The PSR: Week of April 18th 2022

Episode 2: Robots Like Musical Chairs, Cannabis, and Sports

Hi friends – Tim Lozier here.

Welcome to the latest edition of our security rundown, where Jeff DiDomenico and I try to cover 5 topics in under 5 minutes. We usually fail, but come close. Either way, it’s a great way to get a rundown of some of the top discussions in the physical security industry.

Watch the full rundown linked above. For some reason, the video kept switching us around, which I can’t figure out, so enjoy the “musical chairs” version of the rundown.

1. Cannabis Security: On April 27th at 1pm ET, Thinkcurity is hosting a webinar on what’s growing in cannabis security, with Michael Helea of SecOne Security. With that said, the industry is growing and it’s a 33B industry. Many security firms are starting to jump on to this industry. With an early start, they’ll have a hand in helping design the stores, security systems and are even helping sub-contractors get their licensing. It’s a great time to be a part of Cannabis.
2. Sporting and Event Security: With venues opening up, people are starting to come out and enjoy the fun inside the stadiums. Yet, with crowds comes a lot of security issues. Often, the instability seen in stadiums and other event spaces are similar to what’s happening in the airline industry – unruly, impatient people that pose strong security threats. The key for security firms is to build out a plan to increase security, increase technology to support their operation, and increase vigilance on how to de-escalate potential situations. Check out this great event security checklist from Thinkcurity to help you along your journey.
3. Compliance Agents? The most challenging and possibly annoying part of the security business is compliance. While most people either ignore or get it wrong, we’re now seeing more people who are outsourcing these compliance initiatives. Wage and labor, ACA, OSHA – the list goes on. Whether they hire in house or go to a firm, these compliance agents are taking the burden off the operators’ plates so they can focus on running the business.
4. Weird and Wonderful Revenue Streams for Security: When I was a kid, baseball cards were a hot commodity. Now, they’re practically currency in many ways. It makes sense for a security firm to want to jump in and help these venues protect valuable assets. But there’s also gas stations, scrap yards, and in a weird twist…manhole covers?!? We talk about how some of these new revenue streams can boost a security firm’s business.
5. The Robots are Taking….Over? Last, we talk about whether we’re yet in the age of robots. While Jeff and I have debated when security robots will be a normal component of the operation, we are seeing other industries dipping their toe in this water. Vineyards are deploying tree trimming bots, Panera Bread has an Automated Coffee Barista, and they are now serving drinks as bartenders. So does it take another industry to lead the charge, and when we will see a robot running security in more venues?

That’s our five-minute rundown with a slight switcheroo on the video. Hope you enjoyed it and we will see you on the next one!

Take care,
Tim

What These Topics Mean for Security Leaders Today

This episode aired in 2022, and every topic on the list has only grown in importance since. Here is how to put each one to work.

Cannabis security is a compliance business

Cannabis operators answer to state regulators who set rules for cameras, access control, inventory, cash handling and transport, and those rules vary by state. Security firms that win this work bring site-specific post orders and a documented record of every patrol and incident. Start with this quick start guide to security in the cannabis industry, and use TrackTik guard tours to show regulators and clients exactly when each checkpoint was covered.

Event security needs a plan and a command view

Crowded venues reward preparation. Before the next big event, make sure you have:

• Staffing planned for peak attendance, not the average.
• De-escalation training for every officer facing the crowd.
• Clear zones, post orders and escalation paths for each area of the venue.
• One shared view of alerts, officer locations and dispatch.

For the full process, see these 5 steps to improve event security. On event day, TrackTik Command Center brings alarm monitoring, video surveillance access and guard dispatch into one workspace.

Compliance is a system, not a task

Whether compliance is handled in house or by an outside agent, the data has to come from somewhere: schedules, time records, breaks and hours worked. When that data lives in one system, wage and hour rules, ACA filings and audits get much easier. TrackTik ACA reporting prepares, generates and files the required 1094-C and 1095-C forms using the hours already in TrackTik, and its scheduling helps you stay on top of security guard break laws.

Unusual sites are still sites

Gas stations, scrap yards and collectibles dealers are often spread out, high-value and quiet after hours, which makes them a natural fit for patrol routes rather than static posts. TrackTik mobile patrol gives you live visibility into every run and detailed, customer-ready reports, so even an unusual client gets proof of every visit.

Robots and drones augment officers

Security robots and drones have moved from debate to deployment, but they work best alongside people, not instead of them. Monjon, a leading security provider in Melbourne, Australia, offers robots and drones next to static guards and mobile patrols, and runs its operation on TrackTik to keep reporting timely across every service.

More Episodes of The PSR

Catch up on the rest of the Physical Security Rundown series:

• The PSR Podcast: The Latest in Physical Security: the series introduction from Tim Lozier and Jeff DiDomenico.
• The PSR: Week of May 2nd, 2022: Episode 3, on guard firm mergers, private policing and officer safety.
• The PSR: Week of May 23rd, 2022: Episode 4, on GPS tracking, reputation, training and summer security.
• The PSR Episode 5: What’s Next for Physical Security?