Security and AV: What You Need to Know

Cybersecurity gets a great deal of press, but on-premises security is a concern for clients in every business sector you work with. These concerns include the physical safety of customers and employees, the security of valuable goods displayed or stored, and the safety of equipment and even information that can be discovered and physically removed.

How can AV help create a safe environment? Here’s what you need to know about AV and security.

Technology is playing an ever-larger role in assisting the efforts of safety and security professionals. Facial recognition is one such technology becoming more sophisticated every day. With that level of sophistication, security needs to be cognizant of both the technological advances and what that means for current and future installations, but also the privacy concerns raised and potential for new regulations to limit how facial recognition applications are used. While there are few limits on its use in the private sector, stay aware of local ordinances regarding the use of facial recognition in security systems.

Facial recognition used wisely can augment the work of security professionals. Facial recognition is still in its infancy, so staying current on advances will be important as you gain traction in this market segment. You’ll also want to stay updated on regulations, so you and your clients meet compliance standards and do not overstep legitimate privacy concerns.

Compared with facial recognition, audio security might seem downright old-fashioned. But there are advances here as well for AV and audio security. Imagine if audio could be used along with video to enhance security for the companies you do business with. Audio can now be used at perimeter points to alert intruders that they have been detected and the police have been summoned. This both makes response time much quicker, but also can keep security personnel out of harm’s way.

And if live interaction isn’t feasible, you can create a series of pre-recorded messages. Hearing a voice has been shown to be effective in deterring intruders.  You have the automation tools available so audio can be set up to listen for specific sounds and alert security personnel when they occur. This has made such audio surveillance much more cost effective since staff are not needed to listen to a live audio feed in real time.

Let’s get back to the future. As you work with security professionals to set up command and control centers for security, consider working with them on the installation of GIS and IPS monitoring systems. For business, health, and education campuses—anywhere with lots of access, people flowing in and out of multiple buildings, GIS and IPS are incredibly helpful tools. Geographic information systems (GIS) and indoor positioning systems (IPS) can provide an accurate way to locate employees, students, visitors, safety officers—whoever is potentially in danger during an emergency.

GIS technology can be utilized predictively. It is a way of gathering data on patterns of movement typical to a specific location at a specific time. SO GIS helps safety officials prepare for emergencies, respond accordingly and shorten response time when emergencies happen. 

IPS is real-time information that can help safety personnel locate people in potential danger and respond rapidly. It’s basically GPS for navigating indoors on foot. Developing installations that allow safety pros to have real-time data can literally save lives. 

Facial recognition, audio, GIS and IPS; these are a few tools in the security toolbox. The main thing to understand is that AV has an increasingly pivotal role to play in developing strong security infrastructures. With these in place, systems can expand and evolve as technology and needs change over time.