4 ways innovative tech is enhancing physical security

Technology plays a central role in all our daily lives and its capabilities have been quick to be recognised by the security industry. While CCTV, alarms, access control systems and other security measures are now a mainstay for many businesses, they’re not the only form of tech that is helping keep people, property and assets safe.

Since Venture Security was founded back in 2006, we have seen the industry undergo some major transformations. Nowhere is this more evident than in relation to the use of technology. In particular, its capabilities behind the scenes, to aid transparency, monitor and predict trends, and drive quality standards and efficiencies. Security is going digital!

There has also been a further blurring of the lines between the online and the offline world, with physical security teams and IT teams increasingly working together, to better mitigate risks and ensure the greatest level of protection is in place. (Read more on this topic in our blog: How employee behaviour online could be putting your physical security at risk)  

Here are 4 examples of how innovative tech is having an impact within the physical security space right now.

1. Drones

With their ability to survey vast areas in a fraction of the time it would take a human to cover the same ground, drones have many potential uses for both crime detection and prevention, as well as for event security processes, including crowd management.

Deploying a drone enables security teams to quickly gain a birds’ eye view of any incidents that are unfolding, giving teams eyes in places that wouldn’t ordinarily be accessible. This also allows remote teams to make assessments of what localised action or support may be needed.

Footage captured by drones can also be used as evidence in criminal proceedings to successfully gain convictions against those who have committed a crime.

Drones are already used by police forces across the UK, for everything from surveillance to gathering evidence, searching for missing people or persons of interest absconding from a crime scene, and monitoring emergency situations.

As their sophistication increases and new features continue to be introduced, the potential applications for drones within the security sector are only likely to increase.

Read more here: The use of drones in security

2. what3words

In an emergency, every second counts, so you always want to be able to get to the location of any issues as quickly as you can. what3words gives security officers the ability to do just that.

Already used by emergency control rooms in the UK, Australia and the US, this free tool assigns a unique three-word combination to every 3 meter square throughout the world. This makes it easy to identify and share a user’s precise location without the need for GPS coordinates.

For example, our very own Venture HQ can be found using: ///yell.precluded.town 

As well as being available via a free app anyone can install on their smartphone, the technology can also be integrated into CAD software, GIS systems and navigation tools.

If a call comes in from someone who doesn’t have the app installed, the responder can simply issue an SMS that the user can click on to instantly reveal their what3words location.

For commercial security teams, using what3words can help speed-up the time it takes to respond to an incident, while also improving information-sharing with emergency services. It can be an especially beneficial tool when working in rural areas, where a lack of roads and discernible landmarks can slow you down and make finding a precise location more difficult. While for events, from the largest sporting event to the smallest music festival, what3words can help improve the experience for organisers, vendors, emergency services and ticket holders.

3. Body worn cameras

Body worn cameras, like those we equip our team with here at Venture Security, have become an integral tool in the commercial security sector.

By capturing events as they occur, in real-time, their footage can be used for evidentiary and training purposes, as well as to assist in criminal investigations and prosecutions. They also have the added benefit of acting as a deterrent for someone who might otherwise have become physically aggressive.

Because they are securely fastened directly on the body, they allow wearers to retain the use of their hands - something that is essential in any security role.

Capable of live streaming as well as recording high-resolution visual images and audio, their usage within the security sector is anticipated to grow in 2023 and beyond, with new advancements to the technology - such as AI integrations - hotly tipped to be the next evolution in their design.

Read more here: Why do our security officers use body-worn cameras?

4. AI-based analytics and security surveillance

Artificial intelligence – or AI for short - is one of the most disruptive forms of technology out there – and it continues to cause waves across every type and size of industry.

AI is already in widespread use when it comes to helping businesses to service customers and achieve better efficiency through automation, but the tech is only just getting started in its capabilities. And for the security industry, it has huge potential.

For example, we’ve already touched on AI’s potential integration into body worn cameras, another area where AI may soon assist security teams is in video surveillance. Much like drones are now being used to provide security companies with a vital ‘eye in the sky’, AI technology can be used to help detect and deter criminal acts and antisocial behaviour by analysing live feeds transmitted by onsite CCTV cameras.

If the AI sees something in the feeds that doesn’t look right, it can immediately alert security personnel to the potential threat, who can assess the situation and respond in the appropriate way, be it interception or calling the police.

This allows security teams to be able to monitor multiple client camera feeds simultaneously while quickly deploying physical resources where they are needed most.

Talk to us about V-Secure – the digital future of security

Here at Venture, we are committed to integrating technology in a way that will best support us to provide the highest quality of service possible for our customers.

We’re proud to continually raise the bar and this has seen become the first security company in the region to offer fully digital, cutting-edge security management for our customers.

It’s time to wave goodbye to paper records, chasing reports and never quite knowing if your security company is keeping its promises!

To find out more, please contact us on [email protected]