As much as they advertise otherwise, most modern security systems compete evenly with one another. They all offer access control and video surveillance. There are, however, two important main differentiators. The first is how they utilize software in expanding the reach of security systems beyond physical control systems. The second is the open architecture of systems that allow them to meet the needs of different building types.
The role of software
Software can transform an out-of-the-box modern security system into a tailored solution for any application. An example is gun recognition or gunshot detection, which might be critical for schools and stadiums, but may not be as important in buildings with more corporate functions. Another example is asset management solutions, which can monitor location of vehicles, heavy equipment, and similar technologies, critical to operations like mining or utilities, but less useful for schools or corporate buildings.
Software allows customization as well. Rules based building access control can provide custom solutions like changing camera views and/or displaying an ID photo on denied access, COVID questionnaire or staff temperature monitoring related denial, and employee access management. This customization can go even further, with tailored solutions like Clean Room, which maintains a sterilized environments and prevents cross contamination by limiting access to certain rooms after certain conditions are met. For instance, if you enter a clean room working with contaminants, your access to any other clean room can be denied. A wider application is rules for temporary employees and contractors, like date and time-based denied access.
Avoiding headaches
The underlying software you choose for your security system is also important. In many cases, each building may have a different deployment of technology. This could be from a variety of reasons, but most often it’s because construction times vary, physical security is installed at different times, or security personnel may have different opinions on security technology they want to implement. When this happens, different buildings may have different security subsystems . Your choice is to replace all of the systems that your organization has invested in or ,instead integrate them together with software.
Integrations take you above and beyond
Software integrations can expand the reach of the physical security systems even further. A mustering solution gives you post-crisis headcount, meeting OSHA requirements. It can provide an attendance log for meetings and required trainings. Systems should also integrate with BMS solutions for HVAC and lighting control to eliminate losses for lighting and heating/cooling in unused areas. This solves a problem for buildings with large warehouses
Today, large-scale campuses want to use mobile devices so they can include their employees and create a new layer of security. An example of this is the Maxxess InSite software, which combines human intelligence with system intelligence and allows employees to log incidents and trigger emergency notifications in real time. These systems can improve much improved security detection and response to a variety of real-time events and provide instant emergency notifications.
These new personnel-based systems, such as InSite are scalable and can integrate with most available access control, surveillance, and physical security systems. There’s no rip and replace necessary and it works over any combination of hardwired, wireless, cellular, or internet network, allowing every employee to be part of the overall security network.