Technology has been advancing at an amazing pace in recent years, and few industries stand to benefit as much from the changes as the physical security sector. From automatic license plate recognition technology to new security access control systems, there has been a lot going on. Find out about some of the most important trends in the security industry below.
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
Machine learning is a form of artificial intelligence in which a program can be essentially taught not just how to perform a certain task but also how to get better at it over time as it is fed more information. Today’s automatic license plate recognition systems are a good example. Incorporating machine learning algorithms into the software programs associated with ALPRs has allowed the most advanced versions to start recognizing plates not just from different states but also from other countries as they become more efficient at identifying different inputs.
Facial Recognition and Biometrics
Until recently, biometric authentication sounded like the stuff of sci-fi novels. Now just about every smartphone comes equipped with the ability to use either fingerprint or iris scans to improve access control. Of course, protecting data security on a private smartphone is great, but it pales in comparison to the importance of having adequate physical control measures in place outside and inside of buildings that house sensitive information.
The good news is that both biometric authentication and facial recognition have been adopted by the security industry to great effect. Biometric access controls help to keep buildings secure, and facial recognition makes video surveillance more effective.
More Effective Access Controls
Not all companies are ready to implement biometric access controls, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t taking advantage of technological advancements in physical access management systems. AI-enabled access control systems make it easier to secure a company’s assets by helping security officers manage access requests. The software associated with newer access control systems can flag suspicious activity, send alerts to security officers when someone new requests access, and make it easier to maintain the organization’s security policies.
Modern Privacy Protections
Some people assume that advancements in AI and facial recognition are going to jeopardize their privacy. In fact, both have found more appropriate applications and are now vital to the protection of people’s privacy. Facial recognition programs can be used to identify particular people of interest in surveillance videos, and advanced AI algorithms can then be used to automatically mask innocent bystanders.
The ability to automatically anonymize video footage is just one example of how advancements in technology are improving privacy rather than eroding it. Data security is also a good example. While older video surveillance and access control systems created vulnerabilities when they were hooked into modern security platforms, new technologies are purpose-built to protect not just physical assets but also digital ones.
The Importance of Keeping Up with a Changing World
Business owners and security personnel alike often find themselves overwhelmed by the pace of change in the technological sector. Keeping up with the most important changes is essential to ensuring the ongoing protection of both physical and digital assets, though. The easiest way to do that is to work with a physical security software vendor that is committed to providing up-to-date options that utilize the most advanced technological innovations of the day.
