Why people will power business security in 2022

In the era of the ‘Great Resignation’, it may seem counterintuitive to say that people will power business security in 2022. However, a convergence of challenges over the past few years has led to an undeniable trend in the security industry: With more technology comes the need for more people to monitor, analyse and leverage the data that technology produces.

Always-on approach to security

Since businesses were forced into lockdown two years ago, we’ve seen technology adoption accelerate at an unparalleled rate, as leaders navigate the new working world. In fact, according to survey data published in STANLEY Security’s 2022 Industry Trends Report, more than three in four businesses (78%) report rapidly adopting new technologies due to the pandemic.

Cloud security technology is among the tech that has experienced high rates of adoption; 91% of businesses report that they have implemented cloud security technology – such as cloud video surveillance and cloud access control – and nearly half (48%) say that this was due to the pandemic.

Importance of remote security solutions

Many businesses learned that remote security solutions have become a necessity

To gain greater oversight and visibility into their security operations, many businesses learned that remote security solutions have become a necessity, in order to help protect their people, property, and assets, especially when their facilities aren’t fully occupied.

However, an ‘always-on’ approach to security isn’t just about implementing cloud technology, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and the like. Security still remains a question of people, particularly when it comes to creating a healthier, safer, and more efficient environment for businesses.

Making sense of the data

With an influx of data coming from various security systems and sources, businesses have a clear opportunity to appoint an expert, in order to oversee these new technologies.

Many businesses already recognise the value in doing so: 65% expect to hire a leader this year to oversee new technologies they implemented, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the next five years, more than one-third of businesses (38%) expect to hire a senior leader, in order to oversee security, data and privacy.

Identifying emerging training needs

Such a leader would play an integral part in helping businesses to unlock the wealth of insights currently stored within their security infrastructure. For example, the data stored in security systems could inform talent management – identifying emerging training needs and ultimately, resulting in improved employee satisfaction and reduced attrition.

In the retail sector, executives can extract data on footfall from CCTV and sensors

In the retail sector, executives can extract data on footfall from CCTV and sensors, and directly correlate that to sales volume and value – thereby building a picture of how external factors impact revenues. This can be used to formulate predictions on consumer behaviours, promotions, and other sales activity.

As we look to the future of the workplace and how organisations are using security systems to drive health, safety, and efficiencies – having an executive who is dedicated to this area will be critical in driving business growth and resilience.

Doing more with less

Around the world employees are quitting their jobs at a record pace, creating what has been dubbed the Great Resignation. In the United Kingdom, people are resigning at the highest rate in over a decade. In the United States of America, more than a fifth of the total workforce has left their positions, since April 2021.

As businesses struggle to retain and recruit staff, they are looking for ways to overcome the labour shortage and optimise their operations, without compromising health, safety, and security. While leveraging technology and automation is certainly part of the solution, many are also turning to partners to support certain business functions, including security.

Monitored security services

Monitored security services, for example, allow businesses to gain 360-degree visibility into on-site operations, without hiring any new personnel. Instead, by partnering with a security provider that offers monitored security services, businesses have access to a professional team around the clock, in order to help spot potential threats, reduce risks, and increase efficiencies on-site.

With monitored security, businesses can leverage the support of a whole team of security professionals

With monitored security, businesses can leverage the support of a whole team of security professionals, working 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, regardless of the number of facilities they operate, their occupancy levels, or hours of operation.

As businesses have increasingly limited resources, including time and labour, professional monitored security services can help them do more with less.

Building business resilience

Ultimately, a strong business security programme is powered by people. Beyond technological progress, organisations need accountable experts to actively monitor their operations, make the call when there’s a threat, and unlock the invaluable insights stored within security systems.

People, not technology alone, can build business resilience, by leveraging technologies and the data they produce, so as to create safer, healthier, and more efficient environments.