Media Solutions Manager, UBM

Author Bio ▼

Brian was appointed Editor of Security Management Today (SMT) in November 2000. In 2005, he received the BSIA Chairman's Award for Promoting The Industry and, a year later, the Skills for Security Special Award for an Outstanding Contribution to the Security Business Sector. In 2008, Brian was nominated for the ASC's Imbert Prize and was a finalist in the 2012 George van Schalkwyk Award. An Honorary Fellow of The Security Institute and a judge for numerous industry awards, Brian became the Editor of SMT Online in late 2008 and was also promoted to Group Content Editor for UBM Live's Security Portfolio (focusing on the IFSEC SELECT end user programme, the Security Excellence Awards, conferences and webinars). Now the Media Solutions Manager for UBM Live's Security and Fire Portfolio, Brian is actively pioneering developments in live events and digital media.
March 5, 2014

Download

Whitepaper: Enhancing security, resilience and efficiency across a range of industries

Making Smart Choices in Smart Buildings

Tablet smartphone smart buildingsToday’s building owners face a multitude of complex decisions around how to protect their properties – and the contents therein – from both external and internal threats.

What they must guard against is failing to think about security issues from the outset. Smart buildings with inherent weaknesses could become exploitation grounds for criminal activity.

Considering security at the tail end of the build process is very much a case of closing the stable door after the horse has bolted. Put simply, it’s a scenario that must be avoided.

By the same token, security managers should ensure that the security elements of their buildings are absolutely aligned with – and mirror – the security requirements of all activities conducted within.

In the corporate world, there’s little doubt that potential security vulnerabilities inside smart buildings could lead to detrimental outcomes for business systems. Non-secured networks may result in theft episodes or unwelcome (and potentially widespread) disturbances.

That’s exactly why a carefully planned, detailed, appropriate and regularly practised security regime is so important.

Keeping up to date with today’s system solutions is essential for any practising security professional. Also, those same professionals must continually question their systems environment.

How are solutions networked? In what ways are authorised usages verified by in-house IT specialists?

Interlinked

For some industry professionals the main security issues around smart buildings are focused more towards physical security. For others, the prime thought process centres on critical networks.

In reality it’s difficult to separate these two areas. Inevitably, they’ll be interlinked in some way.

Episodes like the unlawful appropriation of intellectual property or non-authorised access to private company data could occur on such a scale that they seriously undermine an organisation’s viability, possibly even rendering that company inoperable. Again, this is why first-class security is paramount.

When it comes to their physical operation, it follows that security systems integrated within smart buildings need to be wholly reliable and accurate as well as easy to se.

Of course, once disparate systems – such as access control set-ups, surveillance solutions and intruder alarms, for example – can now be brought together in harmony. Smart building security, though, must also encompass general answers for what comprises the more mainstream building management ‘backbone’ (commonly referred to as the building management system or BMS).

Of late, there has been a sharp focus on ‘smart’ technologies providing the answers for addressing security/access issues in smart buildings. In what ways might such technologies remove the barriers associated with overall costs and ease the path towards true systems integration?

Today, the ultimate goal is that in-house security and facility managers are afforded what’s often termed comprehensive, 360-degree ‘situational awareness’.

The latest smart building technologies and solutions will be on display at IFSEC International 2014, which runs from 17-19 June at ExCeL London.

The Smart Buildings Exhibition Zone and IFSEC Academy play host to the very latest systems developments, with dedicated discussion forums focused on the major issues of the day running as part of the Conference Programme.

Registration is now open. Click here for more information and to register for your badge

Free Download: The Video Surveillance Report 2023

Discover the latest developments in the rapidly-evolving video surveillance sector by downloading the 2023 Video Surveillance Report. Over 500 responses to our survey, which come from integrators to consultants and heads of security, inform our analysis of the latest trends including AI, the state of the video surveillance market, uptake of the cloud, and the wider economic and geopolitical events impacting the sector!

Download for FREE to discover top industry insight around the latest innovations in video surveillance systems.

VideoSurveillanceReport-FrontCover-23
Subscribe
Notify of
guest
2 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Peter Houlis CSyP MSyI
March 5, 2014 5:43 pm

Clearly providing smart buildings, which promote safe environments requires a shift in the design and build process. System Integrators will need to develop far stronger and meaningful relationships with architects, consultants and the client, and have a clear understanding of the users’ business objectives, during the planning and design stages. This philosophy also needs adopting during the construction and implementation stage by developing a partnership approach between various trades and organisations. However, there can be little doubt that the impact of new technology coupled with world events, rising crime (and the fear of crime), the cost of manpower and the… Read more »

Dhara Mistry
March 6, 2014 4:52 pm

test