Explore the core pillars of Physical Security Intelligence and how tools like MitKat’s datasurfr enable proactive threat monitoring.
Physical security intelligence is now crucial in a world where threats are becoming increasingly sophisticated and complex. Traditional security intelligence based on guns, guards, and gates is no longer reliable in today’s technological age. Physical security intelligence blends traditional security measures with modern data analytics, real-time surveillance, and actionable threat insights.
Consider the following real-world scenarios where traditional security could be inadequate:
- A civil protest spilling over and causing logistical disruption
- A cyberattack disabling access control systems
- A flash flood inundating key routes to emergency exits
For instance, in large public gatherings during election rallies, the threat surface is enormous. A single lapse in the security system can lead to catastrophic consequences. Similarly, across airports, office complexes, and crowded urban centres, vulnerabilities remain high due to population density, infrastructure gaps, and operational threats. There is a growing need for an intelligent, data-led approach to manage these evolving risks.
What is Physical Security Intelligence?
Physical security intelligence helps us anticipate, prevent, and neutralize threats before they escalate. It enables us to identify a suspicious movement, unauthorised perimeter breach, or spot insider threat using behavioural data. Physical security intelligence brings in technology, data, and analysis along with human expertise enabling intelligent security which is smarter and not just stronger.
Core Pillars of Physical Security Intelligence:
- Threat Detection and Analysis: Proactively scanning for anomalies and patterns to identify, prioritise and forecast threats.
- Smart Surveillance Integration: Using CCTV systems powered by AI to detect crowding, perimeter breaches, and unauthorised access.
- Access Control Intelligence: Leveraging biometrics, mobile credentials, and AI to detect tailgating and unusual movements.
- Insider Threat Monitoring: Use of AI and IoT sensors to analyse the access logs, login patterns, and workspace movement to flag suspicious behaviour.
- Cyber-Physical Convergence: Seamless integration of digital infrastructure such as CCTVs with physical security monitoring.
- Real-time Situational Awareness: A centralised command centre collates data from various sources — surveillance systems, IoT sensors, access systems, and OSINT networks. A unified operational picture enables security teams to act with speed and precision.
Beyond the Perimeter: Various Operational Risks Businesses Face
Physical security Intelligence needs to monitor a wider set of risks as businesses are exposed to different threats. Traditional notions of security threats such as theft or trespassing — no longer account for overall external disruptions. These disruptions originating from political, social, environmental, and technological events can pose significant threats to assets, business operations, and the safety of employees.
Modern security teams need to account for civil disturbances, natural disasters, extreme weather events, critical infrastructure breakdowns, public health care emergencies, travel delays or curfews, and regulatory changes. These events can impact operations, business continuity, and brand reputation.
A Risk Intelligent Solution – MitKat’s datasurfr
MitKat’s datasurfr, a critical event monitoring and risk intelligence tool provides actionable threat intelligence across 12 non-financial risks including political, extremism, civil disturbance, crime, health, natural hazard, environmental, infrastructure, regulatory, technology, and travel. Curated risk alerts are created for a customised region to track events happening across your assets. Our tool integrates human expertise with advanced AI technology to provide accurate and reliable intelligence.