******** *** detail ** **********'* **** ****. ****** ********, ********** ***** ********* multiple ******* ****** ** ************ ******* ******* ******, ***** *** the **** **** ********* *** ************* *******:

  • "** *** ****** ******** *** ** *** ***** ****** ** many ** *** ********."
  • "******* ** *** **** ** *** ******* *** ********* *** constant ** * **** *******/*** *** ***** ** **** ********* to ** ********. **** *** ** ****** *********** ** ***** especially ********* ** *** ******* ****. ****** ******** $***+ **** have * ******* ******* ******** **** **********."
  • "******* ** *** **** ** *** *******. ***** ******** *** often **** *******. ******* **** *** ***** **** ** *** techs ** ****** ***."
  • "** ****** **** ******* ** *******. **** ********** ** ******** for ****** *** **** ******* ****."
  • "******** **** *** **** * ***** **** ******** **** ******** Gantt ****** *** ************* *****. **** **** **** ********** **** they *** ****** **** *** ******. ***** ********* ** ****** can ** *********** **** **** ***********."
  • "*** **** *********** ******* *** ** ** ** ***** *******. If *** ****** ** ***** *******, *** **** **** * daily ********. **** **** **** **** ******* *** **** ** trades ******* ***** *** * *** ** *********** ******* *** different ****."
  • "** *** ******* ** *** ******* *** *** ** ********* it. *** ***** ***** ********, ** **** * ********* *** process. *** ***** ********, ** ***** **** **** *** *** process ** *** **** ********* *** *** ***** ********."
  • "****** ******** **** **** * ***** ***** *** ******** ****. This **** **** ** **** **** ** *** ******* ******* is ******** ** *** *******. ******* ******** **** **** *** make ***** ** ** ********."

****** ******** ******* *********** ************, ********* ****, *** ***** ********, but **** ***** ****** ******* ******* ***** *** ***** ******* where ******* ******** ** ***.

PM ***** *** ****

********, ******* ***** ** *** ************* ** *** **** ******* significantly ** * ******* ******* ** ******* *** ******** ** as ***** *********** ****** **** *****. **** ********* ** *** central ************** ** ********** ********** ***** ** ** ******** ***** ** ****** ******* *********** for **** ***.

  • "*** *** ** ****** ******** ** ****. * ***'* **** the ********* *** * **** ** ***** **** *** ***."
  • "**** ********, *** * ** **** * ***** *** ** the *******. * ** *** ***** *** ***** ** *** Users, *** **** * **** *** ******* **** ** **, they *** **** ** **** *****. * ** ***** ** have * ******* ** ** **** **** *** ******** **** back ** **..."
  • "*** **** *********** ******* *** ** ** ** ***** *******. If *** ****** * ***** ******* , **** **** **** a ***** ********. **** **** **** ** ****** *** **** of ****** ******** ***** *** * *** ** *********** ******* the ********* ****."
  • "*** **** ***** **** **** *********** ** *********** ** ******* manager. **** *********** ***** ** * ******** ***** ** **** for *** ** *** ********** *** **** *** ****** *****. Then *** ** ***** *** * ******** ***** ** **** but **** ** ****** ** *** **********."
  • "** **** * ***** ******* ******* **** * *** *** checkpoints. *** ******** ** ** ******** ** **** **** *** work ***** *** ** *** *** **********. "
  • "**** ** *** **** ******* ** ***** ** *-* ***** sectors, *** ** ***** ****** ***** **********."
  • "*** ******* ***** ** **** *** ******* ****** ********* **** are ***** ** ********* ** *** ********* *** ******** ************ and ********** *** **** **** ** **** ** *** *****, used ** **'* *** ******* *****."
  • "**** ******* ******* ******** ***** *** **** *****, *** **** requirements, *************, ***. **** ** ******** ** *** ******* *****. "

Some **** **** ** ******* ********

*******, *** *** *********** ****** ******* *****. ******* ********* ***** that ************ ******* *** **** **** *******, *** ***** * basic ****** ** * *** ***** *** ** ****, **** substantially ******** **** ** ******** *** ********* ** **** ********* to **** ****** '******* ***** ***':

  • "**** ***** **** ****** ****** ****** ** *** **** **** drawing. **** *** ****** ***** ***** ********. **** ** ** work ** ***** ** *******. ***** ********* *** ** ***** on ****** **** ***** ** ****"
  • "** **** ****** ***** *********, **** *** ** *** **********-******** workplans **** *** ***** ** ***."
  • "** *** ****** ** ***** *** ****** *** ********. ** isn't ******** **** ********, *** ** *** **** **** ** included **** **** **** ** *** *******."
  • "** ** *** ****** **** *** ****** ******* **** *****. This ** ** ** *** ******* ******* *** ******* ** determine ** *** ***** **** *** ***** ****."
  • "********* *** *** **** ********, *** ** ****-****** **** ************** (not ******). "
  • "***** **** ***** ********* *** ******* ******** *** ********** **** work *****. ********* ** ** ********, *** ***** ****, ******* the ****** ******** *** *** *********** *** ****** ***** ** become *****."
  • "**** ****** ** *** ********* *** ****** ** ** *******."
  • "****** ******** *** ***** *** ****** ***** ***** ** *** day ** ******* ********** ***** ** *** **** ****** ** don't ***** ***** *** ****** *** *****."

***** ********* **** ******** ********* **** ***** ** ****** ******** is ****, ** ***** ***** ** **********, * ***** **** clear ** *** **** *****:

Strong ****** *** ******

***** ****** *********** ** ** ******** ***** ********* *** **** results **** ********. ******* ********* ********* **** ************* **** ***********, better *******, *** **** ************* ****-******** ***** ** * ******* change:

  • "*** **** ***** **** ** ******* - ** ***'* **** have * ******* *****. ** *** *** ******, **** ***** poorly. **************, **** *** ***** ***** ********* ** ********* ***** handled ** ************ ************ **** **** ** ******** ****** ****** to ********** *** *** ** ****."
  • "***** ******* ** ***** **** **********. ****** ******** ***** ******* with *** ***."
  • "**** *********** ***** ** * ******** ***** ** **** *** the ** *** ********** *** **** *** ****** *****. **** the ** ***** *** * ******** ***** ** **** *** then ** ****** ** *** **********."
  • "*****. ****** **** *** ********. **** *** ***. ***** ** nice ** **** * *** ****, **** ** ***** *************."
  • "** **** ** ********* ****"
  • "** ********* **** **** ****** *** **** * **** ****."
  • "** *** ******** ** *** ******* ** ************ ******* *********, but **** *** *** ***********. ***** ***, ******** **** **** what **** ***** ** **** *** ***** ******* *** ** run **** **. ** ***** ******* ****** ****, *** ** tend ** *** **** **** ***** ** *** ****** *** projects ** ***/**** ********."

Software ***** ****

*******, ***** **** ********* ***** * ********** ******** ** *** of ***** **** *** ********, ***** *** ** ***** ****** answer. ** *******, * *** ** ************, * ****** ****** design ****, *** ***** ***** ********** ******** **** ******** *********, but * ******* ** ***** *** ****:

  • "** ******* ***** ****** *** * ******** ** *** ********. They *** ****** ********. *** ***** ****** **** **** **** when **** *** ******** *** *** ******* ***** *** ************ to *** ******* ************."
  • "** **** *** ****** *** ****** (**** **********), **** ** implement *** ************ ** ******. **** ********* ***** *** ** our ***** ******* ***** ** ***** **** **** ********. ** have *** *** *** *****"
  • "** ************** ******* ******. ************ ** **** *** * **** ******. We *** *** **** *** *** ********** ** ******** ******** views"
  • "** *********** ****** ****-**-**** ********* *** *** ********. ** *** ***** from *** *********** ******** *** *** *** ***** ** **** to ****** ******** **********, ***** ***** ***** ******** *** **** sure ** *** *** ******* *** ******** *****."
  • "******** * ********** **** ******** **** **** ** ***** ****** calculator *****. *** ********* ******** **** ****** *********** ** *** the ****** ******. "
  • "** **** **** **** ** ***** ***** ***** ***** ** MS *****. ** **** **** * ******* ** ***** *** our ******** ** ****."
  • "** *** ****** ** ***** *** ****** *** ********. ** isn't ******** **** ********, *** ** *** **** **** ** included **** **** **** ** *** *******."
  • "********** ********** & ***** ********. ** ***** * ***, *** it's *** *******"

** *** **** ***** ** *** ******* ********** ******, ** will ******* ******* ******** ******** ***** ************."

Comments (10)

Undisclosed Integrator #1

01/26/18 05:00pm

**** ****** *** **** * ***** **** ********. ** ****** comes **** *** ***** *** **** ********** ** **** *** efforts ** **** * ****. ****** ******** **** **** ***** benefit. ******* **** **** **.

******* ****** ********* ****** ** ** *** ******** **** ***** a ******* ******* ** ** ** ***** ****, ** ** least **** ********** ***** ** *******. **** ** **** *** jobs, * **** **** ******* *** ********* *** ******* ****** from ****** ** ****** ** *** ******** ****. **** * customer **** *** [****] **** * ****** ******* ******* ** their ****, ** *** **** ******* ******* ** *** ********** side.

Undisclosed Integrator #2

01/26/18 05:51pm

** ****** * ***** *****-**** *** ***** *** ** ****** the **** ** **** ******** ** *** ********** **** *** discussed **** *** ******. ** **** ** *********** *** *********** to **** **-**** *******. *** ******** ** *** ******* *** 100-400 *******. **** ***** ******** ******** **** ************** *****, ** work ** ******** * **% ****** ** *** **** *** adding ****** ** ****** ****** ***** ** *********** ** *** have * **** *******, ***********, ****-*********** *****.

Undisclosed End User #3

In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #2 | 01/26/18 05:56pm

** **** ** *********** *** *********** ** **** **-**** *******.

** **** ***** *** ******** ******** ****** ********** **** ***** on-site *******?

Undisclosed Integrator #2

01/27/18 02:46pm

** **** **** ** **** ** ** **** ******, **** kind ** ******** ** ****?

*** *** ***** *** ************ *** ********* **** *********, ***** a **** *** **** *** ** *****, ******** ** *** things ** ***** **** *** **** ***** *****. * *** be * **** **** *** ** * **** **, ** far **** * ****-****. ** **** ***** ** *** ******* on * ****, **. ****** * ******, ****** * ****** or *** *** * *** ***** ** ***** **** *****. Its ***** *****, *** ***** ****, **** ***** *** ** do *** ***** ***** *** **** *** ****** ** **** out. *** ***** *** **** *** ***, ******** ****. * trust ** *** **********, ****** ** ***, *** * *** real **** ** **** **** ******* **** *** *******, **** educated **** ****** *** ** *** ****** **** *** **. I **** **** **** ** ******* **** ****, *** **** did *** ****?

Undisclosed End User #3

In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #2 | 01/29/18 03:44pm

** *** *** **** ** ******** **** * ******* *** could ****** ******. **** *** ***** *** * **** ********* something *** **, *** ******* *** ******** ****** ******* ** permission. **** ******** ** *** ****** *** ***** *** ********* and ** *** ** ** **-*********. * *** ****** * could ***** ** **** **** ** **-***-*** ****** *** ********* techs ********* **.

*'** ****** * *** ** ******* **** ****. :)

Dennis Ruban

01/28/18 04:52am

*'** ***** **** * **** ******* ******** *** ******** **** in ******. **** **** ****** *** **** **** * **** plan, **** **** ***'* **** **** * **** **** **** looks ****.

**** * ***** ** *** **** ****, * ******* *** reason: ********* **** ** *** ********** *** ********** ** ******** stage ** *** ******* *** *********** ** ****. ** ****** we ****** **** ************* *** ** ***** ** * **** of *** *******. *** ***** **** *** ************ ** *** don't ** ****. *******, *-*% *** ********* ************* *** ** to **% *** *** ******* **********. **** ** ********** **** to ** ** ********, **** **** ** ******* *** ***** expenses ** * ******* ******** *** ******** *** ******. ****'* why **'* ******* ****

Thumbnail profile

Michael Gonzalez

01/30/18 03:12am

*********** ********. * ***** **** ****** ******* ** *** ******** as ****. ** ** ****** * *** ********* ** ** company. ** ****** *** *** ******* *****/********, *** ** **** out *** *** ********* ** **** **** ** ***** *** standards.

**** *********** ******* **** *********** *** ****** **** ******, ***** all ** *** *********** *** **** ** ********** **** **** be ******* ** *** ***** **** ******. **** ** **** comes **** ** *** *** ** ** ** ***** ******** hours, *** *** *** *** *** **** ******* ** *** equipment **** ***** *********.

*************, * ******* **** ********* ***'* **** *** ********* ** the **** ** **** ******* **** ***** *** *****. ****'* something ****** **** **** ** ***** ***** ****** ******** *** a ****** **** ****** ******* **, ***** **** ** ******* by ******* ******* ** ***** ************.

Dennis Ruban

In reply to Michael Gonzalez | 01/30/18 03:27pm

***, * ** *** ****: ****** *** ******, ****** *** contractors ** *******. ***** *****: **** * ******* ** ******, the **** *** ***** ** ****** ****** *** $*** ** $100k. *** *'* ******* ***** ************ *********, *** **** "**** and ** ***** ***." * ******* ****'* ******* ** **** estimating ******* ** *** ****.

**** ********** *** ** ** ***** ****. **** **'** ******** the *******, *** ***** ****: "****, ** ***** ***** ** many ***** ******** ** **** ** ****. ** ***** **** some ****** ******". ****'* ** ******* ** *** ******** ********** - ******** ***** ** *, **** ** **** :)

Undisclosed End User #4

In reply to Dennis Ruban | 02/01/18 04:16pm
*****! ******* *** ***** ** **** ******* ** ***** ********!! Project ********** ** *** ******** *** **** ******** ** ** for ****....**** ****, ***** ******** ********** ****** ******'* **** **** accomplished ******* * ***** ** *************** **** **** *****. ****, and ** ** *****, ***'* ***** ******** *** ***** ** expertise **** ****** **** **** '*** *****'. ** ****, **** have ***** **** *** ************ ******* ** ******* * ***** of ********* **** ******* *** ************** ** *** ***********, *********** and *************. ** ***** **** *** ********** ** **** ***** to **% *******, ** ******* ** ****** *** ******** ***** hours, * ******* **** **** ******** **** **** ** ******** for *********** **** ********* *** *********** ****-**** *******. **** ** us ** *** '*** ****' ***** **** ******* *** ******** by *********** ***** - ** **'* *** ********** ********. ********** clients **** ** ** ****** ******** ** ******* *** ************ delivery ** ******* *** *********. ******* *****, ********** **** ********** to ***** ******** *****, ********, ****** **************, ***. *** ******** and **** ******* **** *** *** **** ** **** ** a ************ *******. **** ** *** ***** ** **** ****** are *** ************** ** *** ******** ********....* ****?

Undisclosed Integrator #1

In reply to Undisclosed End User #4 | 02/01/18 09:33pm

***, ***** *** ****, **** ********* ***********, *** ***** *** less ********* ***********. **** **** ***** *** **** ********* *** users, **** **** ***** *** ************ *** ***** **** ****** as **** ******** *** ********** ** ****** ********* ***********. **** like ***** *** **** *** ***** *** ***** **** **** transparent **** **** ******* *** *********, *** ***** *** ***** that **** ** ** **** *** **** ******.

* ***** *** ********* ** ***** ****** ******** **** ***'* afford *** ***** ** ******** *** ************ **** *****-******* ******** do ** ******* * ****** ********* ** *** **********. *** budget ******** *** *** **** **** *** ****** **** ********, and ***** **** **** ** *** *** **** **** ******** I **** **** **** ** **** **** ***** ******* *** shopped ****** *** *** ****** ******.

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