GUEST OPINION: Currently, physical security operations require you to use intelligent methods to enhance safety in your organisation. Typically, these involve using the latest tools and technologies to protect your assets and facilities. Because of this, your information technology (IT) infrastructure plays a vital role.
Whether upgrading current systems or implementing new models, tech innovations provide you with various options. These include your IT system’s management solution. By design, you’ll have to pick between managed IT services vs professional IT services. But there are ways to integrate the two depending on your organisation’s needs, size, and budget.
With managed IT services, you outsource the management of your IT systems to a third-party provider. It’s a considerably cost-effective option if you’re a small or medium-sized establishment.
On the other hand, professional IT services mean you have an in-house IT team managing your systems. This setup can be ideal if you have complex IT needs or need a higher level of control over the security you get.
Below are some tech innovations that can help you enhance your physical security operations, regardless of which IT management solution you choose.
1. High-Tech Security Cameras
Security cameras are essential to your physical security operations. They allow you to monitor and record various activities within your facility. They can also help timely identify potential threats or suspects before they can take action.
Significant advances in security camera technology have created features like wide dynamic range, night vision, and high-resolution videos. Facial recognition technology is also another crucial innovation. A combination of these technologies allows you to identify suspect individuals and thwart threats in real time.
Most security companies, like the top security company in Calgary Logixx, understand the importance of the latest tech security cameras in your operations. For this reason, you may find them recommending incorporating such cameras.
When selecting security cameras for your organisation, consider factors like the size of the area you need to cover and the level of detail you need to capture. Environmental challenges, like low light and extreme temperatures, must be considered. Finally, determine whether you want on-site or cloud storage for the footage. Each choice has its own storage capacity and bandwidth needs.
2. Access Control Systems
Access control systems help restrict access to certain areas or rooms within your facility. Several types of access control systems are available in the market today. Card readers, biometric scanners, and key fobs are some of the most popular choices.
You can integrate access control systems with your security cameras and other security systems to create a more comprehensive level of protection. This is because access control systems allow you to know who accessed your facility, when, and for how long. This can be especially useful if you need to protect certain assets within your site of operations.
When selecting an access control system, you should consider factors such as the number of users, the level of security you need, and the integration requirements with other systems you already have.
3. Security Software
Security software can help you manage and monitor your physical security operations more effectively.
There are different types of security software available. Some key ones include security information and event management (SIEM) and security analytics software.
SIEM software collects and analyses data from various security systems and alerts you to any potential threats. This is helpful if you’re monitoring a large facility or multiple locations at once.
Security analytics software, on the other hand, analyses security footage and identifies specific patterns or anomalies that may indicate threats in a more focused area. Some of the common patterns include walking posture and movement through specific areas.
4. Physical Security Information Management Systems
Physical security information management (PSIM) systems allow you to manage and coordinate multiple security systems and devices. This can include access control systems, security cameras, and alarms. In short, PISM systems provide a central control panel through which you can control different components of your overall safety network.
PSIM systems also allow you to view and control all your security systems in real time. This can help you respond more quickly to potential threats and those in development.
5. Remote Monitoring
With remote monitoring, you can access and control your security systems from anywhere using a laptop, tablet, or mobile phone. Much like SIEM, remote monitoring technology can be instrumental if you need to monitor a large facility or multiple locations. They also come with real-time data access and a variety of settings that allow you to pinpoint potential risks and manage them before they can cause harm.
Which One Should You Implement?
That comes down to what you need for your physical security. The ideal choice suits your budget for procurement and maintenance, scales to your needs, provide as much value as possible in terms of utility, and provides the results you want. Feel free to consult the experts for more specific details on your choices. One thing is certain: you need to leverage them if you want to give your site of operations, assets, and people the protection they deserve.
