Future of Security

The security industry continues to evolve and advance to keep up with the changing landscape of threats that can affect operations. As the role of the security industry changes, the demand for security services increases with security employment at an all time high. The security industry has significantly changed since 9-11-01; calling for the development of stronger protocols to combat today's advanced threats. Today's threats have been impacted by the economy, international terrorism, domestic terrorism, cyber crime, and identity theft to name a few.

With the call for a heightened security function beyond routine patrols and greater expectations of security programs, operating costs have increased accordingly, there by creating a challenge for the security manager to show a good return on the company's investment. This creates a need for more qualified personnel, which means a further amplifies the strain on the department's budget. The future calls for the security officer to be able to perform more technical duties which again requires more diverse training and a more extensive recruiting effort to better identify quality applicants. This again bloats budgets and will call for increased salaries for better qualified individuals. The perception of security jobs will change in the future as a result of the demand of talented personnel to perform these more complex security details. Due to the increased compensation to retain these people, the security guard position will be regarded more as a career than just a job.

In the future, the security industry will integrate more electronic technology into the security program. Whether its card readers, enhanced cameras, computer programs, or even using Segways to conduct patrols; the digital age continues to transform the security world. With all kinds of technology available in the future, it presents a need for the security manager to strike the right balance between these modern elements and security personnel. Security technology and personnel will be dependent on each other. Humans serve the function better as a preventive security measure and adapt more easily to unexpected incidents. Electronics are more discreet and provide more accurate records. It is necessary for the two to complement one another to make the security operation more efficient and effective.

The future will also require the relationship between the security organization and law enforcement