For decades, business security systems were mostly reactive. An intruder would set off an alarm to let an employee or local law enforcement know something happened. Sometimes the team could act swiftly to prevent a more serious incident but sometimes it was just a little too late.
Today, organizations have tools that can identify patterns and provide earlier warning. Modern AI-powered surveillance can recognize unusual patterns of behavior and identify patterns associated with potential risks. This supports your security team and empowers them to prevent costly dangerous or potentially reputation destroying incidents from happening.
As a manager, wouldn’t you prefer more than footage to review after an incident? You want your team to know what is happening much sooner, to understand what deserves attention, and to be able respond before a small problem turns into a larger one.
Hardware equipment like security cameras, alarms, and access control systems are still crucial, but now they can also be smart. When you combine these legacy security tools with AI powered proactive security monitoring you have integrated security systems.
That is where AI physical security is changing the way managers think about protecting their business or institution. AI-powered surveillance, access control, alarm systems, and integrated security systems help businesses move from asking “What happened?” to “What is happening right now, and what should we do next?”
AI Helps Notice What People May Miss
AI can help identify patterns and activities that deserve a closer look from your team. For example, an AI-enhanced video surveillance system may flag after-hours movement near a restricted entrance, repeated loitering near a loading area, or other unusual activity. Criminals sometimes study and watch an area in the days or weeks leading to their attempted crime. Your system may notice this pattern before your team does.
To put this into perspective, let’s consider a rare, but extreme risk. Early awareness matters because many security issues develop quickly. Every second saved can save a life or prevent damage. Commercial sites endured 14 active shooter incidents causing 131 casualties, according to the FBI’s 2023 active shooter report.
Recognizing suspicious behavior early can literally save lives. For example the New York Attorney General documented an incident where a shooter visited a store multiple times to investigate the clientele, security team and their protective equipment before acting. Although AI isn’t yet capable of judging someone’s intent, it may still flag patterns and behaviors like repeat visits from loiterers so your team is aware.
Of course, most security incidents are not that extreme. It’s everyday concerns like vandalism, trespassing, unauthorized entry, theft, and unauthorized after-hours activity. AI-powered surveillance can help bring those concerns into view faster.
Cameras Are Even Stronger When Connected
Imagine your video security camera has an AI application that can notice if unknown vehicles enter the parking lot. Even better, it can identify recurring vehicle activity or repeated appearances that may suggest a pattern worth reviewing. There may be an innocent reason, but your security staff sees the notification and they pay more attention. They may notice the same individual following a staff member into the building.
This isn’t meant to be scary, it’s meant to highlight some of the possibilities. Security cameras are still one of the most useful security tools available. Their presence can help prevent theft or other crimes, according to several studies including one by the National Institute of Justice.
Still, a camera alone records an incident, but does not help anyone notice the problem until the next morning when someone reviews the footage. It is still mostly reactive.
A camera connected to smart alerts, access control events, alarm notifications, and monitoring procedures becomes much more useful. With AI backing an integrated security system, it moves from reactive to predictive and proactive.
The journal Sensor published research indicating that AI software can learn to recognize unusual behavioral patterns on video footage. Deep-learning AI tools can help video systems flag activity that deviates from normal patterns like loitering a little longer, repeated walk throughs, wrong-direction movement, shoplifting, or placement of new objects that aren’t normally around. For a business, that can mean fewer security events slipping by unnoticed.
Think of your camera as your security system’s eyes, AI adds additional “brain” power supporting your team.
AI Integration Turns Security Data into Useful Information
What does this mean for your business? Imagine the shift to integration and predictive security systems. Your security camera, alarm, and access control system each do an important job.
When they work together backed with AI, they can give you and your team even clearer insights.
That doesn’t always replace human judgment, but it gives the person making the call better information. Systems and alarms sometimes have false alarms that require a trained person to investigate. When that person understands how the system works, you have a layered approach blending human expertise with AI power.
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) recently published a model to use AI integrated systems to protect K-12 schools. They recommend, “Taking a layered approach to physical security ensures that the system works in an integrated way to detect, delay, and respond to threats, and helps to prevent single points of failure.”
Organizations across industries use layered security approaches because they reduce single points of failure. Imagine how adapting a similar approach to your business needs could make your system more robust.
So far, we highlighted how AI-enhanced security improves threat detection. But mundane, day-to-day functions may be even more valuable. A modern system can reduce time spent scrubbing video footage, following-up on alarm notifications, documenting accidents, and identify patterns that may otherwise be missed. It may pick up on patterns like a door that sticks compromising security even though no one acted maliciously.
Beyond that, when integrated with other safety and security systems including fire alarms and notification systems your system can actively help protect the wellbeing and safety of everyone in your facility. With the ability to look at and listen to your camera footage remotely, you also can conveniently rule out false alarms more easily.
AI Still Works Best With Human Expertise
You may have heard someone comment that AI is like a tireless, enthusiastic intern. It never sleeps and can take in so much information each minute. But it lacks an experienced security professional’s real world expertise. When you combine your knowledge of your organization with state-of-the-art security tools (including AI), you have something powerful.
By working with 2 Krew Security and Surveillance, you have a partner who knows the ins and outs of video surveillance, integrated security systems with AI, as well as the challenges in the Pittsburgh and Tri-State area communities. We help you find the right system for your unique needs.
Contact 2 Krew today to learn how an AI integrated security system can move your business or organization from reacting to a crisis to predicting and potentially stopping it.
