Boosting retail confidence with integrated physical security systems

Retailers are still adjusting to the aftermath of COVID-19. Shoplifting and violence shot up in 2020 and the levels remain high today. Not only do these events put people in danger and cause financial losses, but they are unsettling to witness. Customer bases are eroded, and staff turnover increases when safety is at risk. 

Security guards in fast-paced retail environments are under great pressure to manage the high number of security threats. Unnecessary physical altercations must be avoided, but they are more likely when security guards feel unsupported by security systems. The best-case scenario is detecting threats early. Security guards need time to assess them in order to make informed decisions. 

Today, retailers' heightened security threat extends beyond the shop floor. Global cyber threat activity shot up in 2024. There was a 31% surge in disclosed vulnerabilities and a 20% increase in active exploitation. Hackers have created new threats as they weaponise AI tools to write malicious code.

With a long list of threats to manage, retailers' security determines how well they deter, spot and manage them.

Not all security threats are obvious

While cybersecurity personnel are trained to identify specific threats, certain anomalies are difficult to spot within a high-traffic retail environment. For security operations, rapid detection is crucial in allowing officers the time needed for assessment and intervention. However, this level of awareness is a significant challenge since the information presented on security monitors can often be misleading. For example:

• What appears to be a casual conversation could actually be threatening.
• Someone might seem inconspicuous from afar, but they're carrying a weapon.
• An employee could cause a scene in staff areas while a friend loads their car with stolen goods.

Every incident tests security in nuanced ways. Officers must feel confident that their security infrastructure supports them in detecting and recording incidents. They know that after an incident ends, weak evidence complicates any investigation that follows.

How integrated security systems give teams more confidence

The world's leading security companies build products with integration in mind – including Pelco, whose Sarix Enhanced 4 Series is commonly deployed in retail environments. The combination of intelligent cameras and sensors can identify specific threats, such as unusual loitering, the presence of weapons via Smart Analytics, Elevate and loud noises. These insights give security teams actionable intelligence amidst heavy foot traffic and large crowds.

While installing intelligent security cameras, sensors and alarms are great steps to secure your locations, their effectiveness is tested when an incident occurs. In countless cases, the level of integration makes the difference between an average system and a world-class one. 

By prioritising system integration, organisations can more effectively preempt and resolve common operational issues that burden security teams, including:

• Blind spots: Switching between cameras easily removes the blind spots that occur with isolated systems. Detecting multiple threats at once is effortless without gaps in footage.
• Decision uncertainty: Different hardware working together gives security teams more information to help them combat threats. Officers have more confidence in their security and have a clearer understanding of situations when engaging with people.
• Slow investigations: AI-powered cameras can quickly tag and identify concerns through weeks/months of footage, eliminating hours of manual viewing.
• Manual work: Fast, friction-free detection between security cameras gives security officers the best chance to manage threats without manual workflows disrupting their response.
• Cyber vulnerabilities: An integrated approach to security takes everything into account, especially devices that send/receive data, as they are cybersecurity threats. Leading security products are built to mitigate them. 

A retailer's security system is as strong as its integration

Retailers face numerous security threats and many are difficult to detect in retail environments. Security teams need more than the latest technology to feel confident in their security response.

An integrated approach boosts security officers' awareness to detect threats, assess them and take action. More time and awareness are important to consistently make good decisions under pressure. 

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Author

Todd Dunning is the Director of Product Management, Video Security & Analytics at Pelco.

Todd has a degree in Electrical Engineering and a Master of Business Administration.  He has led numerous R&D, Operations and Marketing teams over 25 years, focused on both hardware and software products spanning several industries. Todd has served for five years on the ONVIF steering committee, directing the strategy for industry standards. During his 20-year tenure at Pelco, Todd has focused primarily on Product Management, responsible for Cameras and Video Management Systems.  Currently, he is focused on integrating Pelco's cameras and sensors into industry systems outside of the Motorola Solutions family, and AI analytic solutions both at the edge (in camera) and in the cloud.