Time is said to be the enemy of many things. Houses, buildings, bridges and even marvels like the pyramids--all have fallen because of the passing of time. Software and technology often suffer this same fate, and it generally happens much faster. When this happens to the family computer, the results aren’t all that catastrophic. Dad might lose some emails, Mom can’t play solitaire anymore and the PC might become vulnerable to some nasty viruses that will eventually render it useless. While frustrating for the family, this isn’t exactly an earth-shattering event. They simply go out and buy a new computer with updated software.
If you’re in the business of security, though, obsolete and expired technology and software can quickly become an expensive and critical problem to have. It’s not just the intangible tools that can fall behind the times, either. Physical devices like cameras, alarm systems and portable devices for guards are among the most frequent tools that can become obsolete. What follows is a deeper look into several of these physical devices and how they can fall behind, as well as some of the limitations of older security software and the solutions that Trackforce™ can provide.
Cameras
Things like security cameras are generally considered low priority on an IT department’s list of responsibilities, so they’re often unknowingly disconnected during network upgrades. The big issue with this is that it can be a long time before anyone realizes the cameras are offline. More often than not, the issue is only discovered whenever footage needs to be reviewed for an investigation and that could potentially have some catastrophic consequences. The other issue outdated cameras pose is that many older cameras aren’t compatible with software upgrades, requiring expensive and time-consuming service to replace or re-program.
Alarm Systems
Alarm systems pose many of the same issues that cameras do. If it’s outdated, it probably doesn’t have the same level of security that it did when it was first installed. Outdated security alarm systems often don’t automatically update, as newer systems do. These modern updates are designed to eliminate emerging vulnerabilities. The older a system becomes, the less likely it is that it will receive any updates, even ones that are manually entered by technicians. This can virtually render an outdated system useless to the owner.
Another concern with alarm (and security systems in general) is that your security needs and specifics may have changed since the systems were originally put into place. The layout of your building or campus may have changed, or the needs of your staff might not me the same. This can result in cameras pointing in areas they don’t need to be, or an alarm system that isn’t on par with your organization’s needs. It’s a hard fact to face, but some facilities simply mature too much for the security measures that were originally installed.
Even if your organization is in the same position it was when the security measures were originally installed, issues can still arise. Similar to the household PC we mentioned above, aging systems can suffer from slowness, freezing and crashing. Those occurrences can leave the business completely vulnerable to any number of catastrophic events.
The cold, hard fact is that older systems simply don’t have all of the bells and whistles that come with modern systems. More highly controlled access, high definition video and automation are among a few of the things that you generally don’t see on hardware that’s more than a few years old.
Guard Devices
When it comes to security tech falling behind the times, it’s not just limited to cameras and alarm systems. Some of the physical devices that guards carry every day can fall by the wayside just as fast. Items like cell phones, laptops and even reporting methods can quickly become outdated. Luckily there’s a one-stop-shop for solutions that tie all of these potential risks together.
Trackforce™ has a full line of products that are designed to arm today’s security professionals with the most modern equipment and technology available. Historically, the challenge with security “software” is that it really only covered one area of a security operation. An organization’s particular software might only cover guard tour, or incident management or visitor registration. Trackforce ™ software can cover them all.
Here’s a quick look at the products that Trackforce™ has to help keep your organization ahead of the times.
A highly versatile web-based application, GuardTek Post offers unprecedented communication capabilities between officers, supervisors and stakeholders, not to mention an increase in overall productivity. GuardTek Post enhances the following areas of an operation:
GuardTek m-Post is a fully customizable mobile platform that’s designed to offer increased management for security personnel. The m-Post application modernizes security forces through interactive guard tours and comprehensive real-time incident reporting. The following areas are also enhanced by the GuardTek m-Post application:
Modernized guard touring, activity reporting and more, all in a handheld, powerful and rugged device. NFC tags can be deployed along patrol routes so that real time data on activities can be sent by officers to a centralized system. Like the other GuardTek applications, the GuardTek Patrol can greatly enhance…
Security officer inspections are modernized through the use of customizable forms that can be deployed on a per site and inspection basis. A centralized system ensures compliance, recorded corrective measures and automatic notifications to stakeholders. Other features of the GuardTek Inspector application include…
Time doesn’t have to be the enemy. Trackforce™ applications can help your organization stay ahead of the game and manage all of your security needs at once, keeping it all arranged in a centralized system. The result is the most modern equipped array of security assets available.
Contact Trackforce for more info! sales@trackforce.com