A total solution to integrate and correlate all sources of security information remains a dream of the Security Industry
The emphasis on the protection of property in its many forms is the cornerstone of modern Security. Security Systems have evolved in response to the nature of the threat, taking a form dictated by the threat. These independent security systems can be grouped into three categories: Cyberspace, Personnel, and Physical. They coexist with virtually no operational integration, coordination, and communication.
The History of Independent Security Systems
Cyberspace, a term coined by William Gibson in his sci-fi novel Neuromancer (1984), derives its name from the electronic “free space” nature of the threat. As modern companies have embraced computer systems to manage all aspects of their operations, threats to the organization mask themselves in many avenues and streets that make up the information highway. They operate swiftly and undetectable within the bowels of information network to achieve their goal often reaping havoc on their host in the process.
Personnel Security is the oldest form of security. Starting with a guard at the gate allowing only those people who were judged to be friendly to enter, personnel security has evolved into a sophisticated automatic access control of ports for ingress and egress. The human has been replaced with automatic screening systems. The newly emerging RFID technology has shown great promise in its ability to screen large numbers of people rapidly with no physical contact using its proxicimity sensing capability. This same technology is used to monitoring the movement of non-human objects, goods, capital equipment, expanding the role and function of the gatekeeper.
The last element making up the security triad is physical security systems. These systems monitor activity outside and within the operation. Physical security has only been effective when used with trained operators to monitor and interpret in real time the events displayed on their monitors. The difficulty of detecting a problem is well documented. Often the Physical Security System’s most useful function is as a forensic tool to reconstruct past events from recorded raw video.
The End-User’s Challenge
End users are faced with the task of building an effective security system by integrating basic building blocks of Cyberspace, Personnel, & Physical into solution that reflects the need of their organization. Nobody in the Security Industry offers a Total Integrated Solution to end users. The Security Industry was created as a fragmented industry with unrelated and dissimilar technologies being the uncommon thread.
There are two primary reasons that have kept a Total Solution System from being developed and offered.
The first is that each of the elements of the Security (Cyberspace, Personnel, & Physical) has evolved from unrelated technologies at different points in time. They have always been separated and there is no compelling need to emerge them. Other than the top level goal of security for the end-user, these different systems have little in common from technology to operational practice.
The second reason has been a truly integrated security system must be automatic. This means all of the functions from monitoring, detection, and alert sounding in all of their domains must be automatic with minimal human intervention. Cyberspace meets the standard. Personnel systems using automatic screeners meet the criteria, but Physical Security Systems have failed in past attempts to achieve adequate automation.
Where is the Compelling Need?
A fully automatic integrated security system allows a common integrated data base where real time information is compiled by using all of the sensory and cyber-intelligence from all elements of the system. The integration of data allows the correlation of single events that by themselves are not suspicious, but taken in concert with others raises a red flag. This correlation of data events forms an embedded security layer which is both difficult to detect and even harder to defeat. Security in depth has been used to describe layered system.
The second advantage to the end-user is more pragmatic. The average end-user to day is over-whelmed with many options from hundreds of reputable companies. Often the end-user’s solution is to hire an outside expert to develop a security plan that tells him what he needs. The end-user may then select an outside integrator to manage the execution of the plan. A third party could become involved to provide a validation of the plan. A fourth organization than provides an oversight audit and an assessment of the system effectiveness. The end-user contracts with an assortment of vendors. The vendors give over lapping coverage, engage in turf disputes, provide conflicting observations, and leave holes in the security plan.
The lynch pin to achieving the utopia of a fully integrated common data base driven system is the Physical Security System, because it is the only one of the three systems that is manually operated. The failure of video analytics to meet fully automated standards with an acceptable false alarm rate has prevented Physical Security Systems to be automated. This has resulted in a room full of TV monitors with trained observers as the stable of today.
The advocates of Infrared Imaging technology believe certain physical properties inherent in Infrared technology can be exploited to create new data correlations that can overcome past short comings prevalent in the visual domain. One such Corporation, Infrared Systems International Inc. advocates a process called HarmAlarmTM based upon a unique patent pending solution.
A total safety solution to integrate and correlate all sources of security information remains a dream of the Security Industry. The elements of the Security Industry that are using wireless connectivity and associated equipment are on the forefront of taking Security Systems to the next level.
The advantages of an Integrated Security System are obvious. To the introducing company there is the prospect of a great reward. To the End-User the benefit is a single point responsibility with an understandable system, and significant cost savings. The realization of this ideal system is in the future. The question is who will make the bold moves to develop new solutions to these problems?
For more details, please contact Infrared Systems International, OTC: BB, Symbol: IFRS, Gary Ball, BaG370@aol.com, Tel: 1-(310)-213-2143
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