Security Personnel and Technology: Who Does What Best?

Is the security force of the future driven by artificial intelligence (AI) and battery-powered? How about the security force of the present?

What does technology, especially technology-driven by artificial intelligence, do better than humans? What do humans do better than even the most sophisticated computers? Is there a place for both in security?

Replacing human labor with machines isn’t new. The first industrial revolution, late in the 18^th century, introduced mechanical production, steam power and railroads. A century later, the advent of electricity ushered in a new era of mass production.

The 20^th century has added digital technology to the mix. And that technology is rapidly making inroads in the security industry.

The Benefits of Technology

Technology can work 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Cameras can cover every inch of a facility or campus, in blazing heat or bitter cold. With AI, those cameras can spot a vehicle driven by a disgruntled former employee returning to do damage (or worse). AI can spot patterns, doors that shouldn’t be open objects out of place. Sensors can detect floods, sudden temperature changes, and other potential security issues.

For years, companies have been considering replacing or supplementing human security personnel with technology, such as cameras, access-control technology and robots. The business case is compelling:

No need for benefits raises or any human-resource-related expenses
Technology is a depreciable asset, which means tax benefits
Technology theoretically pays for itself in lower personnel costs

As the pandemic has forced us to use technology more than ever, and as technology—particularly AI—has improved, companies are again rethinking how to incorporate technology into their operations.

The Benefits of Humans

Human security officers have several advantages over AI and other technology:

Humans can explore, ask questions, and be open to new ideas and ways of working.
Are creative in ways that machines are not.
We are capable of empathy and can understand and connect with other people.
Humans can build relationships and reach deeper levels of understanding with other humans.
Can influence emotions, inspire action, express empathy, and use persuasion to change outcomes.

A security officer can navigate and manage open-ended scenarios. AI can process and analyze mountains of data. But if external factors change, a machine’s algorithms may no longer work as well. A programmer may have to adjust or modify the machine and define new system rules.

How Sunstates uses Technology

Sunstates has long used technology in two ways.

First, our recruitment and screening process, as well as our training systems, ensure a high level of technological proficiency. In addition, we constantly update training and development programs to prepare our workforce to meet clients’ evolving needs. In this way, Sunstates upgrades its employee skills to reflect modern requirements.

Second, we use security technology to expand and extend our security officers’ abilities and skills. For any company considering this route, we highly recommend working with a partner that understands how humans and technology can best work together to provide the highest levels of security.

A story of Human Security Success

During recent riots in Wilmington, Delaware, no technology could have protected the downtown courthouse the way Security Officer Jacqueline Green did.

When protesters pried open the courthouse’s sliding glass doors and began flooding into the empty courthouse, intent on damaging the building, Officer Green-met them—not with weapons, but with empathy and understanding. She persuaded them that their destructive anger would gain them nothing. They listened, then left, and the building was saved from major damage.

That’s something no technology can do.

To discuss how Sunstates Security can help you provide the highest possible level of security for your organization, whether that includes trained security officers, technology or both, please call 866-710-2019 or email us

SMART CAMERAS, SMARTER PEOPLE

New technology, especially security cameras with analytics features, are adding new capabilities and providing more reactive and proactive options. Today’s systems have capabilities previously seen only in the movies: pattern-based analytics, self-learning and AI (artificial intelligence) that can find security threats and suspicious patterns incredibly quickly and accurately. The new technology won’t replace security officers, but it will enable them to provide even greater security.

Spotting Potential Security Issues

Scenario 1: Looking Back for Clues

For example, you know a white van with green stripes was involved in an incident, or is suspected in an incident, on a corporate campus with 200 security cameras. Analytics software and a skilled security officer can find every instance that van was recorded by a security camera over the past few hours, days or weeks, typically in less than an hour. The security officer can build a timeline of the vehicle’s movements on the campus, as well as identify when anyone entered or left the vehicle.

Scenario 2: Looking Forward Proactively

Today’s cameras and software can also reverse-engineer that scenario. The security officer can use the software and camera system to be on the lookout for a white van with green stripes, and send an alert as soon as a vehicle matching that description is spotted.

If, say, a recently terminated employee is deemed a potential threat, and the security officer knows what type of vehicle that person is driving, the system can alert security as soon as that person drives onto the corporate campus.

Building and Managing a Complete System

Most importantly, software can now bridge different systems and different cameras from multiple manufacturers to build a complete, seamless system. Even older cameras can have the same capabilities as the latest generation, albeit possibly with lower resolution. Even if the images aren’t as sharp and clear, those cameras can still be an integral part of an early warning system, saving the costs of replacing equipment.

Cameras and Access Control

With facial recognition technology, the future won’t rely on keys, badges or card swipes, but on cameras and software that “recognize” employees and flag intruders and anyone not known by the system. This technology will be both more secure—an intruder could steal an employee’s badge or key card, but not an employee’s face—and more cost-effective.

The Human Element

Security cameras, software and other technology won’t replace security personnel. Instead, security officers will be more highly skilled in using that technology to provide higher levels of both reactive and proactive security.

For information on how Sunstates Security can combine technology with skilled personnel for a higher level of security, please call 866-710-2019 or email us.