How AI and technology is shaping the future of physical security

AI is rapidly starting to impact on all areas of our daily lives - and it’s a hot topic in security and defence circles too!

For our team here at Venture Security, it is an exciting area of development that could increasingly present new opportunities to enhance the way we help our customers protect their people and assets. Not just through the development of new security measures but by helping streamline communications, driving efficiencies and enhancing analysis.

Something we are proud to be leading the way on at Venture is the digitalisation of security services, with our own V-Secure software forming a key part of our offering, providing real-time updates, instant reports, auditable digital records, actionable insights and more! (Talk to us to arrange a demo).

But how else is AI and technology becoming integrated within the security sector and what long term impact could it have on the future of physical security?

1. AI surveillance

Video surveillance systems remain a highly effective part of the security mix, acting as both a deterrent and an early-warning system for detecting and recording any issues on the premises. With remote video monitoring services, like those we provide here at Venture, helping to boost the technology’s effectiveness even further.

Since such systems first became widespread, around the 1970s, the technology has continued to develop and improve at an impressive rate, and the arrival of AI is likely to see yet another step change in its capability.

AI surveillance refers to security systems that are enhanced by artificial intelligence, which supports their ability to efficiently monitor, analyse, and action a response to any threats.

This type of system may integrate video feeds, access control systems, audio detection, and IoT sensors to create a comprehensive security network, using sophisticated algorithms to detect suspicious behaviour, unauthorised access, and other potential threats.

Key features of AI surveillance include its potential to:

• Detect unusual or suspicious behaviour in real-time
• Identify individuals using facial recognition
• Analyse crowd movement for safety and efficiency
• Predict security risks before incidents occur

2. Access control

AI can significantly enhance access control systems, making them smarter, more secure, and more efficient - especially when integrated with other technologies, such as biometrics, facial recognition and fingerprint scanning.

AI can help instantly verify identities and then grant or deny access in just milliseconds, without the need for human intervention. It can detect anomalies in access patterns that might flag potential security risks (such as unauthorised entry attempts or unusual activity) and overall help enhance access system accuracy, by reducing the likelihood of false positives and negatives.

3. Biometrics

Biometrics is a tool that has been growing in popularity in recent years. It refers to the use of unique physical or behavioural characteristics to verify someone’s identity – which are things that can be far harder to forge or replicate.

Common types of security biometrics include:

• Fingerprint recognition
• Facial recognition
• Iris and retina scanning
• Voice recognition (although AI is also helping make this one easier to replicate!)

4. Autonomous drones

Security drones are another technology that is helping enhance physical security by providing real-time surveillance, threat detection, and offering rapid response capabilities.

Currently used by the police, security teams, the military and others, AI is helping further enhance drone capabilities.

AI-enabled drones can conduct autonomous patrols of predefined routes to detect anomalies, such as on private estates. They can use machine learning to identify suspicious activity, unauthorised personnel, and other potential threats.

If combined with AI facial recognition tools, drones can even scan faces, vehicle license plates and other objects, helping with tracking. And using predictive analytics, AI can analyse and look for patterns in movement and behaviour to predict potential security risks before they escalate. They can be equipped with thermal imaging and night vision to help provide real-time monitoring over large areas too.

What other trends are we seeing?

Other AI-driven security trends include:

Predictive security analytics – This sees security teams capitalising on AI’s ability to forecast potential security breaches by analysing historical data and behavioural patterns.

Cyber-Physical Security – The line between online and offline security is blurring, with modern security threats increasingly spanning both domains. AI can help by integrating these two areas, making security systems smarter and more adaptive to evolving risks.

Ethics & Privacy – The safe and responsible use of AI is rightly a core focus, with businesses needing to navigate issues such as data protection laws and ethical deployment, especially in relation to facial recognition and biometrics.

In summary

As AI and other advancing technologies become fully integrated within the security sector, they will help shape the future of physical security, presenting both new possibilities and challenges - and for security teams, they’re certainly giving us a lot to think about!

As AI adoption grows, one thing companies must try and do is balance innovation with ethical considerations, ensuring privacy, compliance, and its responsible deployment. All while helping customers make the most of what’s emerging.

We will continue to watch this space with interest.

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