Falling behind? Data Analytics and Physical Security in Kenya

The incorporation of data analytics in the physical security sector has the capability to bring about a new level of efficiency and effectiveness in maintaining safety, safeguarding assets, and achieving cost reductions.
From interconnected smart systems to access control, surveillance, and incident management, significant insights can be gotten which will assist security teams in making decisions based on data.
The implementation includes the rollout of an incident management system (i.e. applications such as dispatch, incident reporting, investigations, task management and guard tours), data collection and analysis and data visualization.

A study was conducted by one Farhad Tajali at the University of Southern California while pursuing a doctoral degree in Organizational Change and Leadership. The study focused on security professionals with a lens on skill gaps and assets. The research explores knowledge, motivation and organizational influences (KMO) to identify assets and needs impacting the utilization of data analytics in the field of physical security. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the utilization of data analytics by security professionals in the field of physical security. Upon conducting the literature review, scholarly sources supported the hypothesis that security professionals lack effective utilization of data for process improvement, risk mitigation and to inform their decision-making.

Results and findings

The study found three key findings impacting security professionals’;

1. Slow adoption of data analytics through triangulation of both quantitative and qualitative research data
2. Lack of motivation to engage in data collection and analysis
3. Provisioning of resources

When asked to identify barriers in utilization of data, security professionals reported knowledge and resources as the two main barriers in their profession. Additionally, 94% of security professionals who currently do not perform any form of data analysis reported they would utilize data analytics if they knew more about how to use them effectively.

With this;

1. Is the Kenyan security industry lagging in integrating data analytics into their daily operations and translating quantitative data into practical insights?
2. Are there any security professionals’ using data analytics to inform data-driven decision-making?
3. Are security professionals’ motivated by other sectors in the context of using data analytics to inform data-driven decision-making?
4. Are Security companies in Kenya facilitating or hindering their efforts in the implementation and use of data analytics?

From my own research, some few known Security brands in Kenya are already revolutionizing and integrating physical security with data analytics. (This information was sourced from their websites)

1. Opticom Kenya Limited
2. Castor Vali Group
3. Securex Agencies Limited
4. WS Insight Limited
5. GardaWorld Security

Conclusion

Security professionals do not need to be data scientists, but they should strive to be data champions within their organizations. Security professionals should source for adequate training and resources on everything data analytics. Using data, security professionals can tell a better story of the state of security of their clients and within their organizations.
Such intelligence can lead to proactive risk mitigation, effective program management and places the organization in a place of advantage when facing new threats.