Security systems, like everything else, are constantly evolving. New products and software enter the market rapidly, but so do new threats to your business. Ensuring your organization has the best security system means your people, information and future are better protected.
But staying up to date on the latest technologies can be a full-time job, and if you are already managing your organization’s security, you probably have more than enough on your hands. Knowing the signs that your physical security system needs an upgrade is the first step in keeping your organization safe and secure.
In this article, we’ll explore five key signs that indicate it’s time for a physical security system update.
Sign 1: Change in Your Risk Profile
As your organization grows and adapts to new challenges, so does its risk profile. A significant change in your risk profile is a good indicator that it’s time to update your physical security system.
Examples of risk profile changes by industry include:
Manufacturing facility: A manufacturing plant expands its production capacity to meet growing demand. The increase in operations changes the risk profile, warranting a security system update such as increased access control to prevent equipment theft, ensure worker safety, and maintain production continuity.
Medical facility: A medical facility expands to serve a growing patient population. The increase in operations changes the risk profile, warranting updated physical security measures, including upgrading video surveillance cameras to capture more details and adding cameras in areas that were previously out of view.
Education Institution: A university campus expands to serve a growing student population. The expansion includes a new building and a state-of-the-art auditorium. The change in operations requires additional surveillance cameras, upgraded access control systems, and event security equipment to support the increased number of visitors.
Sign 2: Gaps in Your Security Infrastructure
Even the most robust security systems can develop gaps over time. Outdated technology, blind spots in surveillance coverage, or inadequate access controls can expose your organization to potential threats. Recognizing and addressing these weaknesses promptly is crucial to maintaining a comprehensive security posture.
Here are three initial steps to take to assess potential gaps in your security infrastructure:
- Risk assessment: While this practice is frequently neglected or carried out hastily, a thorough evaluation aligned with ISO 27005 standards or guided by a skilled physical security integrator can shape your priorities and budget.
- Physical inspection: Closely tied to the risk assessment, a physical inspection of the facility will help you identify areas of vulnerability and determine the scope of your security needs.
- Physical security systems audit: Conducting a physical security systems audit is the best way to ensure your security infrastructure works as intended and aligns with your security objectives.
A solid picture of your security posture is important. Still, physical security is more like a puzzle than a checklist, so let’s look at the next sign that it may be time for a security system update.
Sign 3: Integration Challenges and Incompatible Technologies
In our interconnected world, outdated physical security systems are a recipe for disaster. Siloed physical security systems will cause more problems than they solve, and proper integration of your security systems is an important piece of the physical security puzzle.
Here are three key signs that your physical security systems may be siloed:
- Lack of intercommunication: If your various security systems, such as access control, video surveillance, and intrusion detection, operate independently without sharing information or triggering responses across systems, it’s a sign of siloed security.
- Separate management interfaces: When you need to access and manage different security systems through distinct interfaces or software platforms, it indicates a lack of integration. This separation can hinder real-time monitoring, incident response, and the ability to correlate events from different sources.
- Limited data sharing: In a siloed environment, data sharing across security systems is limited or non-existent. For example, video footage from cameras might not be readily accessible to personnel managing access control, hindering investigations and response efforts.
Physical security systems are becoming more complex and intertwined, making integration more important than ever. Without proper integration, your operational efficiency will be limited, and your team will be bogged down in a sea of manual tasks.
Sign 4: Operational Inefficiencies That Hold Your Team Back
Make no mistake, manual processes, redundant tasks, and inefficiencies in your security operations will stifle your team’s productivity. Additionally, these inefficiencies can lead to errors, delays, and a frustrated security team that isn’t operating at its full potential.
Five examples of operational inefficiencies include:
- Manual Data Entry: Requiring security personnel to manually input data, such as visitor information or access credentials, into various systems can lead to errors, delays, and duplication of effort.
- Lack of Automation: Failing to automate routine tasks like system health checks, equipment maintenance scheduling, and access control updates can waste time and resources.
- Absence of Real-time Monitoring: If your monitoring processes are not real-time or lack alerts for critical events, security incidents could go unnoticed until manual checks are performed, causing delays in response.
- Lack of Data Analytics: Not utilizing data analytics to identify trends, patterns, and potential security risks can result in missed opportunities for proactively addressing security issues.
- Limited Mobile Access: If security personnel can’t access critical information or control systems through mobile devices, it can slow down their ability to respond to incidents when not at their main workstations.
Time spent managing these inefficiencies is time taken away from focusing on strategic security initiatives. By streamlining operations through automation and modern solutions, your team can allocate resources more efficiently and respond to incidents with greater agility.
Sign 5: Future Expansion Plans and Growth
As your organization expands, your security needs must scale accordingly. Relying on an outdated security system will limit your ability to adapt to new challenges and accommodate the changing demands of a growing enterprise. A forward-looking security strategy ensures that your organization is prepared to face the future confidently.
On the other hand, by upgrading to a scalable access control system, you’ll be able to:
Adapt to growth: As you expand, a scalable system allows you to easily integrate new buildings and facilities into the access control framework, maintaining a consistent and unified security approach across your organization.
Enhance incident response: A well-scaled system ensures that security incidents are promptly detected and responded to. This reduces the risk of unnoticed incidents and minimizes response time in critical situations.
Support future technologies: Scalable systems often incorporate advanced technologies such as biometrics, mobile credentials, and cloud-based management. This positions your organization to take advantage of cutting-edge security solutions as they become available.
It’s Time to Determine if You Need a Security System Update
The rapid evolution of physical security, driven by technological advancements, IoT integration, and the rise of AI, underscores the need for organizations to upgrade their security systems. Recognizing the signs highlighted in this article and taking proactive steps to address them will put your organization in a position to take advantage of cutting-edge security solutions and maintain a strong security posture.
Ready to take charge of your organization’s security future? Experience the power of our Proven Process. Contact The Cook & Boardman Group today and let us guide you toward a more secure tomorrow.