The security industry has come a long way since it’s origination many, many years ago. The industry’s evolution has been heavily impacted by modern day technology and consumer demand and expectation.
The Origins of Private Security
Private security has existed for centuries. One of the earliest recorded examples dates back to the thirteenth century in Ancient Egypt, where pharaohs hired Nubians, Libyans, Syrians, and Sherdens to compliment Egypt’s own military. The practice continued and evolved in ancient Rome, where the wealthy hired private security to protect their families and property.
Fast forward to the early 1700s, when a great increase of families moving to cities caused the streets and neighbourhoods to be filled with poverty, crime, and violence. The need for security was in such demand that tax revenues were used to fund security guards to patrol communities overnight.
In the late 1700s and early 1800s, the Industrial Revolution produced a plethora of criminal opportunity which lead to the development of private security agencies who initially guarded banks and railroads as passenger trains were very often robbed of cargo.
During The Great Depression and World War II, many companies began hiring private security to guard their factories. There seems to be some controversy surrounding the claim of the first proprietary security force, but many consider it to be Henry Ford who refined in-house security to his Ford factory.
The Integration of Technology and Security
Initially, a security guard’s role was fairly simple, and included investigation of incidents, guarding shipments, and giving advice to businessmen who found themselves falling victim to crime. Regulation of the security industry began in 1915, when the state of California started providing licensing of private security guards. This changed the typical role of a security guard as the majority of agencies began practicing a “detect, deter, observe, and report” mantra. Agencies began recruiting individuals with police or military experience, and security training evolved into a structured course that entails both a written test and a practical training component.
A well-balanced combination of physical (secured premises), operational (guards), and systems (technology) are key to a successful security program. While we are still heavily dependent of on-site security guards, technology and artificial intelligence are proving to be an effective security solution in today’s modern world. Many insurance providers are recognizing the benefits of modern security technology and offer lower rates for clients who invest in the services – and in some instances, consider it mandatory.
As technology becomes more prevalent in the industry, there are some risks associated with complete trust and reliance of security technology. One of the largest risks is accuracy and increase of false positives. For example, a bug crawling on the lens of a security camera would detect movement, causing a false alarm. Another common concern is the risk of downtime if a site experiences a power outage. Such issues require troubleshooting, allowing technology to evolve and improve operations.
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