Security Industry to Start Sectorized Specialization

Jason Towse believes the future in security services lies in understanding specific vertical markets and delivering tailored services.

We have seen the security industry come a long way, particularly in the last five years where the need for efficiency and technology enhancements have seen us move away from the traditional guard on a door image and towards one of a skilled workforce and a security service that can add real value to the organizations it protects on several levels.

Now more than ever it is critical that as an industry, we don’t apply a “one size fits all” approach to our customers and the different sectors they operate in. Adopting this narrow mentality will only limit the success of both the service delivery and the provider/customer partnership.

I believe the industry will see its next big evolution through taking a sectorized approach. Companies that are already integrated and that understand risk can propel themselves into the sphere of true security partners, through the capability to deliver based on sector-specific risk.

Sectorization is about focus and developing a more robust skill set in dealing with specific issues and/or threats. These encompass different governance structures, regulatory bodies, accreditations, bespoke business language, and varying degrees of risk, which will dictate who has the ability to deliver the multi-layer services needed.

Sectorized focus and specialization can only be achieved through operational expertise, delivered by teams of experts embracing the idiosyncrasies of the environments. For example, in retail it could be understanding shrink and profit protection; in healthcare it is protecting clinical staff and patients and delivering customer service. In education it is providing pastoral care and enhancing the student experience; and for environments of critical security it will be protecting against risks such as data theft, infiltration, and extreme activities.

Public sector

The public sector has seen budgetary challenges with suggestions that outsourcers are prime to fill the gap. This is a perfect example of the need for an outsourcer to understand the sector if it is to be successful in not only helping to reduce spends, but in meeting the expectations of the general public, particularly in the case of the police.

Really, the key to this is the right people in the right sector — harnessing talent and creating tailored training and learning solutions for more in-depth and on-the-job development of new skills relevant to the sectors.

This sectorized approach helps with creating career growth opportunities and benefiting the overall image of our industry, based on acquiring and demonstrating essential skills, complementing subject matter expertise, and not simply following job descriptions.

These sector leads will be value-added roles with increased accountability around addressing the specific risk and providing a multi-layer solution. Each sector will have a specific need around the management information that will enable organizations to identify trends and to apply the intelligence in determining the risk level. And so, as well as our people’s skills matching the sector, so must our systems and technology in order to add real value.

Security industry growth

I am positive about the prospects of the industry, expecting it to continue to grow over the next three to five years. However the key challenges remain and innovation must be focused on working smarter.

Achieving sectorization for security providers is the only way to unlock their growth potential and partnership status with customers; but it may be easier said than done if they fail to demonstrate the associated benefits to their customer base.

With signs of growth in the economy, however fragile, buyers still focus on cost, value, and return on investment. Whilst the market demands specialists, it still needs to take that leap of faith in expanding its reach in trusting and forging true partnerships — an opportunity that is currently often missed.

My advice is to work with your existing and prospective customers to develop partnerships through a tailored approach, but always keep in mind it cannot be truly tailored without the very best sector specialists.