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From the editor's desk: Get Smart

Andrew Seldon, Editor

Welcome to the fourth issue of Hi-Tech Security Solutions for 2023, which is also the first issue of Smart Security Solutions. As noted in previous issues, Hi-Tech Security Solutions has been rebranded to Smart Security Solutions as the publication evolves to incorporate more of what makes up the security industry today.

When looking back over the years, I can recall when the move from analogue surveillance to IP was all the rage, with the demise of analogue predicted (many times). Then there was the megapixel race as cameras started ‘seeing more’ and analytics appeared on the scene. There have also been developments in many other security technology areas over the years.

Today, IP is the standard, and cloud services, together with AI are making their mark in the industry (and who hasn’t noticed how important cybersecurity is, everywhere). But while the end users still want the cheapest solutions that do it all, users have also evolved to the point where they are not too concerned about megapixels or wired/wireless connectivity and all those, dare we call them, legacy issues. Of course, these do still play a role in decision-making, but only a small part of the decision. The ‘solution’ is what counts these days.

Just as in IT, where almost any leading brand of PC, laptop or server will do the job, users want a solution, preferably a cheap one (cheap is the constant in all industries it seems). You don’t differentiate your server according to processors or storage, it’s the software that matters in terms of what makes a server better at its job, be it backup, or speed, and reliability of storage etc. Obviously the processing power matters, but what the system does for the buyer is more important.

The security market is similar. If someone buys 20 cameras, they will get the cheapest if all they are getting is 20 pictures on screens. They will pay more if there is additional value to be gained from the solution as a whole, both for security and other areas of the business. Perhaps the time has come when two words we have thrown around for years actually matter more than anything else: integrated solutions.

This is the market Smart Security Solutions aims to address. It’s a combination of technologies, but also processes from security, cybersecurity, risk management and information technology. One could sum it up by saying Smart Security Solutions now focuses on resilience.

The Oxford dictionary describes resilience as “the capacity to withstand or to recover quickly from difficulties”. This neatly sums up cyber and physical security as well as risk processes; they are meant to withstand (or prevent) attacks, but when they do get through, the same processes need to ensure that you can recover in the shortest possible time.

The easiest example is a ransomware attack, if you can’t prevent it, you need to get up and running quickly. In physical security, if your perimeter is breached, you need to react and deal with the situation and restore your security, while making sure that vulnerability is dealt with more efficiently in future.

Smart Security Solutions is a work in progress, and I would welcome any comments and criticisms on how we’re doing. They will help us tailor the publication to the real needs of our readers. You can reach me at andrew@technews.co.za.

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