The integration of both physical and IT security technologies is of increasing importance to organisations, according to the results of a recent study.
The EMEA Security Survey from Physical Security Information Management (PSIM) software platform providers VidSys gives insight into the security concerns and buying patterns of private and public agencies.
It found that organisations are facing increasingly complex security demands, with more than 35 per cent using security devices and systems from between six to ten manufacturers.
Some 49 per cent stated their security environment was composed of multiple technologies that are individually managed, and a similar figure cited theirs was run through multiple, distributed locations.
The respondents, who represent public sector, corporate enterprise and national government organisations, highlighted the adoption of integrated solutions, including PSIM software, as a sought-after method to improve collaboration and information-sharing across their security structure.
Some 55 per cent ranked the deployment of integration technologies as one of the top three items they plan to implement in the next 12-18 months. The study also found that 25 per cent plan to invest in PSIM software over the same period.
The ability to leverage both physical and IT security together to identify and manage security situations was ranked as “important” or “extremely important” by 80 per cent, while 71.5 per cent outlined a similar importance of integrating data from traditional devices and systems into a common operating solution.
However, budget restraints were found to be the biggest obstacle to moving forward with the deployment of integration technologies over the coming 18 months.
Darren Chalmers-Stevens, vice-president of EMEA operations at VidSys, said at IFSEC that focus throughout the industry is changing from being device-driven towards integrated solutions capable of meeting complex security demands, without huge expenditure, by incorporating a range of devices into one system.
He said: “Today’s organisations are dealing with increasingly complex security environments and technologies.
“For budget-conscious security leaders, PSIM inexpensively brings together disparate systems in one unified view, proactively identifying potential risks or issues for a real-time response.”
VidSys showcased its recently-released 7.0 PSIM software on the Sony booth at IFSEC 2013. The developments are designed to help public and private organisations improve emergency response times, accuracy and risk compliance.
The 7.0 version also features advanced mobile capabilities and situational reports that allow users in the field to control and manage situations from their mobile device.
