The security industry is constantly changing and evolving. Click here to learn how technology is changing the security industry.
Technology has crept into every aspect of our lives, including security. Gone are the days when security involved a few surveillance cameras and a security guard. Technological evolution has completely transformed the security industry for the better.
Security companies that embrace technology have a clear edge over the competition. The security market, which is now worth $39.1 billion, is set to boom by 2025, in part because of technology.
In this post, we’ll discuss how technology’s contribution has changed security for the better. We’ll also look at how this technological evolution has changed customer expectations.
Impact of Technology on the Security Industry
This technological shift came with a lot of changes in the workings of the security industry. This is how technology has changed the operations of security companies.
The effect of technology is felt both on both large and small scale security. This means from home security to multi-million companies’ security.
The Recruitment Process
Nowadays, companies are more stringent with their recruitment process. Security companies, like Patrol Points, hire staff members that are tech-savvy and adaptable to change. That’s because most companies have shifted from doing things manually to full-scale automation.
For instance, security guards no longer have to manually peruse areas for any suspicious activities. Instead, they receive live feeds from surveillance cameras straight to their handheld devices. They also apply for jobs, report shifts, and check-in and out of work electronically.
In the near past, qualifications for being a security guard were virtually non-existent. Nowadays, security guards might actually need supplementary training on technology.
Smartphone Use
In the past, smartphone use for security guards during working hours was heavily frowned upon. These days, it’s okay for guards to spend a significant chunk of their working hours on their phones. In fact, some guard companies give their guards smartphones with pre-installed apps.
This increase in smartphone use is again because of a shift from manual to automatic processes.
However, this doesn’t mean it’s okay for your security guards to watch YouTube videos when at work. Any smartphone use should be strictly for security reasons. That’s why companies give guards their own company phones.
Partnership With Law Enforcement Agencies
Technology has streamlined the cooperation between security guards and police to keep crime at bay. This is by facilitating a quick response to any incidence that’s deserving of police attention.
Technology has been instrumental in police investigations and the recovery of stolen items. Facial recognition helps to track criminals, and mobile apps have made it easier to send the location to law enforcers.
Customer Expectations
These days, clients expect robust security services at reasonable prices. So they expect to deal with a technologically-sophisticated company. It’s why security companies are rushing to jump on the technology bandwagon.
Customers expect nothing less than real-time accountability and ultimate transparency. Companies can only achieve these requirements by embracing technology.
Customers these days also want to be more involved in the security of their premises. They may want to receive live feeds of their surveillance cameras or video footage from the past. That’s where cloud services come in to allow clients access to all the security information they may need.
Technologies That Spearhead the Security Industry Technological Revolution
Today’s union of technology and security systems has transformed home and business security. Here are some real technologies that have revolutionized security.
Facial Recognition
In the past, facial recognition was only for top-level security and multi-million companies. Fast forward a decade or so later, and we have facial recognition in our phones.
Very soon, we’ll see facial recognition software in our workplaces and neighborhoods. In fact, by the look of things, this technology is set to replace keycards and fingerprints to secure restricted areas.
Security Apps
These days there’s an app for everything, including for security personnel. Security companies have embraced mobile apps to streamline their operations.
These apps aren’t the ones that you download on the Apple Store or App Store. These are bespoke apps developed for specific companies.
They enable security personnel to guard, monitor, report, and track any suspicious activity. They also make for speedy communication in case of any incident. Some apps allow streaming from security cameras to the guards’ smartphones.
Security companies align the apps’ functionality for their specific clients. That way, they can render their services and keep security as tight as they can.
Cloud Software
Cloud services have been all the rage, especially in the past half-decade or so. Security companies have much to gain from these services. They have given the companies a great away to enhance transparency and accountability with their clientele.
Companies can upload anything from surveillance recordings to employee check-ins. Cloud services also give these companies a great way to share any relevant information with their employees and clients.
State-of-the-Art Motion Detectors
Motion detectors are nothing new in the security industry. However, in recent years we’ve seen more innovative motion detectors enter the scene. These include non-visual motion detectors that are much better than their visual counterparts.
The most common of the new innovative motion detectors are radar and sound detection technologies.
Home security companies are yet to embrace radar motion detectors because they are costly. However, these motion detectors are great for guarding high-value items.
They use electromagnetism to give reliable and precise motion detection. So small animals and swaying branches will not trigger the motion detection systems. These systems also give detailed information about the objects they detect.
Motion detectors work best with security cameras. They certainly do a better job than security dogs.
Predictive Analytics
The term predictive analytics sounds like something you would hear in a statistics research lab. Predictive analytics and machine learning are two major components of artificial intelligence. Artificial intelligence is a specialized technology that tries to mimic human intelligence.
Machine learning and predictive analytics make security systems much smarter and more accurate. These technologies are for high-level security systems like airport security and government establishment. They have no place in a basic home.
Here are a couple of applications of predictive analytics and machine learning in security:-
• Behavioral Prediction
• False alarm suppression
• Speeding up crime “clearance” rate
• Mapping patterns of criminal activity
Cloud-Based Analytics
Predictive analytics and machine learning are invaluable security technologies. However effective they may be, one thing that makes them unfeasible for most people is their cost.
The hardware and skilled labor to handle security AI are very costly. In fact, simple artificial intelligence security set up could cost companies about $10,000 on the lower side.
The cost of analytics is what puts off most security companies from adopting this technology. That’s the reason why cloud-based analytics companies are popping up all across the country. Moving analytics to the cloud significantly reduces the cost of services.
This cost reduction is major because companies don’t have to purchase expensive analytics hardware. Plus, it eliminates the need of having skilled labor to man the hardware.
Audio Sensors
Footage from surveillance cameras only gives you visuals without the audio. This makes for a difficult time when trying to glue things together during investigation. Audio sensors integrate video with audio to give security agents the complete picture.
These audio sensors aren’t your run-off-the-mill microphones like the ones on your smartphones. Manufacturers design these microphones with the ability to pick up specific sound patterns. That means that you can get alerts whenever a glass breaks or gunfire.
In some security systems, specific sounds will trigger an alarm or start recording the source of the sound. The system can even automatically alert authorities whenever there are suspicious sounds.
High-Resolution Videos
Footages from most surveillance cameras are almost a blur. This makes it difficult to identify objects. The situation is three times worse when you zoom in on the video.
Thanks to high-resolution cameras, videos are much sharper than they used to be before. Nowadays, you can find security cameras with 720p, 1080p, and even 4K resolution.
More Technology Equals Better Security
The impact of technology in the security industry has been nothing but positive. You’d be correct to say that security across the country has improved thanks to technology. We should, therefore, expect an increase of security companies that embrace advanced technologies.
Any serious homeowner or business owner should never overlook their premises’ security. One thing you shouldn’t also overlook is the array of enticing articles we have on the site. So make sure you have a look at the other pieces for more insightful and enticing reads.
