Is Your Organization Getting Electronic Security Right?

Historically, the alarm industry approach has been a reactive one. A triggering event occurs, and conventional command centers receive data from disparate systems as they analyze whether the threat is real and requires escalation. But as threats have become more sophisticated, advancements have been required in response techniques.

The Electronic Security Industry Is Changing

The rapid evolution of technology is reshaping the security industry, and this provides both challenges and opportunities. On the plus side, today’s command centers integrate both physical and IT security, which provides a greater depth of engagement. Responsible organizations deploy electronic security systems with features like access control and video monitoring to mitigate risk in a collaborative approach with the Information Technology (IT) team using integrated software. The result is real-time situational awareness and proactive monitoring and management.

The flip side is that upgrading and integrating systems and products can be large-scale, expensive projects requiring extensive management.

The Internet of Things Is Disrupting Security Products and Services

The Internet of Things (IoT) facilitates effective systems integrations, improved alarm monitoring and management, and smart application of additional features, such as remote viewing, intuitive dashboards with graphic illustration, and even digital control over everything from file management to temperature control and lighting. IoT enables many of these disparate functions to work in tandem with one another.

Some organizations decide to invest capital expenditures to achieve the level of electronic security necessary to protect important industries, such as hospitals, sporting and entertainment venues, and places of education. Others are migrating to a subscription-based service model. Each has its own merits and depends on the business requirements of the organization putting them to work.

Centralize Your Approach to Alarm Management

Today’s command centers communicate intelligently and assist operators in coordinating accurate and timely responses. Many large organizations must manage different aspects of security, such as perimeter and intrusion protection, access control, fire alarm, video surveillance, and even IT. A centralized approach patches these technologies together into a common framework with a single point of management and control. This approach delivers an unprecedented, real-time situational awareness.

Greater networked connectivity paints a much clearer and immediate picture, which accelerates responsiveness and improves dispatch and reporting accuracy. A command center can quickly review multiple data points and make rapid assessments. Electronic security is moving in this direction.

Protect Against Both Internal and External Threats

Security includes physical, electronic, and cyber components from both internal and external threats. IT departments and security professionals must collaborate to mitigate risk across the entire organization. Integrating security systems within an IT framework creates additional opportunities to combine cybersecurity solutions.

The range of threats to physical and cyber property from both internal and external factors is broad, which is why an integrated approach with a central command center is necessary. But electronic security is all for naught if a general sense of urgency is not conveyed to all employees, which should be supported by ongoing training.

Create Security Awareness with an Emphasis on High-Priority Threats

Many experts agree that security efforts need to be proactive, continuous, and company-wide with an emphasis on training and the prioritization of specific threats unique to the organization. For example, the healthcare industry faces unique threats in the form of workplace violence, whereas other industries may not have as great a risk. Additional risks may be present as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and business continuity plans that result in vacant buildings and remote work contingencies which may not have been factored into the security equation.

One-time training and annual certifications may not be enough to mitigate the risk of pervasive threats. Instead, organizations should place a high priority on employee training and certifications, focus on the specific cyber and physical security threats to their industry, and foster an internal culture of security. Organizations should also identify specific escalation scenarios (including emerging threats), create detailed mitigation plans to address the threats, and practice them regularly.

Putting it All Together

We’ve covered a lot, so let’s review. In summary, we’ve identified the following:

• The electronic security industry is changing.
• Alarm monitoring and alarm management should be components of a greater security infrastructure.
• Command centers offer a centralized approach.
• Security should involve physical, electronic, and cyber components.
• Disparate systems should be integrated with software for better technology communication.
• Efforts should reduce internal and external threat risk as well as false alarms.
• Emphasis should be placed on general awareness and ongoing training efforts to create a culture of security.

As technology evolves, the risk of threat will also increase. With the right approach, you can secure a vast footprint with minimal manpower. On the other hand, incomplete strategies and ineffective policies result in inefficiencies. Don’t put your physical and cyber property at greater risk of security breaches from intrusion, theft, and even corporate espionage.

Engage an Expert To Identify the Right Solution for You

If your organization is currently managing multiple security systems across multiple departments and locations, it may not be where it needs to be from a security standpoint; however, closing the gap may seem like quite the undertaking. Security Information Systems can provide a risk assessment, help you develop a plan to identify how security components can be integrated effectively to mitigate risk, and integrate your various systems into one centralized command center. Our Alarm Center product can be deployed at the single-user level, within a global enterprise system, and anywhere in between, allowing you to scale. Learn more about what we can do to improve your security efforts or request a free demo.