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IFSEC Insider, formerly IFSEC Global, is the leading online community and news platform for security and fire safety professionals.
August 22, 2022

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OPINION

Reactive to proactive security: How predictive analytics can help

IFSEC Global hears from Richard Larsson, Head of Nordics Security Operations Center, at STANLEY Security  (now Securitas Technology and part of Securitas) who discusses the opportunities to make security more proactive than reactive and how AI data can be used to do this. 

Security has traditionally been viewed as a predominantly reactive measure to help protect people, property, and assets. But with new advancements in security technology, this approach is changing.

Organisations are increasingly identifying the opportunity that lies within a more proactive approach to security. As such, they are beginning to rethink their security strategy. Security is no longer simply about proving what has happened but predicting what will happen – and leveraging data-driven insights to assist in solving problems before they even occur.

Advances in security technologies – combined with the application of artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and advanced analytics – provide a huge opportunity for organisations to be more proactive and predictive with their security.

Predicting, planning and preventing

Survey data from our 2022 Industry Trends Report revealed that 45% of business leaders are considering investing in integrated analytics which are driven by AI and machine learning in the near future.

By leveraging data-driven insights gained from AI, machine learning and advanced analytics, organisations are able to unlock insights that can help mitigate potential security threats.

Utilising insights provided by security technology can make it possible to identify where security risks lie and gives awareness over what those risks might be. This understanding can help organisations to be better prepared for when these threats do occur.

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Image: WitOlszewsi/AlamyStock


Advancements in security technologies can also help reduce false alarms and assist in improving response times to events of interest. For example, AI can provide organisations with an understanding of access patterns within their buildings and therefore can identify anomalies such as unusual arrival or departure times or attempts to open the wrong doors. Once a risk is identified, guards can be notified; alerts on intercom systems can be flagged; or the restriction of access points can be implemented to prevent the issue escalating, significantly decreasing the chance of security breaches.

At STANLEY Security (now Securitas Technology), we’ve also seen increasing requests from businesses wanting to know how many alarms to expect in the coming weeks or months. By leveraging AI, monitoring centre operators can identify patterns in historical alarm data that could be predictive of future events. With this information, businesses are able to make changes and optimise security by allocating resources more effectively.

This proactive approach to security means organisations are able to identify any potential vulnerabilities before they become a risk. These invaluable insights can bolster security, creating a more secure environment for an organisation’s greatest asset: its people.

Proactively powering operations through security

In addition to mitigating security threats, operational insights from security infrastructure provides knowledge that allows organisations to act more proactively and predictively and make informed business decisions.

For example, insights provided by security technology can help businesses identify areas within their facilities that are infrequently used on certain days and potentially make decisions on things like reducing heating or lighting in these areas and avoid unnecessary energy consumption.

AI-based monitoring also allows real-time identification of issues such as faulty equipment. Identifying when something may need to be serviced or replaced can prevent breakdowns that may have knock-on effects to power consumption, customer satisfaction and service costs.

When organisations unlock the dormant data that lies within their security systems, the use cases are virtually unlimited. By taking a proactive and predictive approach to security, leaders can fully utilise all the tools and technologies at their disposal. These technologies can fuel innovation, make security efforts watertight and improve the productivity of organisations. This grants greater agility and turns security into a source of competitive edge.

We’re only beginning to scratch the surface of what’s possible with this untapped opportunity of proactive security.

 

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