Unification: Closing Security Gaps in the Age of Smart Business
Security used to be a patchwork. Security cameras were in this area, access logs in that area, and alarms controlled somewhere else. Each system operated independently, required a unique interface, required independent maintenance, and occasionally required its own team. Not only did this fragmentation create inefficiency, but it also created risk. All of the information remained segregated within the confines of its own silo, creating delays in decision-making and ultimately causing insight to become lost.
The days of fragmented security are behind us. Unification is now the way smart businesses are approaching both protection and operations. With unification, all security elements are brought under a single platform, and smart businesses are able to simplify their processes while also increasing their overall posture.
Why Does Unified Matter?
A unified platform eliminates blind spots. When video surveillance, communications, and analytics are working together in real-time, teams are able to make more informed decisions quickly. Rather than having to jump from system to system or wait for manual reporting, users have a single dashboard that provides a comprehensive view of their entire operation.
While the increased transparency provided by a unified system improves response times to incidents, it can also prevent incidents from occurring. A unified system can correlate seemingly unrelated events, e.g., a door held open too long, a sudden spike in foot traffic, an unauthorized access attempt made after hours, and immediately notify the appropriate individuals.
Smart businesses are choosing unified platforms because fragmented data wastes time, and time is everything when it comes to security and continuous operations.
Integration: No Longer the Nightmare
Historically, integration of disparate systems was typically done through some form of compromise. Many times, businesses would have to utilize middleware, custom coding, or lengthy deployment timelines to connect incompatible technology systems. Today’s most effective platforms are designed to be open.
Access control systems can be easily integrated into a larger security environment. Video surveillance, intercoms, intrusion detection, and building automation – all of these systems will operate in tandem. Maintenance will become less cumbersome, training will be much quicker, and your team will not require extensive technical knowledge to utilize the tools that protect your business.
Unlocking Smarter Operations Using Data
While security is about blocking threats, it is also essential to utilize the data that is currently being generated throughout your organization to enable smarter business practices. Unified platforms convert raw event data into meaningful patterns. They allow organizations to track trends, audit processes, and identify areas for process improvement.
Do you want to know whether your building usage is justified based on your energy consumption? Do you want to know if your security personnel are effectively utilized across locations? The data collected from a unified platform provides the answer to these types of questions without the requirement for an additional analytics tool.
The increased visibility provided by a unified platform does not solely benefit the security team. Facilities, Human Resources, Compliance, and Leadership will be empowered to utilize the same ecosystem as the security team, filtered to meet their specific needs.
Scalability – Limitless
Whether you have one location or many, unified platforms are scalable. Adding new locations, devices, or users will not require you to redesign your underlying architecture. Since unified platforms are software-based, upgrades and releases will be easier, and new functionality will be rolled out without impacting normal operations.
Closing Thoughts
The days of silos are coming to an end. Intelligent organizations understand that the future belongs to systems that communicate, collaborate, and adapt. Unified platforms not only make security better; they make operations smarter, teams more informed, and decision-making faster.