The Role of AI in Commercial Security

From art to manufacturing, corporate communications to poetry, AI is everywhere. Commercial security is no exception. Smart technology is on the rise.

Thanks to the power of AI, today’s security systems can process vast amounts of data and detect threats faster than a human can blink.

In this article, we’re looking at the role of AI in commercial security, and the various ways in which you can benefit from smart technology.

But first, what exactly is smart security technology?

What is smart technology?

Smart technology uses artificial intelligence and data analysis to operate autonomously. It can improve its own performance without the need for human intervention.

Because it can consume large volumes of data, then analyse it for patterns, smart security technology can draw conclusions and learn from them. After a relatively short period of time, it can predict risks before an incident actually happens.

So, how is smart technology being used in modern security systems?

AI and CCTV

AI-powered CCTV has revolutionised video surveillance. By analysing human behaviour to detect unusual or suspicious activity, it spots threats which may otherwise go unnoticed.

Let’s say someone is loitering in an unusual area, or a group of people suddenly appear on the perimeter of your property. AI will alert security staff, allowing them to deal with the situation before it escalates.

Facial recognition is another ground-breaking feature of modern CCTV systems. AI can identify a known individual and track their movements, even in low light or large crowds. For retail outlets and airports in particular, this ability is invaluable.

AI means fewer false alarms

False alarms are a common problem with video surveillance. They are a financial burden, a waste of resources and, if false positives are too frequent, a security risk. Genuine alarms can easily be ignored.

AI-powered CCTV significantly reduces the problem. Algorithms are trained to tell the difference between a genuine threat and the most common causes of false alarms at commercial premises — insects, spider webs, dogs, waving tree branches and so on.

Humans learn from making mistakes, but AI takes this to the next level. If an AI-powered system issues false alerts, and they’re recorded as false, it will learn exponentially then change its behaviour accordingly. It won’t make the same mistakes again.

AI and intruder alarms

With most commercial properties, a number of different people come and go on a regular basis — from permanent staff to delivery drivers.

Machine learning alarm systems are programmed to recognise these patterns. The system learns how staff, visitors and other personnel move around within the boundaries of the property.

If movement occurs at a time when people aren’t normally active at the premises, this will register as an anomaly and it will trigger an alarm.

As with CCTV, the alarm can tell the difference between a genuine intruder and, say, a sudden gust of wind. It also learns from its mistakes, reducing the likelihood of false alarms in future.

Predictive analysis

AI is excellent at spotting potential risks before they turn into serious security breaches.

It uses predictive analysis, collecting and processing huge amounts of data to identify weaknesses. Over time, it can use the data to forecast exactly where and when your property is likely to be vulnerable.

This means your security teams can stay ahead of the risk by taking the appropriate steps to reduce it.

AI and security maintenance

Security maintenance is the Cinderella of commercial security. It’s often ignored. Security systems are expected to get on with the job with little or no maintenance, until something goes badly wrong.

AI can be programmed to let you know when security technology needs attention. It will detect developing problems such as failing or malfunctioning components, then automatically alert you to the issue.

Proactive maintenance is always better than reactive panic. AI predicts upcoming problems so that you can fix them before they cause complete system failure.

AI-powered access controls

AI’s pattern recognition capabilities are increasingly being used within access control systems, particularly for larger commercial premises.

In a building with multiple entry points with different access rights, the volume of data generated by the system is overwhelming. AI’s ability to detect unusual patterns allows it to pinpoint clues within a sea of data — information which traditional systems would miss.

By learning from the data, it can spot people making multiple failed attempts at entry, accessing the building at unusual times or arriving in unexpected locations.

Seamless integration

Integrating AI-powered systems is a crucial addition to intelligent security. You can take disparate security systems and unify them on a single platform.

With all sources of data consolidated in one place, it magnifies the power of your security system. By giving you more control and more insight, smart technology helps you make smarter decisions.

If you’d like to chat through some affordable options for using AI in your own security systems, we’d love to hear from you. Get in touch with the CSG team.