Info4Security (I4S): Why have you chosen to be part of the speaker programme for the inaugural edition of the Global Security Summit?
Balaji Srimoolanathan (BS): I believe that the Global Security Summit is both unique and different from other shows and conferences in that the agenda is focused wholly on practical issues that challenge both end users and suppliers. More importantly, I feel the Global Security Summit offers a great platform for end users and other members of the wider security community to share their thoughts, discuss Best Practice and address the critical security challenges around integration and interoperability.
I4S: What’s the central focus of your presentation this year… and why?
BS: The core focus of my presentation is on how to achieve a safe balance between those two areas – integration and interoperability. The main objective is a critical appraisal of integration and the need for interoperability while exploring the pitfalls of same.
Often, these terms are confused by end users and integrators. While integration will enable disparate systems to work together, interoperability remains a critical challenge for these two groups. My focus will be on defining these terms and what they mean to the security community, assessing the challenges that lie within each and looking at the benefits of both. I’ll also be touching on open standards such as ONVIF and the PSIA.
An integrated solution is one that not only allows disparate systems to communicate with each other in their current state, but also provides backwards and forwards compatibility – and, indeed, scalability – as products evolve. In contrast, interoperability reflects a more immediate form of functionality between different products as long as they’re allowed to work in synergy.
While a set of interoperable systems will work together in harmony in their existing state, future upgrades, developments or improvements to any of the products involved can cause interoperability to cease unless they comply with open standards and the design is such that they’ll not become obsolete.
The other theme I’ll be highlighting centres on the advantages of connecting and unifying business functions – among them achieving better situational awareness and improving efficiencies – but also pinpointing the challenges and dangers of doing so – such as high costs, obsolescence management and the impact on resiliencies of individual business functions, etc.
While seamless integration could be a boon, it might also make life easier for threats to first disguise and then transmit themselves through the system.
I4S: What do you hope to realise by speaking at the event?
BS: Representing Frost & Sullivan, I want to contribute to the wider security community debate. I very much hope my presentation will trigger an informed debate through which end users and their professional colleagues will be able to openly discuss and deliberate the critical security issues with which they’re often confronted.
I4S: What elements do you feel render your presentation absolutely vital to those end users in attendance at the 2012 Global Security Summit?
BS: The nature of threats to security has evolved to the position where they are now increasingly complex. More and more, end users are faced with having to define a problem and then understand what they can expect from any solution they choose to defend against potential security loopholes.
The theme of my presentation will be crucial for end users as I’ll be reviewing what expectations and standards they ought to be looking for when they’re opting to buy and then implement their security solutions.
I4S: From your own point of view, Balaji, how would you define the ‘end user’ in today’s security business sector?
BS: This will ultimately roll down to the individual – or a set of individuals – using security systems on a daily basis. Often, it’s only budget holders and/or influencers who are seen as the end users. This is the reason why several implementations will ‘bounce back’ with challenges when frontline personnel begin to employ them.
I4S: What sort of individual traits should characterise ‘the security manager of tomorrow’?
BS: Security is becoming an increasingly critical element of corporate business strategy. Today’s organisations are not only spread across geographies but they’re also more and more competitive and, importantly, risk averse.
On that basis, security managers have to be able to achieve the right balance between managing day-to-day security issues while maintaining a strategy focus on security and where it fits in with the overall corporate mission.
Security managers must be one step ahead of the dynamic threat and risk profile that their organisation is facing. They must be able to understand and apply the technology needed to address the issues involved, as well as continuously review and assess convergence and any gaps in the system that might arise as a result of this.
I4S: On the macro level, what are your opinions of the current security business landscape?
BS: In the 21st Century, the threats to our freedoms, identities and our lives emanate from more sources than ever before: from terrorists through to hackers and even over-zealous Governments. An individual and collective focus on security is expected to be one of the top trends shaping our private and public lives across the next two decades.
Global security markets are highly fragmented, hold unique market characteristics and are experiencing an increased convergence of technology and suppliers.
Security is still seen as a cost by the end user community, but it’s no longer just a ‘good to have’. Rather, it’s now a ‘must have’.
Also, the thought process of the end user is shifting. Increasingly, they’re beginning to see security as an enabler that can increase situational awareness, achieve business efficiencies and mitigate business risks.
That said, the solutions providers still have a huge role to play in educating their customers about the advantages to be had from good security.
I4S: In what ways do you feel the economic conditions prevailing in the UK are affecting the security sector in either a positive or negative way (or perhaps both)?
BS: While the present economic conditions have negatively impacted on new procurement of security systems, in a way they’ve also shifted the focus towards achieving efficiencies through further integration of existing systems. This trend is not only to be seen in the UK but also across the globe in many mature markets.
I4S: In addition, can you let us have your views on the present state of the UK and international security domains?
BS: The UK security market is moving towards the integration of systems. The demand for integrated security solutions is primarily concentrated in the Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) segments and across other sectors such as financial services.
It’s fair to say the UK market is mature in comparison with much of the rest of the world, with end user understanding here more advanced than it is elsewhere. Also, the UK is beginning to witness an increased adoption of not only physical but also cyber-based security solutions.
Convergence over the next decade will handle both physical and cyber threats. Smart infrastructures will assume an enhanced importance.
I4S: What goals should the UK security sector be working towards both in the short and longer terms?
BS: If the integration movement continues as predicted then access control and video surveillance will be joined together in over 70% of facilities within the next 12-24 months. Integration levels in the critical infrastructure market are clearly less advanced than, say, in transportation or retail, but recent advances in integration software/platforms allied to the burgeoning penetration of IP should be the main drivers for more integration in this space.
Beyond this year, the overriding need for real-time information on cyber and physical threats will drive convergence.
I4S: Are there any central themes you can see on the horizon to be tackled by the security world in 2013?
BS: Themes will include the physical-cyber convergence I’ve just mentioned, obsolescence management, ‘Security as a Service’ and using analytics to tackle the big data challenges as security evolves to become more IT-driven.
I4S: Lastly, what’s the focus for your own organisation in 2013 and beyond?
BS: We’re going to be evaluating global macro megatrends and applying a security context so that we can understand the impact of security on Governments, business and people. We’ll be looking at strategic themes like urban security and scalability towards the smart city and the security of CNI. Multi-agency co-operation is going to be a further theme here.
Balaji Srimoolanathan is principal consultant on security at market analyst Frost & Sullivan
Further information on the Global Security Summit
*For further information on Global Security Summit London, the full education programme and speaker line-up please visit http://www.globalsecurity-summit.com/, follow us on Twitter (@GSS_London) or join the LinkedIn Group
**Companies interested in exhibiting should contact event manager Tracy Bebbington on tel: 0207 921 8065 or e-mail: [email protected] or Paul Amura (business development director at Pro-Activ Publications) on tel: 020 8295 8307 or e-mail: [email protected]
