Electronic Security Solutions and the Creation of the Right Balance - Research Paper Example

Introduction The introduction of electronic security solutions has given rise to many debates regarding which between manned security and electronic security solutions is best suited for the consumers. Some people have come out strongly suggesting that the best way out is for the security industry to settle for the use of both manned and electronic approaches to achieve a better compliment from each other and achieve a safer security environment. The various debates have left the consumers in a dilemma when it comes to choosing which the best security solution option to use is. Even though electronic solutions are the most developed security solutions in the recent past and are considered as being highly effective, they should not be the only security approach used. Electronic security solutions are used to monitor while manned guarding acts hence it is advisable that the two employed together. A good example is the London 2012 Olympics case where despite the many electronic solutions that were used to observe security, more than 10, 000 manned guarding security guards had to be employed to assist in public safety protection implying that neither of the two could be used alone. In the UK, it has been estimated that there are more than 4.2 million cameras used for security purposes and this can be looked as a one security camera for a group of 14 people with the same statistics indicating that averagely, a citizen is found caught by CCTV camera 300 times every day (Icon Group International 2009, p. 78). In order to have a large area or a building fully secured, such a responsibility falls on the hands if the manager behind the security operations. According to the BSIA (British Security Industry Association) research, facilities managers have been appreciated as to perform a significant role in security solutions implementations and more than 70% of the companies researched on showing that the security situation in an organization rely fully on the managers to come up with essential procurement decisions (Icon Group International 2009, p. 90). Following this statistics, there are huge responsibilities to ensure that security solutions are achieved in the best way possible. Several security measures types are required in different areas to provide security solutions in different locations with different degrees of crime vulnerability. To achieve such a balance is very important and an approach that should be employed has to be of the utmost consideration to meet the specific needs of every individual facility. Consequently, there are different security solutions approaches and the choice of the type and level of security at any facility has proven to be a hard task to the consumers especially when it comes to the value associated with either manned or electronic security solutions. Manned Verses Electronic Arguments for Electronic Solutions Researches conducted over the years show that CCTV’s are extremely efficient in security solutions. Cameras that have been placed strategically around an area or a building can offer thorough and large area coverage of the site under surveillance. CCTV’s have also been observed to significantly change the manner in which security solutions are provided and is flexible enough to be applied in a wide range of locations as well as being able to adapt to different deployment ways. This attributes are associated with CCTV’s ability to cover various locations, continuously monitor a single area and track site movement. CCTV’s are also the most convenient ways of offering prevention to would be criminals. A large area under protection will require several screens in order to monitor the site at one given time and this has to be as done in the most efficient manner possible. Recent technology advances show that it is possible to streamline such process through using motion sensors with CCTVs. This implies that the cameras are only on the move when a movement is detected and thus the security guards don’t have continuously record each image the camera films (Garcia 2008, p. 56) Video Content Analysis (VCA) is one of the most intelligent security form applied in securing sites where patrolling has proved to be a challenge. VCA is a form of CCTV images automatic analysis which retrieves vital information on the content. The VCA scope has continuously expanded over the years and is so impressive as it can be applicable in both internal and external intruder detection, buildings monitoring for safety and healthy, automatic event, people counting and incident detection, public areas safety enhancement, fire and smoke detection and sabotage and camera failure (Garcia 2008, p. 89). The theory supporting this side of the argument is that any action which can be observed and defined accurately on a video image can be identified automatically and the most appropriate measure taken. This approach that focuses its attention on CCTV’s most relevant footages has the ability to permit resources to be allocated effectively and appropriate measures taken. To most users, CCTV’s are way much preferable to manned guarding. Access Control systems come in a variety of ranges from logging systems based on paper for permits used by temporary contractors to access control cards that make use of radio frequency identification chips (REID) that are mostly applied in the activation of turnstiles, gates and vehicle barriers and card details proximity readings. Smart access control applications enjoy the desirable feature of being an effective security technology that is easy to use and effective. Such systems are used in logging in off and on site and showing regions that have already been visited by the facility. Access control is also applicable in safety and health perspective where there is need for evacuation as it allows the security in charge to locate and account for everyone. The above operations are enabled with minimal human involvement thus can be applicable to control vehicle access and door entry points. Areas that have been rendered “off limit” in manned guarding following insufficient clearance fall under the scope of ACS systems as it effectively records data on movements in such areas. CCTV’s that have been included with integrated access control maximizes this technology as it allows the recoding of physical images of any object getting into any key card location in an effort to ensure that only the authorized people have the right key thus preventing the system from being abused (Norman 2007, p. 45) Arguments for Manned Guarding Solutions As technology has been appreciated to give business an added advantage in the countering of vandalism, theft and arson, various security setups require physical presence. Having staffs being employed to have premises secured has for a very long time been considered the most preferred security solution. This follows the adaptable ability of the guards to react quickly in accordance to the security situation thus the benefits of having the human element in security solutions cannot be underestimated. Security patrols that are normally conducted on foot or using vehicles have proved to be fundamental in the event of intruder detection response and offers visible security presence. The staff and visitors feeling of security presence is normally enhanced by the security officers presence who will appear manning points of access and random patrols around perimeter areas and buildings. Even in the cases of the management of technology aspects of security such as access control and CCTV, the presence of security guards is still needed (Norman 2007, p. 78). Even if managed guarding is considered as an expensive form of security solution, the ability of the guards to quickly respond to arising situations and the deterrent to possible intruders implies that manned guarding is worth the cost. One important consideration in manned guarding is to ensure effective security solutions by making sure that the workforce are of the highest standards and the staff members are the best quality possible. As the private security industry role has proved to be more significant, there has been need to improve the professionalism and quality standards. This led to the setting up of Security Industry Authority to ensure that people serving in certain security industry sectors are licensed. The license need is normally determined by the security officer role and the activity being undertaken. In several areas such as Wales, England and Ireland, licensing of guards is a must in different security situations like close protection, cash in transit, key holdings, CCTV surveillance on public space, security guarding immobilization and door supervision. Operatives who are fully trained form highly security layer for site facilities (Norman 2007, p. 45). The Right Security Solution Researches indicate that facilities personnel serve an important role in security of any premises calling for the need for the customers to have a clear understanding of the various security solutions before them before they make any decision and also consider the benefits associated with their choices. As integrated security systems have increased in their popularity over the years and have proved to be successful in there effectiveness and efficient protections levels, there are still choices that have to be made. The UK market has been flooded by different security providers making choosing the most suited being a challenging task for the facilities managers. This situation has led to an increase in the importance of reorganizing the manner and significance of settling for a quality security firm and approach. Before making any decision, the consumers have to be well informed before settling for the most secure facility. The security solution chosen has to be one that saves money, time and lives at the same time. Most companies and clients have resolved on striving to attain the most preferable security mix through thorough analysis of the available options. For example, CCTVs have been associated with different benefits for serving as a deterrent and keeping surveillance recorded logs. Despite the associated benefits, the same companies and individuals are still in need of human figures which will provide visible deterrent able to prevent and intervene disorders on the site. Most of the results from different researches have concluded that using combined approaches is the most effective and tailored security solutions. Although technology makes it possible for 24 hours protection, to have a well level cover needs significant presence of manned guarding. However, the costs incurred to employ security guards on the site have increased steadily in the recent past following the licensing requirements as well as the inaction of legislation governing minimum wage. Following this situation, most consumers find themselves puzzled on why they should not fully rely on remote monitoring and CCTV now that they are cheaper. This answer is not as simple as it may seem as in several occasions, it is appropriate to have human presence in place like at access entrances where they have to interact with customers, employees and visitors. The presence of a security guard can also serve as a deterrent to possible intruders and provide solutions incase of more security personnel needed for one-off events. There are also benefits of having security guides working together with technological solutions. Manned guards have been observed to be more effective whenever they are supported by technology in their operations. As technology is employed for remote tour sites, manned guard patrol offer additional cover. Most consumers now opt for both electric and manned solutions where guards are integral part of location monitoring and are in a position to employ visual monitoring centers before patrolling the site. For manned guards to appropriately serve their purpose, personnel that are of high caliber and licensed are the ones to be employed by security firms. This is because ones licensed, the personnel will be screened and will have the right references, clearances, work expertise and training levels fit for any business. The guards also need to be more technical so as to be in a position to embrace technology literature. The security providers also have to put into consideration competitive wages as well as benefits packages so as to avoid cases of security personnel turnover. Training, supervision and discipline should also be part of the provider’s considerations and should not be left to the customers. The providers should also conduct supervisory visits on its security staff making this one of the main management process. Related Costs A survey conducted by the British Chamber of Commerce (BCC) in 2008 shows that more than 44 percent of the respondents had never seek any advice on crime reduction (KPMG 2002, p 78). Yet the move to address crime, loss and shrinkage is important to every citizen thus the call for profit protection especially among business as when security issues are effectively addressed, the business profits will be protected. Even this times that are commonly referred to as cash-strapped, it is important for businesses, companies and individuals to maintain and initiate security measures that are effective so as to ensure they are well protected from crime. When budgets get too tight, there are several ways of maintaining quality security services while at the same time cutting on expenditure. A good example being moving away from managed guarding activities and settling for electronic solutions. Such a move has been calculated to cut down of the security budget by more than 80%. As the ever increasing terrorism continues to form one of the main security issues in UK, optimized security solutions are very important. Solutions such as rapid responses and alarm monitoring are now on the increase and are being deployed to ensure effective dealing with critical security situations. The quality of security services has great stakes and most security firms have been obliged to provide a synthesis of manned guarding and technology, including access control, vide surveillance as well as intruder detection to offer security solutions that are wholesome. The Frosts & Sullivan analysis show that manned guarding market earned more than $ 32.78 billion as revenue and this has been predicted to get to $ 47 billion by the 2014 (E& 2002, p. 4). The survey proved that neither manned guarding or technology solutions alone can effectively meet the increasing security needs. The analysis concluded that in order to achieve an optimum solution, security technology and manned guarding have to be merged in order to attain the most preferred security solution. Another influential issue is de-policing that encourages former police officers to get into manned guarding offered by private security firms. The police authority shortage has led to grappling considering the increasing crime activities. This situation has enhanced the chances of outsourcing and adopting of manned guard activities to private providers. Modern technology such as video surveillance has increased the security layer thus increasing the optimizing solution. It is the shortage of security guards who are well trained and licensed that has forced the providers to increase the guard’s wages thus impacting the profit margins in negative ways with the smaller providers in the market being the most affected (3i 2002, p. 5). The increasing market costs have led to the adoption of technology solutions and cutting down on the static guards number required. Nevertheless, the number of manned guards is so scare that it has resulted to a huge discrepancy when it comes to their availability and their demand. The shortage of guards in the UK has taken an alarming dimension. Low wages are the core of this issue as guides are now paid between $ 30, 000 and 40, 000 annually. In addition to the shortage of guards, service costs and low margins have also restrained the progression of the market. In this times of economic slow down, cost control has proved to be critical and most clients are now pressurizing the providers to cut on their costs. Most providers opt for technological solutions which are well suited to expedite the guard’s efficiency as well as the security measures. The UK security market is now experiencing stiff competition forcing both providers and clients to operate on very slim margins. Most providers are finding it very difficult to sustain the arising scenarios. In an effort to offset the margin crunch that is being experienced, providers have settled for comprehensive security packages which include both electronic and guarding security. Providers are now having their services combine manned guarding activities with other services such as building and cleaning maintenance with all the services being handled by one contractor. The services have gone further to having packages on manned guarding services to entail the combination of facility and security services. This is in an effort to have their customer’s value up-scaled through providing optimized security guarding services. The users are also expected to be aware and to appreciate the benefits associated with the combination of manned guarding and security technology in an effort to have the best penetration ability in the competitive market (E-security 2002, p. 6). Market Situation The main market concern in relation to security in this period still remains to be terrorist incidents leading to high security alerts levels in UK. This situation provides the security industry many opportunities but still has adverse negative effects of the confidence of other participants. Most of the security product sector and fire-protection market have been observed to be strongly driven by the new market situation. Crime figures have been on constant increase with the highest figures being witnessed in Wales and England. However, there has been a reduction in the vehicle crime level as well as fire cases on buildings. The reductions have been strongly linked with the efficient use of fire-protection and security products and public safety efforts and campaigns like improving security in parking lots and car parks. The 2006 move to introduce licensing in the manned security industry on its security guards as well as several categorized staff led the industry to experience teething issues but still resulted to improved client confidence and better prices for company providers. The electronic security market on the other hand has witnessed a strong growth in integrated systems, access control and networked systems on multiple locations as well as the application of Internet protocol (IP) networks in its monitoring and remote management system (PWC 2002, p. 67). The market has also been characterized by a continuous high product innovation levels with the CCTVs being commonly used in the household sector. The locks sector is slowly maturing and this growth is related to the benefits it gains from the outputs from housing and this trend is expected to continue in future. The fire-protection market has experienced a product developed of high rates but at the same time experiencing a downward prices pressure. In this sector, the market that is performing best is the manned security services and security equipment. After recession, the manned security market has witnessed a steady growth but this did not last as the trend started to decline again in the year 2009. This trend has been attributed to the stiff price competition following the cost reduction practices on the market. Despite the minimal growth witnessed, price pressure has restricted the market development in this sector. This year has demonstrated a better performance in the manned guarding market following the major contract that took place during the London Olympics. It has been approximated that the total sale in the manned security industry grew by more than 7 percent (Glaessner, 2002, p. 67). Considering the current economic situation as well as the arising trends in the manned security market, it is expected that the same market will contract come 2013 before a prolonged period of low real growth levels (Glaessner, 2002, p. 70). This market development is expected to be driven mainly by police and custodial services sector in the best five years that will result from an increased private sector involvement. The current market situation indicate that manned guarding sector is approaching a maturity level and this can be partly seen in the way it is continuously been substituted by electronic security solutions. The little growth that may be witnessed will be generated by the diversification and broadening of given selected services amongst main providers with a larger number of companies settling for security solutions that are fully integrated while other providers diversifying to be fully fledged management firms. The providers will continue benefiting from the outsourcing non-core services. In relation to financial terms, security is a large business. The UK Security Industry Authority survey shows that the private security industry is worth over 6 billion. The responsibility of the security staffs in UK is diverse, however, the main goals have not changed over the years and they include; dangerous events detection like fire, unauthorized intrusion prevention, and room inspection in the event of missing items. Looking at the main security goals, the primary role of security industry in UK can be said to be detection of anomalous activities and events and the events in question leave manned guarding as the most relevant security solution thus manned guarding becomes the basic security approach in UK and cannot be ignored even with the introduction of the modern technology security solutions (Glaessner 2003, p. 45) Manned guarding offers the basic solutions like security patrols in the search of anomalous events. However this basic security solution has hazards associated with it in that it comes between the intruder and their main goal which has a great deal of risks. Such risks are among the main reasons that led to the need for better manned security approaches such as the hybridization of its systems like static sensor networks and CCTV. These additions do not do away with the basic manned guarding practices but offer additional data that are used in making better decisions in response to threatening the events. The inclusions also make the manned guarding activities more convenient, efficient and cost effective like the CCTV allows one security guard to observe several points on the site regardless of where he or she is located physically. The technical security solutions have also some problems associated with them just like the case of manned guarding. For example, CCTV systems may experience an overload of information reducing the detection efficiency. Garcia research estimated that the detection rate of guards has reduced over the years by almost 83% when using CCTV systems with four cameras and 64% for systems with 16 cameras (Garcia 2008, p. 97).The assessment also concluded that the static sensor system quality depends majorly on the initial sensor placement. The situation worsens when the systems makes use of non-visual sensors. Some of the technical security solutions like x-ray scanners, mass spectrometers and environmental detectors were observed to have very slim effective range. Security systems that are fully operated by manned security solutions have many drawbacks. This is because manned security wholly relies on the rest-periods of the staff involved and its quality and results of detection remain highly variable. The manned security solutions on events have no stored log thus depends on the human memory that is highly subjective. During the manned security operations, the security guards remain vulnerable to several social prejudices making the guards less effective while dealing with certain people groups. The main draw back of manned security that gives technical security solutions an added advantage is its increased running costs as it involves staff training and labor. Conclusion Following the above arguments, the integration prospect of both manned security and electronic systems should both be taken into consideration. Utilizing both the benefits associated with advanced and electronic systems and the inclusion of staff that are highly trained to come up with decisions that are well informed to enable them settle for the best course of action in the event of emergencies, will form a comprehensive means of offering security. As CCTV cameras are directed and monitored from a control center, manned patrols reach out to arising security issues in real time and adapt according to any variations in the situation utilizing the used technology. Access control are instantly used to monitor areas strategically following the security protocols while vehicular access can in some situations be restricted through drivers interaction when need arises. In relation to this, site visitors, workers and the public interaction cannot be underestimated as the human element has proved to be vital in offering reassurances for people to be contended that they are in a location that is secure. The best security solution does not necessarily have to compromise manned guards involvement or rely solely on technology. The above arguments have proved that the best security solution approach is the combination of the two to complement and support one another in a manner that is intelligent. In general, the most effective solution depends on the creation of the right balance that will deliver a safe, effective and secure solution. The careful combination of manned security solutions and technical security solutions has proved to give rise to this desired balance. 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