PSIFebruary2018

OPINION
Learning from experience
The ever-changing
world of security
through the eyes of
Andy Purvis, Managing
Director of NT Security
as the company
celebrated 20 years in
business last year
You would think that twenty years in the
security industry would mean that you have
pretty much seen it all. This could not be
further from the truth. Like so many industries
that rely heavily on technology, the advent of the
Internet and the Digital Age has changed a sector
which we thought we knew so well. Now we are
seeing technological innovation that many did not
believe to be possible, meaning that while this is
an exciting time for the security industry, it is also
one of the most challenging. And it will continue
to be so.
Key business decisions need to be made, with
an eye very much on the future. Failure to do so
could mean falling behind on your competitors.
This mind-set is vital in an industry that is
constantly changing. Not having the agility to
adapt and to change to the fluid environment of
the sector will mean that chances of longevity and
success are going to be reduced.
Living in an offline world
Believe it or not there was a time when online
processes were not the norm. The first “access
control” cards on the market were shadow cards,
which were hole-punched and when magnetic
cards came in, they would be programmed with a
hairdryer. The industry has certainly come a long
way since then.
Twenty years ago, everything was offline.
Doors were programmed independently, meaning
that in large premises there could be a thousand
plus doors meaning a thousand plus controllers
to go with them. It was not the most efficient way
of working, nor the most economical and even
when the transition was made from offline to
online, it did not revolutionise the way the
industry worked overnight. There were bumps in
the road, a steep learning process and
technologies that did not quite work to the high
standard that was required.
Of course, this is completely unheard of now.
Thanks to innovative technology, such as the
Internet of Things (IoT), everything is now linked
up and has a central point of control. Though we
are already seeing the IoT making a considerable
impact in the consumer space (you will have
heard of smart fridges and smart homes), IoT will
continue to influence how we secure premises
going forward. This is where a demand for
integrated systems will become more and more
commonplace as there will be a desire for
everything to be linked. This means that the
providers who can offer these fully integrated and
linked systems will rise to the top and will have a
significant advantage over competitors.
These integrated systems will not necessarily
be entirely security focused. The rise of workforce
management has been hugely influential across
all sectors, with the manufacturing industry
embracing the technologies and software that are
now available. Industry 4.0 has meant that
manufacturers now have huge swathes of data
which can aid them when making those crucial
business decisions. Security providers need to be
adding the installation of workforce management
Twenty years ago, everything was offline. Doors were
programmed independently, meaning that in large
premises there could be a thousand plus doors meaning a
thousand plus controllers to go with them. It was not the
most efficient way of working, nor the most economical
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