IPSRM™

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about purchasing, using, and deploying IPSRM™. If your question is not answered here, use the Contact page and we will respond within two working days.

LICENSING AND USE

Can I use IPSRM™ in my own client work?

Yes. All tiers are licensed for use in professional practice. The Core Tier covers personal and client-facing use of the methodology and its instruments. The Professional Tier adds the full commercial and legal infrastructure — engagement terms, clause bank, proposal language, and the Licence and Use Framework — for practitioners deploying IPSRM™ in a formally documented commercial context. Most independent consultants operating commercially will want the Professional Tier.

Can I white-label the reports and templates?

Yes — IPSRM™ must be acknowledged. The Executive Report Template and client-facing documents are designed to be completed on your own letterhead, so the report your client receives carries your professional branding as the delivering consultant. The methodology itself — IPSRM™ — must be identified as the governing framework within the report. You cannot present IPSRM™ as your own proprietary methodology or remove the trademark from the framework. The distinction is between your professional brand, which is yours, and the methodology brand, which is ours. Both are present; neither is concealed.

Do I have to reference IPSRM™ in my reports?

Yes, but proportionately. The Branding and Attribution Guidance included in the Professional Tier sets out exactly what is required. In practice it amounts to a brief methodology statement within the report — identifying IPSRM™ as the governing assessment methodology and version. It is not a prominent disclosure; it is a professional attribution, comparable to referencing the standard or framework underpinning any other professional assessment.

Is there an organisational licence?

Yes. For security practices, in-house security teams, and enterprise deployment across multiple practitioners, IPSRM™ is available under an organisational licence. Organisational licensing is handled by arrangement rather than through the standard product tiers. Use the Contact page to open a conversation and we will respond directly.

THE PRODUCTS

Do I get templates with the toolkit?

Yes. The Core Tier includes the Assessment Workbook, Executive Report Template, and Risk Engine — the primary instruments for conducting, scoring, and documenting an assessment. The Professional Tier adds the full commercial document suite. The Complete Bundle includes everything across both tiers, plus the Worked Example. A full contents list is available on the Pricing page.

What format are the documents in?

Reference and methodology documents are provided as PDFs. Working instruments — the Assessment Workbook, Executive Report Template, Client Briefing Template, and Tracking Template — are provided as editable Microsoft Word files. The Risk Engine is provided as a Microsoft Excel workbook. All files are delivered digitally via Gumroad immediately on purchase.

Do I need the Core Tier to use the Professional Tier?

Yes. The Professional Tier is an add-on to the Core Tier, not a standalone product. It adds the commercial and legal infrastructure — engagement terms, clause bank, proposal language, and the full licence framework — for practitioners deploying IPSRM™ in a client-facing context. It does not include the core methodology documents, which are in the Core Tier. If you intend to deploy IPSRM™ commercially, the Complete Bundle at £395 contains everything across both tiers plus the Worked Example and other supplementary instruments, and is the recommended starting point.

Which tier is right for me?

The Core Tier suits practitioners who want the full methodology and instruments to conduct structured assessments, and who already have their own commercial and contractual infrastructure in place. The Professional Tier adds the legal and commercial framework for those who want IPSRM™-specific engagement documentation. The Complete Bundle is the recommended option for independent consultants deploying IPSRM™ commercially from the outset — it contains everything at a saving of £140. If you want to evaluate the methodology before committing, the Worked Example at £45 provides a complete picture of IPSRM™ in practice.

Will I receive updates?

Yes. Purchasers are entitled to updates within the same major version of the suite — currently v1. The Version and Update Policy, included in the Professional Tier, sets out the full terms. Where updates are issued, purchasers will be notified and provided with access to revised documents. Major version releases may be subject to separate pricing.

Is the Worked Example included in the bundle?

Yes. The Complete Bundle at £395 includes the full methodology suite across both the Core and Professional tiers, plus the Worked Example — a completed assessment for a fictitious logistics company, Meridian Logistics Ltd, illustrating how the methodology is applied in practice. The Worked Example is also available as a standalone product at £45 for those who want to evaluate the methodology before purchasing the full toolkit.

SUITABILITY

Is this suitable for beginners?

IPSRM™ is a practitioner-level methodology. It assumes familiarity with physical security assessment practice and is designed to structure and elevate existing professional competence rather than replace it. It is not a training programme or an introduction to physical security.

If you are early in your security career, the Worked Example — available as a standalone product — provides a detailed completed assessment that illustrates how the methodology is applied in practice, and may be a useful starting point before purchasing the full toolkit.

Is IPSRM™ suitable for in-house security teams as well as independent consultants?

Yes. IPSRM™ was designed for use across three distinct practitioner contexts: independent security consultants seeking a rigorous, structured methodology to underpin their practice; in-house security leaders who need to produce structured, evidenced assessment outputs for boards and audit committees; and governance and assurance professionals who commission or oversee physical security assessment work. The Core and Professional tiers serve all three contexts. For in-house teams or security functions deploying IPSRM™ across multiple practitioners, an organisational licence may be more appropriate — see the licensing question above.

What jurisdictions does IPSRM™ cover?

IPSRM™ is jurisdiction-neutral in its methodology and domain architecture. The six assessment domains and the risk calibration framework apply consistently across operating environments and legal jurisdictions. Where specific compliance obligations are relevant — licensing requirements for security personnel, regulatory frameworks, or statutory duties — the methodology requires practitioners to assess against the applicable framework for the jurisdiction in which they are operating. IPSRM™ provides the structural architecture; the practitioner provides the jurisdictional knowledge.

ACCREDITATION AND ENDORSEMENT

Is IPSRM™ accredited or endorsed by a professional body?

IPSRM™ is an independent practitioner methodology. It is not currently accredited or endorsed by a professional body, standards organisation, or regulatory authority. It was developed from long-term professional practice and is offered as a rigorous, structured alternative to the absence of any mandated assessment methodology in the physical security discipline.

The methodology is designed to be complementary to existing professional standards and guidelines rather than to replace them. Practitioners who hold professional qualifications — including ASIS certifications, membership of the Association of Security Consultants, or equivalent credentials — will find that IPSRM™ provides the operational architecture that those frameworks do not prescribe.

If you are aware of a professional body or standards organisation that would be interested in reviewing IPSRM™ with a view to endorsement or accreditation, we would welcome an introduction via the Contact page.

SUPPORT AND REFUNDS

How do I get support or ask questions after purchase?

Questions about the methodology, its application, or any of the suite documents can be directed to us via the Contact page. We aim to respond within two working days. For questions about your Gumroad purchase — including download issues or technical difficulties — Gumroad’s own support function is the fastest route to resolution.

IPSRM™ does not currently offer one-to-one coaching, training, or supervised deployment. If there is sufficient interest from practitioners, structured support options may be developed in a future release.

What is the refund policy?

IPSRM™ products are digital downloads delivered immediately on purchase. Because the full product is accessible at the point of download, we are unable to offer refunds as a matter of course. If you experience a technical problem with your purchase — files that are inaccessible, incomplete, or incorrect — please contact us via the Contact page and we will resolve it promptly.

We encourage prospective purchasers to read the product descriptions carefully and, if in doubt, to purchase the Worked Example at £45 before committing to the full toolkit. The Worked Example provides a complete picture of the methodology in practice.