In a rapidly evolving security landscape, we must upgrade ourselves in terms of security and safety. Industry experts came together today to participate in an insightful panel discussion on ‘Integrating traditional security with technology to achieve unbreakable security and safety.’
The session was chaired by Ajay Bhatt, Group Head, Corporate Services, Godrej Industries, where a unique outlook on integrating traditional security with technological advancement was discussed by experts. They emphasised AI incorporation and machine learning ability in security systems so that they could predict, detect and react to any potential thread.
Paurv Mehta, Head of Administration, FMS, EE Bridgestone India, said that the most important function in a facility is security. Elaborating on the critical role of integrating traditional security systems with the latest technology, he talked about discarding a centralised command centre with multiple CCTV cameras and replacing watch towers with electronic bikes or fire petrol bikes.
Further, he said that security is not a reactive but a proactive job, which means that before an incident occurs, a good system will send an alert.
The discussion dispelled the misconception that electronic systems will replace humans. As 100 per cent reliance on any AI or machine is impossible, Mehta said that rather than reduction, the solution is to optimise manpower.
Adding to this, Sunita Shilewant, Head of Facilities CSR (Pan India), Huhtamaki India, mentioned the use of head count trackers in companies to help in evacuation in cases of emergencies, as the tool automatically counts the number of people that enter or leave the building as they pass.
Cariappa Mk, Head of Facilities, ITC, also talked about the AI modules and how the convergence of physical and cyber security makes security more resilient. Mentioning the efficiency of the AI-based response system installed in the CCTV cameras of their company that recognises unregistered number plates entering the office, he said it has reduced costs by 20–25 per cent.
Speaking about IP-based surveillance and drastic changes in the access control system, Swaminath Roy, Deputy Head, Administration and Corporate Real Estate, Tata Motors Finance, said that previously we would sign while entering the office, then came the access card system and the biometric system.
He added, “Now we have the facial detection system, which is new and easy to handle. Apart from offices, this is also used on different platforms, like traffic administration. They are also adopting this technology, like in Digiyatra. Still, human intervention is required, and they should be trained to handle this equipment; otherwise, it will be very difficult to achieve these objectives. Even on our phones, we have many applications, but we don’t know how to use most of them. And thousands of features exist, but we don’t know. We have to explore to understand. Technology has solutions to most of the problems, but it cannot replace physical manpower.”
The experts highlighted that, along with infrastructure and office security, employee security is also very important. Therefore, they each talked about measures each of their companies takes to ensure employee safety.
Mehta said, “Employees are like our internal customers. So, we can classically say that the chair on which an employee is sitting is also a security concern.”
Reiterating, Bhatt said that it is important to integrate both cyber and physical security and keep upgrading ourselves with the advancements happening on a daily basis.
–By Ruukuonuo Liegise
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