The ever-changing need for an ideal security landscape makes it essential for companies to leverage technological advancements. Proactive organizations find it best to hire the best security professionals to help them learn, adapt, and rethink their security programs. The ideal security programs significantly leverage technology to streamline most processes and increase efficiency. Here is how technology improves physical security.
What Is Physical Security?
Physical security protects personnel, software, hardware, networks, and data from harmful interactions. It protects them from physical activity or events that can cause severe damage to the enterprise. By exploring the many products offered by firms like Genetec, Companies get to see, know and understand their security environment.
There are several risks involved, from fire to theft and natural disasters. Although an insurance cover can cover most risks, it is crucial to implement a physical security framework to prevent damage using less money and resources. Access control, testing, and surveillance are the main components of physical security. Technology complements how all three elements are implemented, improved, and maintained and aims to achieve a successful security program.
What’s the Role of Technology in Physical Security?
The role played by technology in transforming the security industry is significant. Most of the technology-based innovations look to provide better security for companies. Small and mid-size companies should understand that technology-based security solutions can seamlessly work alongside traditional guarding services.
Not having an excellent security infrastructure when in business is a competitive disadvantage. Physical security solutions leveraging technology support advanced analytics, remote monitoring, and even touchless access systems. Here are good examples of technological advancements for security professionals to improve physical security.
Remote Monitoring
Security management solutions allow remote monitoring by collecting data from security devices, smart devices, and information systems. The system then sends the data to a single dashboard wirelessly for managers and administrators to monitor, detect and respond to potential security concerns.
The centralized view helps the organization respond rapidly to security incidents and mitigate them in real time. Without remote monitoring, the security team will have a more challenging experience detecting and responding to threats.
Advanced Video Analytics
Cameras in physical security is also an innovation powered by technology. Modern security systems use cameras with sophisticated built-in analytics like facial recognition. The built-in analytics help provide security firms with analytics to spot trends and track all that’s happening. Numerous research programs focus on Artificial Intelligence (AI), emerging technologies, and Machine Learning to fine-tune the analytics technology.
Real-Time Communication
Making adjustments is quicker with technology-based physical security solutions as they support real-time communication. The security team can communicate through handheld devices that update and notify each other of the necessary adjustments. It also means the team will identify potential security threats early and help team members know about security vulnerabilities in real-time.
Touchless Technology
The demand for contactless technology is always high. Individuals now prefer processes performed with minimal human assistance as technology is more accurate and efficient. Examples of touchless technology in physical security include self-opening doors with automated customer counting and flow control.
Touchless technology also provides businesses access control using a trusted, reliable and seamless solution, making security almost invisible. If authenticated, the doors will automatically unlock by walking up to the door.
Temperature Sensing Cameras
Another perk of opting for technology-based physical security solutions is advanced temperature-sensing camera monitoring. These cameras take pictures from the heat by capturing infrared energy and creating images through analog or digital video outputs.
Initially, the temperature-sensing cameras served as surveillance accessories for covert military operations. Today, you can find them used for firefighting, building inspections, and skin temperature screening.
Security Drones and Robots
Modern companies also prefer implementing robot and drone guarding to improve their physical security function. This trend is prevalent in locations where security is challenging because of costs or logistics. A good example where security drones are popular is utility plants built in remote areas but with valuable equipment. The drones and robots provide perimeter intrusion detection to prevent any unauthorized access.
What Are the Emerging Trends in Physical Security?
The majority of the emerging trends in physical security directly relate to technology. This section looks to explain some of the new ways security experts look to contend with security threats.
Biometrics Everywhere
Access control is among the main components of physical security, and biometrics helps optimize it. Buildings now use contactless biometrics to control access and authentic access to critical resources in the business. It would help to note there are many forms of biometrics, from facial recognition to iris and fingerprint scanning.
Mobile-Supported Security
The future of physical security will involve the increased use of authentication tokens. Since the phones are network-connected, the system can update live in the field and provide real-time information. If a security expert needs new access, they can receive digital ‘keys’ from security managers on their phones.
Smart Technology
Another emerging trend in physical security is the use of intelligent technology. Systems using smart technology can monitor themselves and make independent decisions on changing their environment and operations.
Are There Benefits to Implementing Physical Security Technology?
The benefits of implementing a modern physical security solution are many. One of the primary benefits is increased accountability. Physical security technology helps supervisors track their staff in real-time to confirm how they complete their tasks and responsibilities.
Other benefits include increased automation and more accurate data. A technology-based physical security solution can automate most operations in the security function, saving a lot of time. The system also helps pull together critical information to improve efficiency and guarantee accuracy.
Collecting better data improves the current physical security structure. The system features tools like client portals and issues monitors to help administrators collect real-time data and automate reports.
The digital tools complementing physical security may change, but the principles will not. Companies must anchor their security program to these principles to achieve a practical infrastructure. Technology-based solutions are more effective in being constantly vigilant for new threats and emerging trends, which is why each firm needs one.
