Security operator burnout is on the rise. Here’s how to change that.

A day in the life of a security operator isn't what it used to be. Studying grainy video footage on a few monitors is a thing of the past. Today, the average operator jumps between six different security applications, often trying to manage more than 20 system events and alarms at once.

Learning the ins and outs of each system, remembering response protocols, and keeping each system maintained and cyber secure add to the mounting stress that security operators face today.

With burnout on the rise, security managers and directors are taking notice and asking— how can we evolve our security installation to empower our operators? What tools are available to help them work more efficiently and focus on what’s most important?

While system integration and Physical Security Information Management software (PSIMs) might catch initial interest, what most come to understand is that unification delivers the best long-term outcome.

 

 

Why integrated physical security solutions are part of the problem

An integrated physical security solution is made up of a bunch of connected products, from a variety of different vendors. The more connections you have, the more training your operators will require. That’s because each system works in different ways, so your operators will need to know how to handle alarms, manage tasks, and oversee maintenance for each physical security system.

When you choose integration, there’s also a limited exchange of communication between each system. That means when a door alarm goes off in a video surveillance system the operator may still have to jump over to the access control solution to investigate further.

Though PSIMs can provide a common operating space, the customization required can be complex and costly. Then there’s the matter of system updates. Whether you choose simple integration or add a PSIM, updating one system within your installation can break connections with all other physical security products.

Who’s responsible for dealing with these broken connections? Your already overwhelmed security team. Beyond the extra headache, constantly fixing system incompatibilities can also lead to overspending and hold your team back from accessing new features and technologies.

Want to learn more about unification, integrations, and PSIMs?

 

 

How unification helps boost operator efficiency and confidence

Unification is different from integration. At its core, unified security is a suite of products developed as a single solution. Your team can turn different systems and modules on or off, as needed because they are all engineered to work together through one vendor.

Within the unified platform, you could have video surveillance, analytics, access control, intercom, automatic license plate recognition, or other systems. You might also try new tools and modules such as occupancy management or decision support systems.

No matter what your security installation includes, your team can access everything from a single intuitive interface. Here’s how that benefits them:

Less training and easier workflow

Within your unified security platform, all core functions and workflows are the same across all your systems. This means your team only needs to learn how to manage and maintain a single solution. This speeds up training, lessens costs, and helps your operators feel in control of your security environment much faster.

Heightened awareness and productivity

Since all system data and alarms come into a unified security view, your operators get the information they need in less time. There’s no jumping between applications or logging into other systems to figure out what’s happening. Instead, they get consolidated information to make decisions and resolves incidents faster.

Streamlined SOPs and better compliance

With a unified physical security solution, you can define standard operating procedures (SOPs) for specific events. The system will then guide your team through each step of your SOPs from initial response through to resolution. Not only does this minimize the guesswork and stress for operators, but it also ensures your business stays compliant.

One more thing, when all of your systems are unified it lessens the workload of updates and simplifies upgrades and maintenance. The time your team saves on tasks alone can help you achieve other important physical security objectives.

Explore the power of unification

A standard security operations center has 20+ systems and 70% of activities are common. Many operators today are still having to manage those systems independently.

Between monitoring various alarms and handling maintenance to trying to resolve incidents according to company policies, it’s all becoming too overwhelming for operators.

 

 

A unified security platform can significantly ease operator stress by giving them all the information they need in a single intuitive interface. This leads to higher efficiency, better decisions, and faster response.

Ready to start on the path to unified security? Learn about Genetec™ Security Center and how It's built from the ground up to unify all of your data so that you can manage security policies, monitor events, run investigations – and keep up with your vision.