With burnout on the rise, security managers are taking notice and asking— how can we evolve our security installation to empower our operators?

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.

Integrated physical security solutions are part of the problem
An integrated physical security solution is made up of a range of connected products, from a variety of different vendors. The more systems you have, the more training security operators will require. That’s because each system works in different ways, so 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.

Unification boosts 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. Moreover, when all of your systems are unified it lessens the workload of updates and simplifies upgrades and maintenance.

The power of unification
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 more here.