Network security is a top priority for businesses of all sizes and scopes. But what about physical safety and security? At the enterprise level, safety and security takes on a whole new meaning. Not only do enterprises have to protect their physical and intellectual property, but they also need to protect their employees and guests. Modern enterprises cannot afford to take chances.
Fortunately, C-suite executives don’t have to guess. They do not have to throw various safety initiatives against the wall to see what sticks. Today’s enterprises have access to amazing technologies that are driving security toward a future that would have been unimaginable just a few decades ago.
Everything from safety and security systems for restricted access down to the safety equipment workers use on-the-job is up for grabs. And wherever you turn, you hear engineers talking about smart things, the IoT, and artificial intelligence (AI).
Workplace Safety Enhancements
From the employee’s perspective, some of the most exciting safety developments are observed in workplace safety enhancements. Take personal protective equipment (PPE). What used to be nothing more than a collection of garments, footwear, and face protection has entered the smart era. We now have access to smart PPE.
What can smart PPE do? Check it out:
- Monitor worker vital signs.
- Collect biometric data.
- Collect environmental data.
- Track environmental hazards.
- Correlate vital signs to changes in the environment.
- Present real-time and historical safety data.
For all intents and purposes, nearly every aspect of what an employee is doing can be monitored through smart PPE. What’s more, this is just one example of how technology is contributing to workplace safety enhancements. Other examples include integrating augmented and virtual reality, improving training with virtual simulations, and enhancing emergency preparedness.
Digital Security Integration
In terms of buildings and property, digital technologies are revolutionizing how security is implemented. At the top of the technology list is AI. It is powering everything from CCTV networks to real-time risk detection.
Consider an older CCTV system that does little more than record and stream video footage. Now, imagine how much better that system would be if powered by AI. The system could identify moving objects and track them. It could automatically adjust its own settings to improve video quality. It could send real time alerts, store video footage for later viewing, and work with advanced software to employ predictive analytics on an ongoing basis.
AI-powered CCTV systems far exceed the capabilities of their older counterparts. They can act as an entire security solution on their own rather than being just one component.
Making physical security that much more effective is the implementation of cloud-based security platforms. In the cloud, security systems can be managed remotely. They can be modified on-the-fly. Maintenance can be performed in real time without having to shut everything down. The result is a more secure system that never lets its guard down.
AI-Powered Automation
Giving thought to physical security systems enhanced with AI leads directly to the next concept: AI-powered process automation. One of the most important benefits AI affords is the ability to automate mundane tasks that do not automatically require human intervention.
Human beings no longer need to schedule data backups. Automated systems can handle it. Humans don’t have to issue security alerts when sensors are triggered. An automated system can do it on its own. By automating tasks not requiring human intervention, security teams can free up their people to pay attention to more complex matters. That makes for a more secure environment all the way around.
An added benefit of AI is its simulated ability to learn. As data is collected, analyzed, and stored, it improves system accuracy. AI-powered tasks are completed more accurately and efficiently over time. Once again, safety is enhanced.
Unifying Ecosystems Across an Enterprise
The pinnacle of today’s technologically advanced security is being able to unify ecosystems across an entire enterprise. A good example is unifying security with HR systems.
HR issues physical ID cards to all new employees. The cards act as both identification and an electronic access tool that determines which spaces an employee has access to. Integrate HR systems with security systems and the capabilities become obvious.
Employees can be tracked as they move around the premises. Biometric systems, like fingerprint scanners and cameras with face recognition, can verify identities as employees move from one space to the next. Anyone found in an unauthorized space is immediately flagged.
Likewise, unauthorized persons can easily be identified by facial recognition software. Analyzing a face that is not in the organization’s database alerts the security team to an unauthorized person in an unauthorized space. Action can be taken immediately.
Amazing and New Opportunities
The same digital technologies that have revolutionized our homes are transforming workplaces as well. At the enterprise level, digital technologies are improving safety and security in ways that can seem too good to be true. It is an amazing world of new opportunities just waiting to be seized.
Also Read: The Role of Technology in Modern Strategic Planning
