Advances in engineering and information architecture continually change how we use technology.
Some advances have caused subtle changes in product design or application within the physical security market. Other technological advances fundamentally alter how we do business and think about physical security and, in particular, physical security information management (PSIM) platforms.
There have been a number of technological advances in the last few years, but four dynamics in particular deserve special exploration. All four are actively reshaping how PSIM products are developed and what end users are now expecting in the security market.
One of the most interesting of these dynamics is social media. Social media platforms create organic communication networks among millions of people.
For example, enterprises and large municipalities today routinely monitor Twitter feeds to identify traffic disruptions or potential protest activity near a facility. In recent months, some PSIM systems have harnessed the immediacy and speed of the medium, using keyword prevalence, geospatial information and hash tag monitoring of social media to obtain a broad perspective of what is happening in a locality or at an event.
Another powerful change agent is mobile technology. Mobile technology in PSIMs will likely become more mainstream as users become more accustomed to using apps to accomplish their daily tasks.
Mobile apps that leverage the native capabilities of smart phones or tablets can notify responders of events and keep security operations up-to-date with pictures and streamed video.
However, the real power of mobile technologies is in being able to reach the broader user community. For example, if a tornado was identified by a command center, a PSIM operator could automatically send a customized message to community members in its path, advising them to take shelter, along with the nearest shelter location.
Even though its application is only in its infancy in physical security, cloud computing is having a significant impact on the market and the development of PSIM products.
Cloud computing is beneficial to the user and integrator in several ways. Cloud applications can be deployed quickly and accommodate varying processing and storage space needs on demand.
By decreasing the need for on-site servers and databases, cloud computing can reduce physical space needs, maintenance and hardware costs, and IT staffing requirements. The use of cloud computing will continue to expand as technology advances and there is broader adoption.
The Internet of Things – known as IoT – is moving beyond being just a buzzword and is becoming a reality. Big and small data is streaming into users’ and operators’ hands rapidly and in great volume.
In many ways, the PSIM can be viewed as an IoT application. PSIMs today collect a variety of event and health data from different sensors to correlate information and provide insights into incidents. PSIMs of tomorrow will be able to collect all of the data that sensors of different kinds report and then make use of that data to find patterns and meaning.
An example of this would be harnessing the data from police dispatch, traffic reports, keyword social media searches, onsite intrusion and access control alerts and video to monitor and anticipate security needs at a large-scale event. If the data detects an escalation in activity, additional police or security could be activated and dispatched, all through the PSIM interface.
As these four trends further permeate the industry, the PSIM market will no doubt change and adapt quickly. As data sources and data volumes continue to grow, the need for a platform that can provide understandable and actionable intelligence will become exponentially more valuable.
PSIM providers Tyco Security Products are exhibiting at IFSEC International 2015. You can find them on stand D1100.
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