The concept of Converged Security is relatively new, and this word started buzzing from around 2015 onwards. Let’s understand this concept with an example.
Let’s say there is an organization called M/s ABC Corporation. Now this ABC Corporation has a very competent departments – Physical Security & Information Technology or IT. The team members of these teams are competent and professional.
Now let’s imagine that the organization is facing the challenge of frequent accidents in its production areas and the location of the organization is surrounded by slums wherein the general crime rate is quite high, and same is reflected by the number of cases of thefts and pilferage in the organization. The organization’s leaders wanted to have an analytical tool which would give them a realistic solution by analyzing the root causes leading to the incidents/accidents/ thefts etc. and as part of this effort, they want their property covered with a state-of-the-art CCTV system.
The objective is to get the live actionable data for accident prevention & theft prevention. The responsibility for getting these installed goes to the physical security team.
Now remember, this security team is competent and professional. So, they identify the locations where the cameras should be installed, considering required distance and quality of output from each camera along with the analytical features which were needed for the system. All the considerations are now in place, the new design for the CCTV system is ready for installation and commissioning. The organization has installed approximately 100 CCTV cameras and a CCTV monitoring station.
Surprisingly, after going live, the system started to face problems like:
Intermittent recording.
Freezing video feed.
The machines which were connected to the IoT and were undergoing industry 4.0 transformations also started facing bandwidth issues.
The overall performance of the IT infrastructure also started to decline considerably and at the same time the IT team raised concerns that there is suddenly heavy traffic on the business network.
What has happened here?
Ok, so what has happened here?
This new CCTV infrastructure was directly connected to the existing business network without measuring the capability and load capacity of this network leading to the collapse of the entire business network with the impact of significant down time and loss to the organization.
In the greater sense, the above issue occurred because:
There was visibly no communication and coordination between the physical security team, IT team, Safety and BCM teams leading to lack of accurate problem identification and arriving on accurate solutions.
All the departments were working within their own silos and the vision is limited to their departmental level only.
Let’s take the same example from different approaches, but in this case, the security team approaches the cyber/ IT team, safety and BCM teams with the mandate they had got from the management. The physical security team proposed the solutions which were enhanced by the other teams, and they arrived at a holistic solution which when implemented gave the organization the required data. On the analysis of the generated data, they identified the time zones of the accidents leading to various interventions like-
Supervisor rounds during the accidents time zone.
Scheduling of the tea breaks
Increased patrolling round by security martials during identified high risk timeline.
Deployment of security martials at strategic locations for theft control.
So, from above example, we can infer that, when all the organization’s different departments work in collaboration with open communication and coordination towards achieving a single aim, we can say they are converging, and such a security process is known as CONVERGED SECURITY.
Secure Enterprise– It enables an integrated view of security threat so leaders can align the security posture accordingly.
Efficiency– Connected physical and cyber security functions reduce the duplication of the efforts and contribute to productivity improvement.
Versatility– Streamlined security function leads to cross-training and overall knowledge base of the organization increases.
Strategic Alignment- Risk and threat management is fully aligned under holistic strategy.
Shared Information- Security functions share information and best practices while working to integrate and operate as one unified team.
Common Goals- Single security program under one set of shared practices and goals to secure cyber-physical infrastructure.
It is also interesting to note the history of this concept, it all started with outselling of “Digital Video Recording” over VCR from 2003 till early 2004, and from 2004 till some next 10 years up to around 2015, all the systems were being migrating from “Analog to Digital” and this era was termed as Era of Migration in IT security domain.
This was also the time when these digital-migrated systems were integrating with a lot of other systems.
Since 2015 a lot of convergence between physical and cyber security systems are happening across the globe, and same forecasted for next 10 years or may be more- approximately between 20 billion to 50 billion* devices are currently connected to the cloud and this number is increasing exponentially.
Quite a few organizations have now looked forward to building the Converged Security Centers which will get the continuous data from Cyber Security and Physical Security teams which will be combinedly represented into a single dashboard with actionable information.
These centers will not just be about the technology, but it will integrate people and processes to technology.
Concept of converged security is the future and relevance of physical security will depend on how fast they can align themselves with the business objectives and collaborate with multiple stakeholders especially with cyber security team for securing the organizations.
It is almost 02 years now but still we are facing challenges related to Covid and its impacts in our life. The impact of this is on three major aspects of our life.
The major impact on us is of loss of our loved ones, we lost many of our family members, friends, and colleagues. This type of human loss was unimaginable by us, and no one was prepared for this type of uncertainty. Total 31.7 covid cases & 55.1 lacs deaths (till 13 Jan 22).
The way we are going on with our lives is completely different than the pre pandemic era. This has major impacts on our mental as well as our physical health.
Covid has also impacted our livelihood, many organizations and small businesses were forced to close causing mass job loss and causing a decline in country’s growth and economy.
This has raised many challenges for us but being a security professional, we must face and treat these challenges likewise. Giving up in any situation is not an option but one should make this an opportunity and become a game changer for his/her department.
I know I have your attention on the latter part of the comment and would like to share my thoughts on it. I have always believed there is always a solution or another door available, we just must search and reach on that path and hope for the best.
Security is such a department which becomes a forefront for any interaction with the outsider and in a way becomes the face of the company. Anyone approaching an organization is first catered by security team anywhere.
And in a way Security becomes responsible for securing its assets, assets not only include the materialistic value an organization has but also its employees and their behavior and health, company’s reputation. These will all decide whether an organization will be profitable or not.
Today’s smart Security Professional aligns his/her security function’s objective and mission with organization’s Goals and Visions and becomes a Business Enabler in supporting business to run the best show.
This pandemic has caused us to become a Game Changer as now business looks upon Security for any Emergency Response and Support. We are the ones responsible for securing every asset from every dynamic threat.
In my knowledge I have experienced some best solution for fight against Covid Pandemic.
SMS (Sanitization, Mask & Social Distancing)
Vaccination (Mandatory for all along with Booster Shots) & build up immunity.
Awareness campaign-Motivate people via sharing Plays, Nukaad Natak, Videos, Story Telling ones who have survived covid and came back stronger.
Technology- Implementation & Integration of Touchless biometric (Face based Recognition) & Temperature Sense devices with access control system.
Video Analytics-Utilization of existing installed cameras feed & applied analytics rule of social distance violation & without mask at most people gathering area. Real time monitoring & alert-based dashboard. Corrective action by sharing violation pics with defaulter & counselling.
Regular Audit & surprise checks of critical area.
The pandemic pushed internal auditors to suddenly rethink audit plans and priorities, navigate a fresh set of risks, adapt to remote working models, and help their organizations minimize the unprecedented disruption caused by COVID-19. Crisis management, business continuity, and employee health and safety became key priorities. Risk and audit findings had to be rolled up and reported swiftly to accelerate strategic decision-making in a world that was rapidly changing. Meanwhile, as digital transformation sped up, auditors had to work faster to provide timely assurance around the risks surrounding modern technologies.
Safe & secure campaign-distribution of N-95 mask, sanitizer, gloves to forefront peoples.
Launch an aggressive campaign to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with the coronavirus infection. Provide education to prepare communities meet the dual challenge of coronavirus and the predicted heat wave.
Reward & recognition to corona warriors for motivation.
The ongoing pandemic has brought forward the bravest and the kindest amongst us. While the world battles an invisible and deadly enemy, these soldiers of humanity are at the forefront, leading a good fight, putting others before themselves.
Medication & yoga camps-virtual or under Covid guidelines. If stress, makes you anxious, tense, and worried, consider trying meditation. Spending even a few minutes in meditation can restore your calm and inner peace. Anyone can practice meditation. It's simple and inexpensive, and it doesn't require any special equipment, and you can practice meditation wherever you are — whether you're out for a walk, riding the bus, waiting at the doctor's office or even in the middle of a difficult business meeting.
Virtual meeting in place of face-to-face meeting has several benefits like: -Reduced time wasting, Ease of costing, Ease of declining, Directness of communication, less small talk & Ease of saying “no”.
Regular broadcast & sharing of motivational videos among people on official & social group to reduce mental pressure of negative news coming on daily basis. Motivational videos work like medicine and treat our mind with positive vibes. Motivational videos are like magic which strengthens our mind. In fact, we will find a huge difference in the productivity and thought process of the person who watches motivational videos.
We Security professionals are the key asset of any org. Our attitude determines how we look at a setback. Every problem comes with an equal or greater opportunity.
Brig. Gen. (R) Ahmed Fekry transitioned into a Corporate Security Management career after serving 30 years in the Egyptian Military. Now working as Area Security Manager for a leading Facilities Management organization in Cairo, Egypt. He finds himself drawn to the Corporate Security function’s ability to create positive outcomes for an organization from top to bottom.
With approximately 150 security personnel reporting directly to him, Ahmed and his team are responsible for all events that may threaten the organization’s operations. With such an important mandate, Ahmed finds that adhering to industry-proven best practices effectively ensures success.
He found Corp Security International and become a Professional Member and he says “My Professional Membership has connected me with Corporate Security professionals around the world who also share the common goal of protecting individuals irrespective of wherever they may work in the world. Those connections and insights have helped to improve services with best-in-class programs and procedures that I have brought back to my organization.”
He earned Corp Security International’s Certified Security Manager (CSM) Advanced Security Management Certification in 2022. He says “Part of the value of becoming certified is the invaluable knowledge you gain from CSM body of knowledge and innovative training program. My organization supported me in pursuing my certification because they understand the value this knowledge brings to the organization.”
Now, Ahmed holds the Corp Security International’s Certified Security Manager (CSM) certification, a symbol of excellence in Corporate Security Management. He loves sharing his knowledge and contributes to various Community Groups of Corp Security International.
An especially memorable moment for Ahmed was when he and his team rolled out a new security awareness program for the organization.
“Corporate Security offers you the opportunity to shape the minds, culture, and, ultimately, the behavior of others to create and maintain a safe and secure environment,” he reflects. “This industry allows you to explore creative and proactive ways to help mitigate threats in our ever-changing volatile world.”
What is the best way to keep your office safe? It's not just large companies that hire security guards. Small and medium-sized businesses also need protection for their assets and employees, which is why they often invest in hiring a security guard service.
The job requirements and skill set needed to work as a private security professional has expanded greatly since its inception. Security guards are employed by both private companies and public organizations. They're also there to protect you and your workplace from any harm that may come.
What is Physical Security?
Physical security is about protecting personnel, hardware, software, networks, and data from physical actions and events that could cause serious damage. Physical security can be achieved by implementing a variety of measures to protect your property including CCTV surveillance systems, motion detectors, alarms, and locks.
Physical Security measures include: - Securing building entrances with locks and guards - Installing cameras at strategic locations - Conducting background. The importance of physical security cannot be underestimated as it ensures that all assets are protected against unauthorized access.
Who are Security Guards?
In this time of heightened security, it's important to have a guard on your side. A security guard is someone who patrols and inspects property against fire, theft, vandalism, terrorism, and illegal activity. They monitor people and buildings to prevent crimes from happening. Security guards are also responsible for the safety of their employees or building occupants by making sure that all entrances are locked when they're not present.
In the world of security, there are many different types and levels of protection. From a basic level to high-level protection for large companies and corporations
For many people, the idea of a security guard conjures up images of large corporations and high-profile events. But in reality, small to medium size companies may also need them for protection. A security guard is an employee who has been hired by a company to protect their assets and employees from harm. They can be found at any type of business that needs someone on-site during operating hours.
Guarding is an honorable profession that provides these benefits as well as the ability to make an impact on society by providing safety for those who need it most. The presence of a security guard at a business can provide peace of mind and a sense of security to the business owner, employees, and customers.
What is the most important thing in security?
It's tough to picture our daily lives without them. They're the ones who help keep us safe and secure, and we almost fail to give them a second thought. But when we come to think of it, they are an integral part of our society that deserves recognition. We often don't notice security guards because they blend in with their environment, but these people do such important work! Without them, there would be no peace of mind for anyone - not even you!
Security guards are the first line of defense against crime. They keep buildings, schools, and other facilities secure by watching for suspicious people or activities. They also stop any crimes that do happen from escalating into something more serious. No one wants to think about their safety when they're at work, but sometimes we need a little extra protection - like security guards! A lot of people don't know what these guys do daily.
Their main role is not to react to crime threats without law enforcement, but to deter them before they happen. They do this by patrolling and monitoring property 24/7 and checking for any potential security issues that may arise. Security guards are often seen as a last resort when it comes to security, which is why their presence can be discouraging for criminals who want easy access. They are also responsible for patrolling an area and checking people's identification or other credentials if anything seems suspicious or out of place.
Often, a security guard can detect that something is going to happen and prevent it through action or simply by watching.
The security guard booth is a necessary investment for any business that has valuable property or needs to protect its employees. Security guard booths can help reduce theft and trespassing by providing a 360-degree eyesight view for the guards. A security guard with the right equipment can make all the difference in protecting your company's assets and personnel.
How to choose the right security guards for your needs
Security guards are in high demand these days, but not all of them are up to the task. You must do your research before hiring a security guard for your company or home. There are different types of security guards, so it's important to know which ones you need for your specific needs.
If you are looking to hire security guards, it is important to know what qualities make for a good guard. Do they have the necessary training? What about their experience? These are all things that should be considered before hiring anyone.
You can hire one type of security guard over another depending on the nature of your business. Security guards have been around since the beginning of time, but most people only think about them when they're working at an event or venue. Security guards do more than just stand in one place and watch over a crowd, though!
There are two types of security guards: armed and unarmed. Armed security guards may be necessary for some businesses, while unarmed guards will suffice for others. The decision is ultimately up to the management of each business as they evaluate what type of atmosphere they want their establishment to have. Security is an important factor for many businesses because it protects them from theft and other crimes that might occur on-site. Unarmed security officers are often cheaper than armed ones but, if you're considering hiring armed security officers is look at your current policies or any other measures.
Security Guards: The key to physical security
Security guards have many responsibilities on their plate- from monitoring surveillance feeds for potential threats, patrolling the building at night, and making sure all exits are closed off before leaving.
Crime prevention is everyone's responsibility. Security guards are an important part of any modern society. They stand outside stores, offices, and homes to prevent crimes from happening.
They spend their days monitoring security cameras, conducting surveillance, and investigating suspicious activity. Many people don't know that security guards have to be trained in many areas including weapons training, first-aid skills, CPR certification, fire safety awareness, and more!
It's a common misconception that security guards are just there to stand around and look tough. In reality, they're trained professionals who use their clear judgment to protect the asset and assess the situation for the best means of action.
Security guards must be constantly vigilant, observant of their surroundings, and aware of all possible threats that may arise. They must be constantly vigilant, observant of their surroundings, and aware of all possible threats that may arise.
Are our security guards necessary for public safety?
If you're looking for a way to deter and displace theft, then security guards are your answer! They can help prevent theft by making the environment less attractive to thieves. Security guards typically work at a designated post and watch for any suspicious activity that might be happening nearby. They can't just stand there though; they have to take initiative and go out into the crowd to look for anything unusual or unsafe. This will help maintain employment levels, and in turn, will also help the economy recover more quickly.
Security guards are many things; they don't have any special powers to detect crimes before they happen. But what they do have is a set of skills that can help them protect the people around them and their property from danger. Security operations are moving towards a response to medical emergencies too. The security guard should be prepared for any emergency that may arise. This includes practicing emergency response which is a critical part of readiness.
Security guards are the unsung heroes of society. Security guards protect us from all sorts of threats and dangers we encounter daily. They keep us safe and secure by watching over our schools, hospitals, offices, homes, and neighborhoods. They don't just guard; they think out of the box and make quick decisions in critical situations. Thus, we discussed how important are security guards and can make or break an event with their ability to think critically and react quickly.
There are many different types of access control systems. The most common type is the one that uses a keycard to open doors. There are also magnetic cards, keypads, and biometrics. Access control can be used for buildings or computer networks. It's important to make sure that people who have clearance can't enter areas they shouldn't be in.
The access control systems are also known as airlocks, access control vestibules, and sally ports. They're used to keep one area separate from another. These doors can be opened or closed depending on the situation at hand. The door is the first line of defense, but it doesn't matter how strong your front door is if someone can easily access the rest of your home or business.
What is a Mantrap?
A door with an access control system is like a security checkpoint. It's the first line of defense against intruders that would try to get into your home or office space. The access control systems are also known as airlocks, access control vestibules, and sally ports. They're used to keep one area separate from another. These doors can be opened or closed depending on the situation at hand.
The term mantrap is used to describe a type of access control system that consists of a small space and two interlocking doors. The first door is unlocked, and it leads into the mantrap. Once inside, the second door locks behind them and they can't get out until someone opens the outside door from the other side. The way this works is by using an open-able barrier to block off one or more entrances to a building, room, or area.
Mantraps are most often used in physical security to separate non-secure areas from secure areas and prevent unauthorized access. The most common mantraps are the swinging door, sliding gate, or revolving door. Mantraps are most often used in physical security to separate non-secure areas from secure areas and prevent unauthorized access. The most common mantraps are the swinging door, sliding gate, or revolving door.
Access control can be achieved through integration, preventing the passage of unauthorized persons or simultaneous multiple persons.
Where do we use Mantraps?
Locking up your office is a necessary precaution against break-ins and unauthorized access. But what about when you're not in the office? Who's going to protect it then? Sometimes the best way to keep your data secure is by not storing it at all.
There are several different types of man traps used in various industries, but all have one thing in common: they keep air and dust from flowing into the space. In high-security applications, these contraptions can be found at every entrance to a facility or building. These areas can include laboratories, factories, power stations, military installations, or any other place with sensitive information to protect.
They are frequently used in airports, back-facing banking operations, healthcare facilities, research labs, and government installations. The next time you go to an airport, banks, or other facilities with restricted access, take a moment to think about how it would be without those doors and gates. Would they still have any security?
How do Mantraps work?
Mantraps are a security measure that can be used to keep unauthorized personnel out of your office. These traps consist of a metal frame with either an inward or outward opening door, and they are typically set on the ground at the entrance to a building or facility. Mantraps create an extra layer of security to ensure only authorized personnel are entering your office. This is done by setting it down in front of the doorway so that people who don't have permission will trip over it.
How you enter a secure area is determined by the type of access control. There are many different types of access control methods that can be used for entering a secure area. They include swiping a keycard, scanning your fingerprint, and entering your PIN. If someone wants to enter an area but doesn't have any form of identification on them they will not be allowed to enter the secure area.
Mantraps are that guard our homes and businesses are made of two doors that automatically lock when one door is opened. The only way to get past these doors is by using your key card to open them. Once the system authenticates your credentials, the door unlocks automatically, allowing you to enter the mantrap.
The first door to the mantrap locks, preventing other individuals from entering the vestibule. The most effective way to employ these mantraps is to allow only one person at a time. And if there is more than one person, mantrap detects and denies access to a secure area and sends an alert.
After that, you need to verify your security credentials to pass through the second door to enter the secure area. This type of lock eliminates the need for a guard to constantly be monitoring and unlock the vestibule door.
When there is an unauthorized entry, you would be trapped in the vestibule, and then a guard will question them and inform the higher authorities of the security breach caused by that person.
What are the benefits of Mantraps?
Mantraps are among the best ways to restrict movement in and out of any secure facility. Mantraps can be used for many purposes, from trapping pesky rodents to preventing unauthorized people from entering a building. In addition, mantraps have been proven to be an effective method of controlling access into a secured area.
Mantraps are one type of access control device, and they can be used in both commercial and residential settings. Hackers and thieves are always on the lookout for ways to break into your facilities. If you're looking to keep your buildings secure, use mantraps as an access control method. Mantraps are a great way of keeping hackers out of your facilities!
An unauthorized individual could conceivably breach the first door, but this may prevent them from unlocking the second door, potentially trapping them inside until the proper authorities arrive to let them out.
Mantraps are a great way to protect your business by catching any unwanted intruders before they can get too far into the premises. They are also an excellent tool for protecting your employees from harm, as well as safeguarding any sensitive information that may be on site.
Access control is a crucial part of any security plan. If you're looking for a way to increase your building's security, installing an access control vestibule is the answer. These access control vestibules are designed to protect your building from intruders, and they come with a variety of features that will suit every need. These vestibules are designed with a lockable door that can be opened and closed by authorized personnel only.
What are you waiting for? It's time to upgrade your security. Mantraps can support two-factor authentication for even better security. People will need to provide two types of authentication or credentials (one at each door) to enter. With this in place, it is much more difficult and expensive for hackers to breach the system and steal information or cause damage. Thus Mantraps are an effective solution for security access control.
