What will be the biggest security surprise in the second half of 2019?

Artificial intelligence and machine learning are hot topics within the security market as well as within general society today. Virtually all markets are actively looking to improve existing solutions as well as provide new solutions leveraging AI. Security and business environments that require real time monitoring of a wide range of sensors and cameras, such as banks, retail and other financial organisations, will likely be the first adopters of artificial intelligence to help improve situational awareness and operational efficiencies. Virtually any organisation that has large numbers of cameras and sensors will look to leverage AI to improve efficiencies and workflow in the very near future.

Though video has always been considered a central component of security systems and the principle of capturing footage is quite simple, the second half of 2019 will bring surprises when it comes to the development of today’s surveillance cameras and how they’re adapting to address an increasingly complex risk landscape. As technology becomes smarter, end users are able to leverage more data and sensors within their security solutions than ever before, requiring a robust and reliable surveillance camera at the centre. We can expect to see the newest devices do more in a smaller package, addressing the need for both increased functionality and aesthetics. With features such as improved bandwidth capabilities, higher quality imagery and advanced cybersecurity, users will be empowered to leverage surveillance cameras to generate greater levels of situational awareness to empower stronger security strategies, informed decision-making and enhanced business operations.

One of the biggest trends we have already seen pick up steam this year is the move towards added value in our solutions. End users are looking for new functionalities in their products, specifically video surveillance, that provides them with tangible benefits. With the expanded use of IoT devices, our systems are more intelligent and interconnected than ever before, gaining the ability to provide meaningful business insights far beyond the realm of simple security. For retailers this technology allows them to better analyse traffic flow, monitor customer service interactions, and even heat map their store to better merchandise their products, staff accordingly and increase revenue. Similarly, for manufacturers these devices are enabling enhanced quality control, workplace safety, and predictive machine maintenance for improved business efficiency. We have no doubt that this trend will only continue to grow and evolve at a rapid pace as we near the end of 2019.

The biggest surprise in the second half of 2019 will be that artificial intelligence is not yet the game changer that everyone wants it to be. While AI has the potential to simplify and enhance the industry, it is not developing as quickly as everyone would like. I believe AI will continue to grow over the next year and beyond, but it will be some time before we see the real benefits of implementing the technology.

One of the biggest changes I've seen in the market this year is a more modern, holistic approach in offering complete security solutions as opposed to a piecemealed perspective. Whether we are trying to provide intelligent infrastructure for healthcare and school campuses, airports, Safe Cities, and even, casinos, market-specific solutions give organisations the ability to custom tailor their system to meet their needs. For example, intelligent hyperconverged infrastructure (HCI) is optimised to support multiple mixed workloads such as video surveillance, analytics and integrated security applications on a common platform, which increases operational efficiency and lowers overall IT spending. This type of system backbone can help provide the performance, resilience, and scalability required to support IoT cameras and sensors, video management systems, access control, analytics applications and other IT software required to provide safe and secure environments.