By William Glasson
Deploying unified security management technology will help you optimise the effectiveness of new systems and devices while making the most of what you have.
Is bolstering physical security on your assets on the agenda in FY2027? For many Australian organisations, the answer is ‘yes’. While most parts of the country remain safe places to live and work, the risks to employees and assets are real and rising. The incidence of youth crime, for example, is over-represented in significant criminal acts, including violent offences.
Local authorities, meanwhile, are doing their best to manage a rise in anti-social behaviour that’s resulting in higher replacement and repair bills for public assets and amenities damaged and destroyed by vandals.
Businesses and organisations are seeking out additional safeguarding measures to fortify the buildings and precincts where they operate. Typically, their objective is enhanced situational awareness and the capacity to respond to, and resolve, potential and unfolding incidents quickly and effectively.
Unpacking the options for a security uplift
There’s a myriad of ways organisations can bolster their security posture to ensure more robust protection for people, property and the public. They include hiring additional teams of security guards, stepping up the frequency of patrols, installing digital camera arrays, speakers, motion sensors and lights, and deploying sophisticated facial and licence plate recognition technology.
High-tech solutions will hold greater appeal for many decision-makers, courtesy of the fact they allow organisations to strengthen their defences without a corresponding increase in the wages bill for frontline security personnel.
Few businesses, however, have the appetite, or the budget, to upgrade their existing electronic and digital security infrastructure in one fell swoop.
For many, a gradual approach is preferable. It avoids the disruption of a ‘big bang’ replacement program and spreads what can be a significant capital expense over two or more financial years.
Upgrading steadily and smartly
With physical and cyber security technologies continuing to evolve and converge at pace, it makes sense to avoid being locked into rigid architectures and proprietary technologies that may already be outdated by the time an upgrade program is complete.
While many organisations will look to migrate to a cloud managed security model given the compelling benefits – think simplified set-up, and centralised maintenance and management – they’ll get there in stages, retaining what still works and introducing new capabilities where they can deliver most value. That might be at specific sites where the risk is heightened, for example, or at vulnerable spots within an individual premises.
A security management platform that supports multiple deployment models will allow your organisation to align its technology choices with operational realities on the ground and whatever budget constraints it’s experiencing.
Unified security management technology that’s flexible by design
That’s where cloud-based unified physical security technology comes into its own.
The term refers to an ecosystem of security products that can be consolidated to allow them to operate as a single unit.
Bringing the data captured by device arrays, sensors and security solutions together in a centralised hub allows security personnel to maintain a bird’s eye view of operations and respond quickly to potential threats and unfolding incidents.
It’s an architecture which is technology agnostic and flexible by design. New devices and solutions can be added to your unified security platform as they come online, while legacy solutions can continue to be managed in parallel until their replacement date rolls around.
Setting your business up for a more secure future in FY2027 and beyond
Whatever the nature of your organisation or business, safeguarding your workforce, assets and customers is critical.
Putting unified security technology at the heart of your uplift program makes it simple to bring new systems and devices online, while continuing to utilise existing assets until they reach end of life. It’s enabling technology that will allow you to derive maximum value from your security investment in FY2027 and beyond.
William Glasson is the National Sales Manager, Genetec.
