Security Trends 2022

The past two years have seen unprecedented change for everyone, and the security landscape has had to adapt to contend with a more risk-oriented environment. But what’s next on the agenda for physical security? Here we delve into what’s on the horizon as we head into 2022.

Coping with change and dealing with the unexpected has become part and parcel of life since the pandemic hit. Supply chain disruptions, labour shortages and major cost hikes have hit hard, and businesses have had no choice but to adapt to the new business environment. Security trends for 2022 are therefore focused towards optimising value, and reducing risk.

The power of CCTV will be harnessed to add more value

With the upheaval of the past two years, reliance on video surveillance is set to increase, as the security and operational insights it provides will help with the process of adapting to new ways of working.

The emergence of artificial intelligence (AI), combined with ever-evolving cloud-based, smart security solutions, will deliver much-improved, faster and more accurate analytics. This is valuable business intelligence which organisations can use to their advantage to reduce risk, enhance productivity and boost competitive edge in 2022 and beyond.

Physical security and cyber security management will merge

For many years, physical security and cyber security have been managed in isolation. But that is set to change from 2022. This year demonstrated how closely information security and physical security are linked. Take the Facebook outage in October, which didn’t just knock out online operations, but also physically locked engineers out of their own sites.

2022 will see organisations merge the roles of physical security and cyber security management, with the officer in charge focusing on overall security risk, and measures based around combined solutions, with physical security protecting company data, and cyber security protecting physical assets.

The rise of the smart building

A smart building is a building that uses Internet of Things (IoT) connected sensors and devices to automatically control various elements of its management system. These can include heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC); lighting; room bookings and security.

A smart building management system will usually incorporate role-based access control. As well as allowing workers to control their own personal workspace, and facilities managers to control lighting and HVAC systems, role-based access control can work in conjunction with the building security system, streamlining access to the building itself, as well as particular areas of it, based on a series of set permissions.

Occupants and visitors are granted access permissions via their smartphones. These permissions can be time-controlled for temporary or ongoing access. So no more issuing access cards or fobs and, when it’s needed, zoned lockdown can be implemented in just a tap, closing off the likes of stairwells, elevators and final exits in order to contain a threat.

In a smart building, sensors are used to monitor the performance of equipment, including security equipment, relaying any anomalies via alerts to facilities managers. This means that issues can be detected early on, and dealt with before they turn into major problems, reducing potential downtime and cutting maintenance costs.

Drones will play more of a pivotal role in security

Drones are transforming the way we live and work in a significant way, and they are saving lives too. A research report by the BT and Altitude Angel-led Project Xcelerate says that two thirds of the British public believes drones will have a positive impact on their lives in the future.

The project is creating a regulated ‘drone zone’ to enable the safe use of drones in commercial and public sectors in the UK. Half the people quizzed for the report said they were keen to see drones being used more to undertake risky jobs in place of people, whilst two in five saw them extending human capabilities.

The top drone uses the public want to see more of in 2022 are in firefighting, infrastructure inspection, tackling criminals and investigating crime scenes.

In security, drones are replacing human patrols; they are tracking intruders as they attempt an escape following a break-in; they are checking for vulnerabilities in perimeter protection and verifying the functionality of security systems. And as drone technology becomes ever more advanced in 2022, so its capabilities and uses will further expand.

Ensuring a secure future with seven decades of security expertise

At Barry Bros Security, we may have been around for more than seven decades, but we are always looking to the future. Our experts stay on top of emerging trends and champion pioneering security technologies, always looking to add value and improve security for our clients.

For all the latest security solutions for your home or business, you are welcome to get in touch for tailored advice, or pay a visit to our London showroom to browse our extensive product range.