According to a Frost & Sullivan research if the Middle East’s security market grows at its anticipated CAGR of 23.7% between 2015 and 2020, then it could represent almost 10% of the overall global physical security market by the latter year. FM today talks to Tim Mundell, Chief Security Officer, Transguard, about the kind of challenges involved in delivering effective security services, the trends and technology that is entering the market now.

Tell us about the security services provided by the company.

Transguard is a Tier one UAE wide security company focussing on a higher quality service that is underpinned by professional security management and technology. Providing a full security life cycle of security products and services like security consulting through installation and systems integration and the contract operation, including system maintenance. Apart from Manned Guarding, Certified Explosive Detection Canine, and Event Security, Transguard is also expanding to the next generation of Smart Guarding solutions for clients who require a fully integrated guard management system. Our system enables the monitoring, reporting and managing of clients’ specific security operations. It allows guards to conduct patrol tasks, report incidents and activities in real time to the operations centre at Transguard and to the client’s site. The system ensures transparency and the ability to respond to events as they occur. It provides security efficiency, accountability and a quantifiable return on the solution to the end user.

What are the challenges in delivering effective security service?

The challenges we face are similar to most service delivery organisations, which find themselves driven by end users that may not properly understand their actually needs, as well as experience of the some of the complexities of delivering and operating such a service. All too often regulatory requirements are ignored. To make matters worse, poorly managed and cheaper security providers whom themselves may not consider regulatory requirements before mobilizing a contract dilute the marketers reputation or don’t provide what Transguard believes to be key mandatory value added skills for all security personnel, such as fire safety and awareness training.

Over the years how has the security service changed in the industry?

The security within the UAE is constantly evolving. In the first instance more regulation of security providers is expected. Transguard expects and welcomes even more regulation in order to keep improving the standards of security services. Technology too will play a big role within the market.

What kind of technology is entering the security market?

The so called “smart guarding” applications, edge devices and the ability to receive and push real-time security data will only enhance the security provision, whilst driving operational costs down. Another interesting technology is facial recognition and the tying into UAE biometric system.

What are some of the trends seen in the market lately?

Middle East governments and the private sector are looking for new and future technologies to invest in, to better protect their people, assets, operations, and borders. This has seen an increase in major investment in projects to upgrade critical national infrastructure. World Expo 2020 has ensured that the construction, financial, retail and hospitality sectors, continue to show growth, which continues to drive the increase of electronic security systems within the UAE. The largest market share for electronic security is amongst the government and transportation sectors, with greater investment in the metro and the Dubai World Central (DWC).

The market which includes CCTV surveillance, Access Control Systems, Intrusion Detection, Perimeter Security and Hostile Vehicle Mitigation, is expected to be worth US$10.2 billion by 2020, growing annually by 24% from its US$3.8 billion value in 2015. Homeland security is expected to grow annually by 21% up to 2020 (approximately, US$34.2 billion). The increase in use of Internet of Things (IoT) and smarter networked systems are becoming prevalent, with the adoption of IoT solutions increasing in the public and private sectors as immediate returns on investment are realised.

Where do you see the security industry growing in the next few years?

Internet of Things (IoT) – Currently there are around 5 billion devices connected to the internet with this number growing rapidly, and expected to be at around 25 billion by 2020. Whilst the consumer market is currently the largest growing area for IoT, we will see a greater increase in the commercial and government sectors implementing IoT to improve business efficiencies.

Biometrics – In access control technologies, biometrics are likely to see an increase as reliability and security issues continue to improve. Whilst fingerprint based technologies will maintain the market share, greater demands for iris, facial and multi-modal biometrics technologies will see biometrics flourish.

Augmented / Virtual Reality – This market is expected to reach $120 billion by 2020, and is incredibly exciting for managing real-time events and training purposes. The ability for a security manager to put on his smart glasses to observe an incident remotely in real-time could potentially see video walls and workstation practically obsolete in the future. There is also the potential for overlaying digital visions on a building, giving the impression of X-ray vision, allowing security personnel/systems integrators to identify cabling, pipes, and other equipment. AV/VR will also bring about precision movements using GPS tracking and sharing of other person’s visions through video capture through glasses.

Cyber Security – Between now and 2021, the Cyber Security market is predicted to reach $1 trillion as cybercrime, ransomware, malware, lack of security on IoT devices, and sophisticated cyber-criminal groups target consumers, governments, education and healthcare, and critical national infrastructure.