Why the security industry is focusing on protecting soft targets in 2018

2017 was an incredible year for VuTeur and the industry as a whole, as security has become a primary focus for stakeholders, now more than ever.

VuTeur introduced its proprietary IRIS (Internal Real-time Intelligence Software) technology this year, which is part of its emergency management and asset protection solution. IRIS leverages real-time location services (RTLS) technology and utilises the existing WiFi infrastructure in a building to create a personal, mobile safety device built to save lives — all while reducing infrastructure and cost.

Tragedy informing the industry

The tragic and unfortunate events that occurred in 2017 and in the years prior, such as mass shootings and natural disasters, have made adding layers of security a prominent trend in 2017. Soft targets have unexpectedly become the focus of many attacks, placing an even more significant emphasis on determining how to protect individuals within a campus. Visitor management was a key trend VuTeur focused on this year and will continue to concentrate on, as many security issues tend to stem from an uncertainty of who is in a building at any given time.

Securing all types of campuses will continue to be crucial into 2018. Schools, healthcare facilities, stadiums and arenas, and other organisations face the challenge of maintaining a welcoming and friendly environment, while understanding and monitoring who is in the facility and properly safeguarding the area.

Stadiums and arenas face the challenge of maintaining a welcoming and friendly environment, while properly safeguarding the area

The security industry will continue to trend upward, which will help push new technologies, such as VuTeur's, that augment perimeter and building safety in every vertical.

What’s to come

Next year, VuTeur's technology portfolio will expand, and we plan to establish deployments in a variety of applications, such as on educational campuses, hospitals, arenas, corporate campuses and government facilities. Communication will remain critically important in the event of an emergency, making RTLS technology extremely valuable for conveying routine- and threat-based messages.

Integration will also be a significant trend in 2018, as it is vital for security systems to "talk" to each other, such as RTLS talking to access control and mobile devices, to create a more holistic approach to protecting assets and people.