Physical security trends for summer 2021

Physical security trends for summer 2021

Summer is officially here and it promises to be a scorcher. But while we’re not saying you shouldn’t be enjoying the sun and allowing yourselves to relax a little after what has been a pretty bleak couple of years, now is not the time to relax when it comes to security. Indeed, statistics show that the summer months are a hotter time (both literally and figuratively) for criminals than any other time of year. But how should we be preparing ourselves? Sometimes, it’s best to look at what everyone else is doing.

If we learned anything from 2020, it’s that change can come at any time and it can be substantial, even in industries that might have previously appeared completely secure. Of course, the rise in remote workers has led to an exaggerated need for deeper cybersecurity measures, but now more people are returning to the office, it’s time for businesses to start thinking about how they are going to pivot once again and adapt to the new, new normal. To give them a little help, we’ve put together a few of the physical security trends we see taking hold over the next few months.

The integration of physical security and cybersecurity

While many cyberattacks are caused by third parties, it’s important to understand that many data breaches also come from within an organisation. Attacks are also often made in conjunction with a physical breach. That’s why, particularly as more people start to return to the office and the initial confusion of hybrid working practices starts to take hold, organisations need to ensure their access controls and video surveillance are up-to-date.

Remote control

The working from home trend is not only going to be significant for office workers but for security personnel too. The ability to manage and control a security system from home has become a reality in the last 12 months thanks to a major boom in cloud-based security solutions. This means teams can work 24/7 from wherever they might be in the world and, with the right system in place, can lock and unlock doors, send alerts, control cameras and even trigger full site lockdowns.

Visual identification

For many of us, the future of visual identification is something we already use every day via our mobile phones. Facial ID is something that was once only available in the most sophisticated of systems, but access controls with facial identification built-in are now surprisingly common. Then there is the digital ID badge that can be linked to your smartphone so that your entire digital identity is linked to your smart device. These solutions are beneficial for several reasons. For one thing, they are both completely contactless (which will be a godsend for those wanting to cut down on potential COVID infections) and it also means fewer physical credentials need to be printed out and constantly updated.

Automatic for the people

With the sheer power of the Internet of Things now powering thousands of offices across the world, it’s only a matter of time before security becomes almost completely automatic. There are powerful tools that exist already such as the “Rules Engine,” and as further breakthroughs continue to be made the price of entry is going to continue to fall.

Of course, while automation is on the horizon, for now at least, you’re going to need something a little more traditional to keep your premises safe. Lee Security specialises in both traditional and more modern systems, so feel free to contact us today to discuss which is best suited for your needs this summer.