What will be the new Trends in 2017 towards Security as a Service?

In 2017, physical security services are predicted to trend towards offering more specific solutions as well as a higher level of integration and service. The thought is, instead of viewing physical security as a series of connected hardware and software systems, industry experts see a movement towards systems such as Guardtek that provide more of a security as a service.

The world changes ever faster due to new technologies. But why does it move so quickly? Because industries are changing their needs, the consumers are changing too and the world needs to move in the same direction.

2017 is expected to be the year that will increase the demand for security as a service as a key component of successfully run security operations. In an industry where control is essential and multiple details are going on at the same time, there are Security operations management systems like Guardtek that will lead the way.

In an article from IFSEC Global titled ¨Top trends in security tech to expect in 2017”, Johan Paulsson, Chief Technology Officer at Axis Communications details the reasons why he feels the industry is moving in this direction of security as a service:

1. “Systems like GuardTek will “not only take away the burden of managing the complex systems involved, but also reduce the costs of keeping those systems up to date and secure”. The result “will not only free up internal resources which could be better focused elsewhere, but also improve the service level of the security system and enable better device management”.

2. Security industry will continue trending towards more specific solutions to individual problems. Customers look for integrate solutions in one unified system. They want that system to be adapted to their needs and customized based on the site and post. “The end to end solutions could tackle a specific issue”. Customized Saas systems, like the one provided Trackforce, provides a key advantage to physical security providers, allowing the supervisors to adapt the system to all possible scenarios and update the reports in real time.

3. The article also states that in 2017 the security industry will see an increase in the use of artificial intelligence. “The benefits are that although all customers are different, the environments and locations they are based in tend to fall into the same general categories, with people exhibiting the same general behaviors. Once those behaviors have been ‘learned’ the patterns that underlie them can be shared, enabling the system to flag up when something unexpected occurs”.

According to another interesting article “6 trends to watch in the security guard industry” from propertycasualty360, we can find other relevant trends for the security industry in 2017.

4. Expanded responsibilities. “Security guard firms are contracted to protect people and property in a wide variety of industries”. The firms are starting to be asked to provide additional services outside of security, and this trend will increase in 2017. A multifunction and customizable software can completely avoid communication or dispatch issues for these companies, as they will be able to adapt the software to each customers’ growing needs. With a system like GuardTek, for example, companies will be able to keep all incident and activity reports centralized and categorized in a digital logbook.

5. Remote video monitoring. Customers contracting security firms are increasingly asking for remote video monitoring. They believe that even though there is a high initial investment on equipment, it will reduce costs in a future.

6. Increased specialization. Security firms used to work with a big variety of clients. Nowadays, the trend is to specialize in industries such as schools or hotels. This can also differentiate you from your competitors.

The trends indicate that the industry is following this path of offering security in addition to other services.  Specialization and customization are the stars this 2017.  Therefore we will see an increasing demand from security providers for customizable Security Management Software that will provide an easier way to manage the security operations.

If you are not a user of a software such as Guardtek we encourage you to contact Trackforce today to learn how to stay one step ahead of your competitors.

Article Resource: http://www.trackforce.com/new-trends-2017-towards-security-service-2/

Body worn camera should be an essential part of Security Guard Equipment

This is the electronic age! Even if you have a security guard manning your premises you need to have a pair of few extra eyes that always remain open and keep seeing what all is happening within your premises. Security cameras are the eyes that will help you keep an eye on your premises at all hours. Still human intervention is required at a few places and security cameras cannot replace that human intervention. Thus you need a security guard with all the equipments that he will require to care of your property and the people it houses

Importance of security guard equipment

After all a security guard is a human being and faces the same kinds of threats and problems that a normal human faces. The training and equipment that is provided to a security guard officer or a security guard makes him someone who is able to protect the property and people around him that would have been vulnerable to threats both outside and inside. Security guard equipment ensures the safety and security of the security guard, enhances his confidence while taking crucial decisions and ensures speedy communication with the backup teams and the central monitoring command that can assess the situation and provide the much needed advice that may be required in a crisis situation.

How much essential is a body worn camera as part of security guard equipment?

We have seen instances where the security guards and officers have been accused of making the situation worse by the offenders; in those cases generally the security guard has just been doing his duty which may be taken as an offense by someone. In such scenarios body worn cameras are a great advantage since everything has been recorded and there I no need to check with both parties for their side of the version. The body worn camera will be more than enough proof of what exactly has happened.

Body worn cameras give a boost to the security guard’s morale since he knows there is someone who is recording his activities and behavior thus is he is performing his duties diligently no need to be scared of any professional reprimands for the lack of proof that he has not dealt with the situation properly.

Body worn cameras will keep the behaviors of a security guard in check since they know each of their activities are being monitored closely thus they can’t afford to be slack in their duty, cant misbehave with a guest or even can’t leave their post till a back up come in to relieve him.

Body worn cameras also work as a deterrent for offenders who know they will be caught red handed if they try to sneak or force a security guard into the premises without the permission of the property owner. Thus a body worn camera along with the other security guard equipments has a big role to play in the protection and safety of a commercial or a residential property.

Does Security guard equipment really help deter crime?

Security guard equipment essentially helps in controlling crime since people with not so good intentions will always give a second thought about entering premises or creating a ruckus that is secured by security guards. Security guards having the best equipment will be confident of their abilities and will have the courage and resources at hand to wage a battle against nuisance or attacks on property or people they are protecting.

Public transportation and infrastructure security by Private security companies

Public transportation and infrastructure security have become an over-riding issue for every country. Any country’s transportation system and infrastructure is the softest target for terrorist groups and criminals. Terrorist groups and criminals are always seeking a chance to exploit the security weakness of any country’s transportation system and infrastructure. A country’s weak transportation system is the only element that terrorist groups and criminals bring into play to enter into the county’s border. It is a key element of overall plan of terrorism. Terrorists enter into a country’s border with the intention of carrying out criminal activities as well as illegal transactions such as drugs, weapons, piracy and illegal activities. For protecting a country from these unlawful acts and their adverse effect, securing a whole network of country’s transportation system as well as infrastructure is very important. Let’s have a look, why securing public transportation and infrastructure is a major concern, why securing them is important.

Why public transportation system and infrastructure’s security is a major concern for a country?

Country’s transportation system and infrastructure have a vital role in the country’s overall economic growth. If a country’s transportation network and infrastructure are not well secured like it has to be, then it can cost the country’s economic growth very dearly. As terrorist always seek to kill or injure significant number of individuals and destroy the country’s infrastructure and country’s economic conditions. They always look for the opportunity to jolt public transportation facilities like planes, trains, buses, terminal facilities and pedestrian plazas. As public transportation facilities always contain number of individuals they are one of the easy targets for terrorist’s attacks.  Countries with insecure transportation network, infrastructure and with weak security management systems are very easy targets for terrorist groups. Thus, a secure transportation system is critical to the overall national security from terrorism and for overall economic growth.

Why ensuring public transportation system and infrastructure security is important?

If we analyze the patterns of past terrorist attacks, the majority of terrorist attacks in the past were the reason of weak transportation and infrastructure security. Disruption in economy’s transportation security system and infrastructure security system invited terrorists and criminals to harm economy and its growth.  Public gathering places like railway stations, trains, airlines, airports, bus stops, public parking places, tourist places and shopping malls are more prone to threat of being targeted by terrorist groups and criminals. Hence ensuring the safety of the country’s public transportation and infrastructure is very important.

How private security companies can play a role in protecting public transportation system and infrastructure

Private security companies are playing a major role in securing any country’s infrastructure and transportation system. They are the trusted vendors in the public transportation and infrastructure space. They have the latest hi-tech technologies, skills and software monitoring systems which come handy while protecting public transportation facilities against terrorist attacks and other unlawful acts. Public places, facilities and organizations that can be an easy target of terrorist attacks and criminal activities are trusting private security companies for their security solutions.  Private security companies have number of customized security solutions almost for all types organizations and public events. With the increase of potential security threats on public infrastructure and transportation system, professional security companies are finding new ways and techniques to protect countries from potential security risks. You cannot imagine a secure economy and transportation network without the existence of private security companies.

Reasons Why Your Organization needs a Visitor Management System

Industrial espionage and global terrorism are major threats for every organization’s security. Industrial espionage and global terrorism are external business threats that come from outside with visitors. As our business environment is becoming vulnerable day by day in terms of safety and security, most organizations are taking preventive measures to ensure the protection and safety of their organization by using CCTV access control systems and alarm monitoring systems. But most of the organizations are forgetting to manage one of the serious threats to organizations, Organization’s visitors. Yes, your organization’s visitors are a big threat to your organization’s security.  As organizations always have numbers of visitors on regular basis, they are more prone to security threats posed by intruders, unwanted guests, and temporary visitors. If organization’s visitors are not handled precisely by the organization, they can present a potential risk to the organization. Organizations essentially need to pay special attention to their visitors. They need to ensure that the visitors who are authorized to enter are not risky to the organization. 

Here are the main Reasons why visitor management system is a typical need of any organization

 Eliminate errors of visitor records

Front desk officers, security officers and door men overlook the visitors of your organization from the front desk. But the fact is that even the best front desk clerk, security officer or doorman cannot always get everyone who comes into the organization to sign in. Especially during times when there is a lot of traffic in and out of the organization. It is all too easy for someone to slip into your facility unnoticed. So it is becoming very important to equip your front desk management staff with visitor management system to eliminate omission mistakes. 

Better Front desk visitor log book

Visitor management system from the front desk can do a lot to streamline the inflow of visitors to an organization.  Visitor management system allows making better log book of visitors on computer devices.  It replaces the traditional paper-based solution to keep visitor records with a more systematized and hi-tech software. Visitor management system keeps better records of visitors on its software; more uniformly and correctly than the log book of a receptionist. It tracks the activities of visitors in real time. The information can be accessible easily at any time from the visitor management database.

Ensures Security of the organization

Visitor management system in the organization reduces administrative burden and increase security. It helps to ensure the security of the overall organization. Visitor management system complements the organization security system and helps to access the control systems. With the help of CCTV footage, visitor management system gives a complete record of everyone who visited your organization. In the case of emergency and doubt on a visitor, security Department can be alerted instantly.

Adds Substantial value to organization reputation and better operation management

Visitor management system helps to add substantial value to the organization reputation.  Along with improved security, it enhances operational efficiency as well as the professionalism in the organization. It handles the operations of the organization by monitoring them live on a desktop screen. An effective visitor management system monitors each visitor of the organization and makes a detailed report on visitors by monitoring -who they came to see and when they enter the organization, what areas of the organization they are authorized to enter. When they leave the organization and next time when they enter into the organization.  Visitor management system also confirms individual’s identification and confirms other relevant information about them that could impact the specifics of their visit or the organization as a whole.

Significant Role of a Security Guard

With increasing threats to the business whether small or big, to popular people, airports, railways station, banks, colleges and more there is a significant demand for security guard services. While hiring security services quality should always be given the top priority. In this respect one should straightway away opt for professional security services that are more capable and trained to guard and protect you against theft and other crimes that can occur on business premises.

But before you hire one it would be a wise choice to know the role that a security guard plays in your business:

1).Primary duty of an officer is to provide protection against any activity that in anyway can destroy and hamper the business property or can harm working employees.

2.) Patrolling inside the business premises, keeping a check on unhealthy activities and calling the police if there is any occurrence of crisis. There are dangerous situation wherein security guard is not efficient enough and should get help from police.

3).At night the rate of crime and theft witnessed is in on a higher side than during the day time. Safe departure of employees working light in the night becomes prime duty of employer and to get it done effectively a professional security service is a must.

4).Security guard at the entrance has to receive the guests this requires a efficient who can greet people with smile and also at the same make sure that he is checked before entering.

5) Visibility play an important role therefore a security should wear a dress that is easily identifiable.

6) Some security guards depending on the contract signed with the business may handle incoming calls and respond to emails.

With the clarity of the roles that security plays, the real challenge comes in managing and monitoring their daily performance. In an organization where the quantity of security guards is numerous, effective management becomes near to impossible. Securityguard management software, like Trackforce, has made it immensely easy for a business to monitor all the activities in real time therefore providing a world class security services.