Companies Seek New Tools To Support On-Site Security

March 22, 2025 by David Edwards

On-site security is an issue that affects the vast majority of companies at some point in their expansion. While remote working is gaining popularity, most firms still require physical premises to operate effectively in the modern economy.

Brands are trying to navigate the growing ecosystem of threats and come out on top, developing innovative tools that enhance site security.

As such, the need for new security tools is growing. While older methods are effective, technology is adding to the mix in ways few predicted years ago.

For example, advanced surveillance systems are gaining traction across the business community. These combine conventional CCTV with advanced AI for unprecedented facility monitoring . Systems can connect via the cloud to HQs and send automated notifications if they detect anything that seems out of the ordinary.

These capabilities are being made possible by the spectacular growth in the power of AI. Artificial intelligence is now able to discern situations that could pose a security threat and report them immediately, offering similar capabilities to human security officers.

For example, AI systems can detect whether someone is trying to gain access to a premises through a rear entrance that's usually off-limits to the public. It can use facial recognition to determine whether that individual is authorised, or whether security is required to remove them from the premises.

It can also detect situation cues, such as when someone might be attempting to trespass, even if they are not on the property. Improvements in machine learning mean that these security systems can interpret the behavior of individuals in the vicinity of cameras and use this to determine what their likely next actions may be.

Many of these systems offer faster response times than human employees, simply because of their ability to continuously monitor multiple entry points. AI-powered solutions can keep an eye on dozens of doors, fence sections, and yards around commercial premises, providing immediate behavior-based alerts if it detects anything that seems out of the ordinary.

However, AI is not the only innovation, according to InstantCard, a company that makes employee ID badges . Brands are exploring many other ways to support on-site security.

“We're seeing a seachange on this issue,” the company says,“with brands taking their on-premises security more seriously than ever before. This approach is leaking into everything that they do, including the cards they issue to their employees. Most companies don't have the printers and other systems in-house that they need to ensure everyone has an ID badge, but external providers are taking on this role, offering continuous services throughout the years for monitoring purposes and to keep everyone safe.”

The growth of ID badges comes on the back of increasing interest in scanning and sensing technologies. Visitors, employees, and executives should be able to walk into their premises friction-free and access work zones while the system as a whole can keep intruders out. Technology should melt into the background but still provide a high level of security.

Of course, identification isn't the only issue many companies face when trying to secure their premises. There are also screening issues. Employees, visitors, and criminals may bring unwanted items onto the premises, like weapons or things that pose a health risk.

For this reason, more companies are implementing scanners. These attempts to assess what an individual might be hiding when they enter a facility and expose it.

Thermal scanners are the most obvious. These can detect if a person has a fever or is likely to spread infection, something that became a common practice during the COVID lockdowns . Companies would scan the foreheads of employees and send them home if they thought they might be sick.

However, proximity alert systems have become significantly more popular since then. These tell on-site security managers where someone or something is close to a sensitive area.

Proximity scanners work by using some sort of emittance to ping off nearby objects. These can send alerts to security desks if they believe that the environment has changed and someone might be attempting to gain access.

“Proximity scanning makes sense for businesses with hard-to-monitor areas ,” says InstaCard.“These systems can detect people who might be getting too close to sensitive systems or areas that could put the company at risk, and help security locate where they are and potentially remove them.”

A similar technology, LiDAR, is being used in perimeter defense. Companies with high-profile operations are setting up the technology to map and survey their installations, looking for anything that might indicate a change from the ordinary.

These solutions are particularly popular in large facilities covering many acres. These systems allow for bespoke security monitoring across the entire area, allowing them to monitor activities at range.

LiDAR works by using a combination of technologies, including radio waves. These allow it to detect unauthorized intrusions at a distance, particularly in warehouses. Again, the software can collect monitoring data and look for any signs that something has changed.

Finally, companies are recognizing the growing value of cyber-physical integrations. Hybrid working environments mean that firms need tools that bridge on-site and digital security, allowing them to do both at the same time.

The integration of conventional security measures with digital technology is already well underway. However, there is now a growing need for businesses to protect key assets off-site, including their people.

“The growth of violence against company staff, including CEOs, is worrying,” says InstaCard.“These changes are having a profound effect on the way companies think about their security. It's no longer simply about securing the premises, but also all the people attached to it, including the people.”

Tech-driven enterprises are leading the way on this front. They know that they need to pour resources into managing physical and network access points while protecting remote employees and ensuring everyone can go to work safely.

The surge in demand for these technologies is a reflection of a broader shift in business. Companies are no longer reacting to threats but seeing a need to fortify their processes against them.

Photo by AS Photography, via Pexels

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