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From the editor's desk: The makeover

Welcome to the latest issue of Hi-Tech Security Solutions, which is also the last issue of Hi-Tech Security Solutions (sort of). We are currently working on our next issue, which is the Smart Mining Handbook, after which there will be a bit of a surprise in Issue 4

Andrew Seldon, Editor

Welcome to the latest issue of Hi-Tech Security Solutions, which is also the last issue of Hi-Tech Security Solutions (sort of). We are currently working on our next issue, which is the Smart Mining Handbook, after which there will be a bit of a surprise in Issue 4, in which we will include the Securex preview. We will be handing it out at the event.

Issue 4 will be somewhat of a new beginning for Hi-Tech Security Solutions, a brand that has served the security industry for more years than we want to admit. We are not abandoning the industry; we are changing to address the ways in which the industry has changed and to address the new realities in security and risk management.

Some of these changes have already snuck into the publication in the past, some more online than in print, so it won’t be a ‘shock and awe’ event, but we will be adapting. We have and are going through something similar to the OODA loop (a cycle of Observe, Orient, Decide and Act). OODA was developed for military combat operations, so I am taking a few liberties applying it to Hi-Tech Security Solutions, but the concept is valid.

According to Colonel John Boyd (who designed the OODA loop), decision-making occurs in a recurring cycle of observe-orient-decide-act. An entity (whether an individual or an organisation) that can process this cycle quickly, observing and reacting to unfolding events more rapidly than an opponent, can thereby ‘get inside’ the opponent’s decision cycle and gain the advantage. (Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OODA_loop.)

Currently it is especially valid in the cyber realm. As more of our physical security operators (both in terms of manpower and technology) learn to function in this society (which is becoming more defined by crime and criminal mafias is every arena), all areas of risk and security have to learn to be more agile in facing overwhelming opposition that is better funded, armed and protected by the highest levels of society.

Of course, there have been many enhancements to the original OODA concept, in an article at https://breakingdefense.com/2017/05/ooda-loop-2-0-information-not-agility-is-life/, which those with a ‘thing’ about fighter jets will love, agility is superseded by information, “In the fifth-generation realm, information equals life,” written by Capt. Stephanie Anne Fraioli.

And while the industry is going on about enhanced analysis and intelligent systems, and let’s not forget the current excitement around AI, it is only with accurate information that any analysis and AI can make a difference. While that information can be collected by a variety of technologies, a significant amount of useful information comes from humans; you know, the old- fashioned thing about talking to people…

Therefore, as our tagline currently says, we are ‘the authoritative resource for physical and converged security’; we have to change along with the industry. Our new tagline will explain more, but we will leave that for Issue 4 and hopefully those readers who are at Securex will stop by our stand to say hello.

When Issue 4 does arrive, please take the time to send your thoughts, comments and criticisms to andrew@technews.co.za. The makeover will take some time to get exactly right so we highly value your input.

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