A smarter world in 2023
The security industry is evolving and constantly adapting to suit the modern world to protect people and assets from the latest threats. Arguably, the most significant factor shaping the future of security is the rise in smart cities. Smart cities offer a more manageable lifestyle to their citizens while protecting the environment and are built using critical data to make choices. Now, with an expected CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of 25.2% between 2021 to 2030 in the smart city market, it is an increasingly important development that security leaders invest their time in. Also, with London being ranked the ‘smartest’ city in the world by IESE Cities in Motion Index 2022, physical security is massively encouraged to digitise to keep up with the UK market.
Smart cities
are changing the security industry
Smart buildings to follow smart cities
With smart cities come smart buildings. A smart building uses technology to automate processes that control building services, from heating and air-con to lighting and security. Security must follow building updates to become smart, so trends for 2023 will spur from this. For example, to coincide with security, there is occupancy monitoring in smart buildings that help assess how many people are entering and exiting the premises while providing the staff with data on patterns in which the building is at its busiest.
Additionally, this data can help spot security breaches with security solutions alerting to misconduct, such as tailgating or unauthorised access, to prevent offences. Furthermore, the need for physical security to collaborate more effectively with IT departments will extend to ensure a smarter future with more sophisticated solutions that will adapt to ongoing changes.
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Smarter access control
Smart access control will be an ongoing trend throughout 2023, helping provide buildings with sufficient occupancy monitoring. Examples range from implementing a guest or visitor management system (VMS) that helps control how and where visitors can access the building to a greater demand for touchless solutions due to the heightened awareness of hygiene following the pandemic.
By following the smart futures direction, physical security access control must continue to digitise. Due to the requirement for a multi-layered approach to security in most buildings, the security implemented into a facility must be able to communicate with other layers to track and alert for potential risks. By digitising physical security, the end-users will better understand what is going on throughout areas of the building and be able to make data-driven decisions. For example, if the throughput is at its highest at 9 am, then they may choose to have a staffed reception at that time in addition to speed gates that will control the flow of people.
Sustainability with smarter cities and their security
The definition of sustainability is the ‘development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.‘ It consists of three pillars: economic, environmental, and social. Smart cities and buildings are helping to create a more sustainable world with better waste management, electric vehicles, and energy usage in buildings.
Looking to the future, security leaders are now including their ESG (environmental, social, and governance) and CSR (corporate social responsibility) strategies and achievements in reports, demonstrating how it is growing in relevance to the industry. Additionally, security leaders are implementing their take on cutting CO2 emissions, lowering energy usage and waste management to become more sustainable and keep up with a smart building. With this, it will be essential to follow suit to stay as modern as possible, as this will likely be a fast-moving trend in 2023.
68% of people are to live in urban areas
by 2050
economic, environmental, and social
factors
2023 smarter trends
Overall, the security industry in 2023 will follow trends to become smarter and establish itself in smart cities and buildings. From being more sustainable in their energy usage to automating security solutions to work seamlessly with the facility’s operations, the security industry will strive to stay on top of the latest demands. What’s more, with trends within the security industry changing rapidly, it will be critical for security solutions to remain adaptable to changes so that they can also be sustainable as opposed to disposing of products for newer versions.
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