Cloud-based security solutions to be part of building management systems

Building security solutions will converge with information technology (IT) infrastructure, enterprise applications and external systems, becoming an Internet of Things to deliver more than perimeter surveillance, authentication and protection of assets and people, says converged IT systems firm Jasco Security portfolio manager Peter Stutz.

A building management system tied to enterprise and security systems in a cloud can use the authentication of a person’s entrance to a building as a trigger for various automated events, including switching on lighting and managing facilities and functional work spaces individually and collectively for employees.

“For example, when a visitor enters a building to attend a meeting, all attendees are alerted, boardroom sensors are activated, heating, ventilation and air conditioning are adjusted, catering requirements are communicated and personal diaries are updated with attendee information.”

Other advancements, once the networks are in place, will include rapid automated deployment of security devices on networks. Instead of manual system integration, system advances will allow for automatic provisioning using specific policies for the deployment of security devices and their integration into larger systems, says Stutz.

“With the addition of advanced features, traditional challenges can be alleviated. Introducing intelligence and analytics provides better ways of using inputs at national operations centres and improves compliance by presenting alerts and notifications,” he explains.

Many organisations use standalone analogue solutions and do piecemeal integrations, such as integrating surveillance and access control solutions, and upgrades to address changing risk profiles, he adds.

“Often, security still falls outside IT, with security and IT budgets and management usually being separate. “This approach is less effective, however, as advances in technology fundamentally change the way security solutions can be applied, including reaching into new segments of the business to add value.”

An integration layer for these systems must be designed with future use and growth in mind. The first step towards modern systems is migrating to Internet Protocol- (IP-) based infrastructure and wireless technologies. This provides the organisation with significant flexibility, he says.

As organisations migrate to IP and advanced solutions, they need to determine what they aim to monitor and how they want to control information, as well as whether it aims to outsource physical management and whether it can leverage its business information through its building management system to achieve the benefits of technology investments.

“Determining the strategic role of integrated business systems and building management systems is an important part of the journey to digitalisation, which helps to improve competitiveness and security in a digital environment. While investment in these integrated systems is necessary, the returns and benefits can be significant with some innovation and ingenuity.”