TECHNOLOGY CAN DETECT A THREAT. BUT WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
Mike Myers, CEO of Mobi Ventures
Technology has changed the way we protect our businesses. We have CCTV cameras that can identify vehicles and people, systems that can detect unusual activity, vehicle tracking devices, alarm systems and software that can help manage incidents as they happen.
We have it all, and it will continue to play an increasingly important role in business security and wellbeing, but there is something that is often overlooked when investing in technology.
Detecting a problem and dealing with it are two very different things.
A camera can identify an intruder, but it cannot physically stop that person from entering the building. A vehicle tracking system can show you where your vehicle is, but that information is only useful if the right people receive it and know what to do with it. An alarm can alert a control room to a possible break-in, but what happens next?
This is where the real investment of a security system is.
Over many years in policing and the private security industry, we have seen how important the relationship between technology, people and procedures is. The equipment is only one part of the puzzle, the people monitoring it, the systems supporting them and the response and all equally important pieces of that puzzle.
Clear Procedure
Consider a business that has invested heavily in CCTV. The cameras are installed, the screens are visible and the owner feels reassured that the premises are being watched.
But are the cameras being monitored, note that watched and monitored are also two completely different things? Are the images clear enough to identify what is happening? Does anyone receive an alert when something suspicious occurs? And, perhaps most importantly, is there a clear procedure for responding to that alert?
If the answer to these questions is no, the business may just have an impressive collection of equipment without an effective solution.
The same applies to alarm systems. An alarm activation needs to be assessed and handled correctly. The relevant people must be notified, the appropriate response arranged and the incident managed until the situation has been resolved.
Speed matters, but so does getting the response right or the right response. There is also a growing responsibility for artificial intelligence in security. Modern systems can identify people and vehicles, recognise number plates, detect movement in restricted areas and, in some applications, identify potential hazards.
This can help control room personnel focus their attention where it is needed most. It can also reduce the time spent watching screens, creating unnecessary fatigue, while looking for something that may never happen.
Who Is Responsible?
However, AI is not infallible. Systems can produce false alerts, environmental conditions can affect performance, and technology still needs to be configured, maintained and monitored properly. Businesses need to understand what their systems can do, what their limitations are and who is responsible when an alert is generated there is little value in receiving an alert if nobody acts on it.
The same principle applies to vehicle tracking, emergency panic devices and other connected systems. Knowing that a vehicle has deviated from its route, that a panic button has been activated or that a person may be in danger is important. Having trained personnel and an established process to assess the situation and coordinate the appropriate assistance is what turns information into a practical response.
For business owners, the lesson is not necessarily to spend more money on security technology. It is to make sure that the money already being spent is delivering the protection expected.
Ask your security provider a few straightforward questions. What happens when an alarm activates? Who monitors your cameras? How are suspicious incidents verified? What happens if the system goes offline? Who takes responsibility for coordinating and managing the response? These are not complicated questions, but the answers are significant.
Integrated Solutions
Security should also not be viewed in isolation. A business may need a combination of physical security, access control, CCTV, vehicle tracking, emergency response and appropriate procedures for staff. The right combination will depend on the nature of the business, its location and the risks it faces. There is no single solution that suits everyone, certain businesses need specialists in the field to provide them with proper integrated solutions.
Technology will continue to improve, and businesses should make use of what it offers. But we must not confuse having the latest equipment with having an effective solution. Ultimately, the objective is not simply to detect a threat. It is to manage the incident, protect people and property, and limit the consequences.
Technology can tell you that something is wrong. What matters is having the right people and procedures in place to do something about it.
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