IEN: What are the major security concerns facing industry?
Turney: Currently the security industry is in a state of flux caused by the Homeland Security initiative. This initiative is putting into play a massive amount of mergers and acquisitions as well as bringing new security companies into existence, including Cisco, Lockheed Martin, EDS, and various Silicon Valley players. This state of flux is a cause for concern for security buyers because they never know who they will be dealing with as they begin to put in place security measures to decrease their risk.
IEN: How can these concerns be addressed?
Turney: Only time will tell how things shake out. The security industry needs to focus on providing specific solutions to our customers'' needs. At this point in time, as a complete industry, we need to come together on a professional level for the good of our combined customers. The one thing that has helped security integrators and manufacturers the most in recent years is the plethora of security forums. These forums have helped the integrators and manufacturers to develop much-needed systems and skills that end users have been asking about for years. The security industry standard operating procedure was to provide what was believed to be needed and to tell the customers that this is what they need. These forums have helped the security industry provide solutions focused on solving specific needs. (Pictured, a customer site where TAC has installed integrated security/HVAC systems.)
IEN: Where are strides being made: In risk management? Integrated systems design? Emergency response? Hazard controls? Computer security? Elsewhere?
Turney: The events of 9-11 have brought new focus to corporate security. The entire concept of risk management and risk analysis has been thrust to the front, with security risk assessments being performed. The notion of an integrated system has been on the tips of everyone''s tongues for years. Today, with technology changing as fast as it can, we are closer than ever before to being able to provide a truly integrated system. TAC customers enjoy security systems designed to bring video badging, visitor management, CCTV, lighting, and critical alarm monitoring into a single platform. These types of systems save money during the initial installation as well as in the long run.
IEN: What innovations are in store for users in security equipment and systems, software, training, and other areas?
Turney: Today systems are becoming easier and easier to use, which is something the customers have been calling for. A huge part of this transition has come from better training programs, customer response teams, and customer brainstorming sessions. At the same time the typical installation and support provided by system integrators is being upgraded to include more frontline support, better documentation, and faster response. It seems that the companies who develop a close relationship with their customers from day one are able to capitalize from having systems that get installed easier, faster, and with more customer acceptance.
Phrases like "granularity of failure" are also helping to drive security technology into providing new and different solutions. One of the latest technological advances is non-server dependency, which TAC has developed into its security and access control system. This feature will become a standard feature offered by all manufacturers in the near future.
IEN: Where are other R & D hot spots?
Turney: With competing security systems becoming more and more alike, R & D departments are being pushed to implement new and different tools and features geared at differentiating their offerings from other similar systems on the market. At the 2003 ASIS show the most important things I was asked about were web access, ease of use, communications over a customer''s LAN/WAN, and integrated CCTV. These will be areas of focus for many R & D departments for 2004.
IEN: Is the web a significant factor? Why/Why not?
Turney: The Internet is one of the next frontiers the security industry will conquer. Companies that utilize the web in some form or fashion will be able to provide customers remote access into their systems, but with potential risks. Exposing a system to the Internet makes it more vulnerable to attack, so high levels of Internet security will need to be put in place both by system manufacturers and end users. With IT departments becoming more and more involved in security, system manufacturers would do themselves a great justice in talking with IT directors in designing and implementing solid web-based solutions.
IEN: Will wireless technology play an increasing role in security? If so, how?
Turney: Many system integrators are looking at wireless technologies as the wave of the future. As this technology becomes more and more useful and dependable, the real question will be if the labor savings is enough to offset the increased hardware costs.
IEN: How can companies integrate security technologies within the industrial enterprise?
Turney: Technology has come so far in the past three years that a truly integrated system is a reality today. Bringing all aspects of a building''s low-voltage systems together in a single platform is within reach and is driving manufacturers to look outside their own walls for partnerships and alliances. With common communication languages like LON, OPC, IP, SQL, and BACnet becoming accepted by customers and consulting engineers, we will begin to see more standalone systems being integrated.