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The time is now: IT professionals encouraged to seek opportunities in physical security sector

IT professionals are being encouraged to look towards the physical security sector for new business and partnering opportunities.

Moves towards the convergence of IT and physical security are already evident: IT access and identity management systems are regularly integrating with physical access control solutions, including swipe cards and barriers. This trend is set to continue as networked CCTV systems gain prominence and both Security and IT Departments are required to work in tandem by way of preventing data loss.

The security sector’s premier and most pivotal annual show is IFSEC International, which this year takes place at Birmingham’s NEC from 14-17 May. The event brings together more than 25,000 security professionals from over 100 countries who represent the entire buying chain: from manufacturers and distributors to installers, integrators, consultants and those responsible for security management within their host organisations.

IFSEC International represents the ideal opportunity for IT professionals to bring themselves up-to-speed with the latest developments in the physical security world, attend educational seminars that will broaden their knowledge and network with physical security specialists. IFSEC International’s event director Charlie Cracknell has stated that, despite the security sector’s relatively late take-up of IP-based technology, rapid progress is now being made.

“The majority of new, large-scale security installations are IP-based,” explained Cracknell. “We’re seeing a lot of uptake on the small-to-medium installations as well. It means significantly more IT expertise is required than was the case only a few years ago, which in turn means that there’s a very real market for IT integrators and specialists to advise, partner or offer security installation services themselves on top of their traditional network offerings.”

Continuing the theme, Cracknell said: “The convergence of physical and logical security is inevitable. Protection of data is paramount, particularly with mobile workers relying on smart phones, tablets and laptops, while cybercrime is as much of a threat as physical incursion. Given that security devices now sit on the organisation’s network, IT and Security Departments need to work together to protect assets and information.”

According to Norbain – one of Europe's most successful distributors of CCTV, IP video, access control and intruder detection equipment – the UK has been slow to adopt ‘network’ video, as highlighted by the current £400 million CCTV market. Sales estimates indicate that only 20% of UK CCTV is IP-based, the remainder being traditional analogue technology.

However, research carried out by Norbain suggests that, by late 2013, IP technology will be outselling that of its analogue counterpart. This clearly represents a significant growth market of circa 30% CAGR (compound annual growth rate). 

Freddie Jones, the divisional director of IT channels at Norbain, said: “The IT sector is starting to embrace these opportunities, and Norbain is seeing a rapid adoption of the technology by more and more IT companies. Additionally, the adoption of open standards and the resulting ease of interoperability will promote innovation. For example, retailers are using analytics for stock counting, footfall and staffing levels, etc.”

Many commentators believe that cost savings can be made by integrating IT and physical security – a crucial issue as companies seek out ways in which to increase profitability in what remain difficult economic conditions.

Another convergence driver is energy savings. As organisations move towards managed building systems, with heating, lighting and ventilation, etc all sitting on the same network, it makes sense that access control and surveillance will form part of that overall system. That’s also true of fire and smoke detection. There’s a shared responsibility, then, between those tasked with looking after security or facilities and those responsible for the IT network.

There are also trends within the video surveillance business towards subscription models and cloud-based storage, not to mention Physical Security Information Management (PSIM) which integrates an organisation’s disparate security functions in addition to forensic IT systems data.

At IFSEC International 2012, educational seminars will help provide an overview of the security market. There’s a dedicated Security Management Education Theatre, and the Intelligent Integration Zone will look at the ways in which integrated systems work together.

The Tavcom Training Theatre, meanwhile, will feature sessions examining the likely impact of the move to IPv6 on security installations, while the IFSEC International Centre Stage Theatre will feature keynote addresses and debates on major issues.

Beyond this extensive education programme there are over 700 exhibiting companies to visit, including prominent communications and security products supplier Anixter. The company will be running its ipAssured Zone, designed to provide key workshops, practical advice and salient information on the latest technology developments in the IP security arena.

Matt Powers, technical director and security solutions manager at Anixter, commented: “With security and networking technologies continuing to converge onto an IP network, Anixter created ipAssured to address the challenging and evolving business needs for both end users and integrators. Based on results from testing conducted in Anixter’s Infrastructure Solutions Lab, the programme offers the customer an open migration path that’s both scalable and interoperable. It matches their varied life-cycle requirements.”

At IFSEC International 2012, Anixter will also be introducing the latest version of its programme that applies the same technology-driven, standards-based and Best Practice approach to video surveillance. ipAssured Defining Network Video Migration supports current and future video surveillance applications, pairing technology to establish the best migration strategy.

In addition to the massive range of security technology on display, IFSEC International features the Fire Solutions product area which is designed to help visitors gain a better understanding of the growing convergence between fire and security.