As physical security continues to evolve beyond the traditional "doors, guards, and guns" approach, companies are venturing into the growing popular, and increasingly mandatory, technology powered by artificial intelligence (AI). With the global physical security and safety industry projected to reach $416 billion by 2030, the timing couldn't be better for these innovation investments that will change the way these companies approach protecting people and assets.
By Ryan Schonfeld*
Where are we now?
At their core, Global Security Operations Centers (GSOCs) function as the central nervous system of an organization's physical security infrastructure, operating 24/7 to monitor and respond to security events across multiple locations. These centers manage everything from video surveillance and access control to emergency communications, risk intelligence, executive protection, supply chain, and incident response coordination. However, traditional operating models are reaching their breaking point.
The challenges are significant and growing. Security teams face chronic understaffing, with turnover rates ranging from 100% to 300% annually. Training new operators is expensive and time-consuming, taking weeks or months to get them fully operational. Meanwhile, security teams are saturated with video feeds and alarms with a false alarm rate of over 98%, leading to operator fatigue and critical incidents that go unnoticed.
The result? A perfect storm of operational inefficiencies that puts both safety and budgets at risk.
Is AI the deciding factor?
AI has largely been a buzzword for the past few years, but now it's finally reaching its potential as a technology capable of enacting real change (similar to what it has already done in other industries like cybersecurity). AI systems process large amounts of data from multiple sources simultaneously, identifying patterns and potential threats that might be missed by human operators. This capability is particularly valuable in addressing the fundamental challenges faced by modern GSOCs.
Consider alarm management, traditionally one of the most time-consuming aspects of security operations. AI-powered technology can now intelligently filter and verify alarms, analyzing multiple data points to determine the likelihood of a genuine security threat. This intelligent triage ensures that operators focus their attention on the most critical incidents, improving response times and reducing the risk of alarm fatigue.
In surveillance operations, AI systems continuously monitor multiple video streams, detecting and classifying objects, people, and behaviors in real-time. This technology can identify suspicious activity such as loitering, abandoned objects, or unauthorized access attempts, automatically alerting operators to potential threats. AI's ability to maintain constant surveillance on numerous cameras at the same time dramatically expands the effective coverage area of security operations without requiring additional human resources.
But what technology can do to address incoming alarms is what's generating the biggest ripples. AI-enabled platforms can leverage an AI operator to verify alarms, review camera footage, add notes to incidents, dispatch guards, resolve incidents, and escalate high-priority events to their human supervisors. AI can analyze security channels in real-time and keep meticulous records of incidents, reducing the opportunity for human error. It's truly changing the way security operations are managed.
The biggest impact? The business
Integrating AI into security operations provides substantial benefits across the business. Organizations typically see a decrease in staffing requirements for routine monitoring tasks, reduced training costs through automated assistance, and lower incident-related expenses through better prevention and faster response times. The ability to handle increased security coverage without commensurate increases in staffing creates significant scalability advantages.
Perhaps most importantly, AI integration elevates the role of physical security within organizations. Rather than simply being seen as a necessary cost center, security operations can demonstrate tangible value through increased efficiency, better risk management, and direct contributions to business continuity. Elevating security operations aligns with C-level priorities for risk mitigation and operational excellence.
Where do humans fit in?
Contrary to common concerns, implementing AI in security operations is not about replacing human operators, rather, they increase their capabilities and elevate their roles. By automating routine tasks, AI frees up security personnel to focus on strategic decision-making and complex threat assessment. This shift transforms security roles from passive monitoring to active analysis and strategic planning, creating more engaging career paths and reducing burnout that has historically plagued the industry.
Now what?
As we move forward, successfully integrating AI into security operations will require careful planning and implementation. Security leaders tasked with this integration must consider not only the technical requirements, but also the human and operational factors that trigger success. Those who carefully plan their AI integration, investing in proper infrastructure, training, and change management across teams, will be better positioned to realize the full potential of AI-enabled security operations.
The transformation of GSOCs through AI technology not only represents an operational improvement, but a strategic opportunity to reimagine physical security for the modern era. By embracing this evolution, organizations can create more effective, efficient, and responsive security operations that deliver measurable value while better protecting their people, assets, and operations.
*Ryan Schonfeld is the Co-Founder and CEO of HiveWatch. With previous experience as a security consultant, law enforcement officer, and end user for a Fortune 500 company.
