The trend is clear: AI, IoT, and machine learning are becoming crucial to physical security services in Asia.
Asia has rapidly adopted advanced physical security technology in recent years. Businesses and governments are demanding more advanced security solutions to protect assets and people in a changing threat scenario. The integration of AI, IoT, and machine learning is leading this change, enabling unprecedented threat detection, monitoring, and access control.
These technologies are transforming security with smart, predictive, and efficient solutions. AI's ability to learn and adapt is helping develop proactive security measures that predict and mitigate hazards before they arise. IoT connectivity allows real-time monitoring and reaction to threats, while machine learning algorithms improve security systems for smarter, more dependable protection.
These technologies are adopted differently across Asia due to economic development, technological improvement, and regulatory settings. The trend is clear: AI, IoT, and machine learning are becoming crucial to physical security services, providing better protection in a digital and linked world. This article explores how Asian companies are using these technologies to create a new era of physical security solutions with increased efficiency, accuracy, and the promise of a safer tomorrow.
Advancements in security technologies
The security sector in Asia is undergoing a significant transformation, underpinned by the rapid advancements in AI, IoT, and machine learning. AI has become a linchpin in the development of security solutions that not only respond to threats but also predict and prevent them. Through the implementation of smart surveillance systems, AI algorithms are trained to recognize patterns and anomalies, offering a pre-emptive approach to security that was previously unattainable.
Hanchul Kim, CEO of Suprema Inc., highlighted three principal strategies through which Asian security firms are incorporating state-of-the-art technology into their security frameworks. Firstly, they are leveraging AI and IoT capabilities to surveil and identify irregular activities, including unauthorized entries, theft, vandalism, or acts of aggression, facilitating instantaneous notifications to law enforcement or initiating preemptive measures. Secondly, AI and machine learning are being employed to refine the precision and efficiency of critical security functions such as facial recognition, object identification, scene analysis, and the detection of anomalies within physical security systems. Lastly, these advanced technologies are being used to bolster smart access control systems, enabling sophisticated authentication and authorization protocols that utilize biometrics, RFID technology, QR codes, and other secure methods to ensure robust security.
Together, these technologies are setting a new benchmark for security operations. They are not only improving the granularity and reach of surveillance but are also driving the efficiency of security responses. As a result, businesses and public spaces in Asia are experiencing a significant enhancement in their security measures, making them more resilient against the sophisticated threats of the modern world.
Unmanned infrastructure and ai implementation
The progression towards unmanned infrastructure is a testament to the advanced state of AI and its integration with IoT. In Asia, this trend is exemplified by the emergence of fully automated retail stores. These facilities operate on sophisticated algorithms that allow for seamless customer experiences, such as self-enrollment and round-the-clock shopping, without the need for human staff.
“In many Asian countries with advanced infrastructure there is demand for completely unmanned stores using a mix of IDIS video, biometric access control and IoT devices,” said Alex Lee, Senior Sales Manager, IDIS MEA & Asia. “And that’s exactly what we’ve delivered for a nationwide network of pet stores across South Korea, allowing customers to self-enrol and conveniently shop 24/7. AI box devices are also attracting a lot of attention with the IDIS AI Box for Retail (DV-1304) now being adopted into retail applications in Thailand and Indonesia. The licence-free and plug-in box comes pre-installed with IDIS Deep Learning Analytics to deliver essential AI tools including people counting, heat maps, occupancy monitoring, and queue management delivering branch-by-branch, at a glance intelligence and centralised in-store and customer behaviour analysis.”
The infrastructure benefits extend to larger, more complex environments where AI and IoT are deployed for safety and security. For instance, transportation networks utilize AI to analyze large volumes of data for potential security threats or safety issues, ensuring the well-being of passengers and the security of assets. The adoption of such unmanned, AI-enhanced systems represents a significant shift towards more autonomous, secure, and efficient operations.
Transformative effects of ai and iot on security
The integration of AI and IoT has catalyzed a transformative shift in the security domain. With AI, security systems have evolved from passive to intelligent networks, capable of executing complex tasks such as efficient and accurate event detection. This shift has not only streamlined operations but has also heightened the overall effectiveness of security measures.
“The integration of advanced technologies like AI and IoT, is bringing about a transformative effect on the physical security landscape,” said Vivianna Wang, GM of Marketing & Channel Development at Hikvision. “With AI, security systems are becoming smarter, for instance, enabling more accurate and efficient security event detections. IoT, on the other hand, significantly improves connectivity and remote operating capabilities with adopting more types of IoT devices or sensors. These technologies empower the industry to provide more robust and intelligent security solutions, ensuring effective and efficient operation and enhanced situational awareness.”
“In the past, security systems mainly relied on capturing visual images,” Wang continued. “However, as sensing technologies, edge computing, and intelligent algorithms have advanced, security systems’ perception abilities are moving beyond visible light and extending across the electromagnetic spectrum. This progress has led to the inclusion of additional perception features like thermal imaging, X-ray scanning, radar detection, multispectral images, and environmental measurements such as humidity, temperature, and gas pressure into security solutions. By bringing together these diverse sensing technologies, security systems can now collect and use multidimensional information, broadening their range of applications.”
In essence, AI and IoT are not just enhancing security operations; they are redefining them, ushering in a new era of heightened situational awareness and operational agility.
The concept of convergence in security
The concept of convergence has become a pivotal element in the security sector, particularly with the integration of various systems into a cohesive platform. This synergy across different security technologies—such as video surveillance, access control, alarm systems, fire prevention, and emergency response—creates a more comprehensive and unified security management experience.
“The concept of ‘convergence’ is becoming increasingly significant in the security industry,” Wang added. “There’s a rising trend to combine different security systems, such as video, access control, alarms, fire prevention, and emergency management, into one united platform. This results in a significant decrease in time, effort, and costs, creating an appealing package for customers. Moreover, convergence allows security solutions to be scalable. That means existing infrastructure can accommodate and manage future needs using the same central platform.”
Another critical advantage of convergence is its scalability. As security needs evolve, the infrastructure can be expanded and adapted to meet emerging challenges without the need for completely new systems. This ability to scale up using the same central platform ensures that security solutions remain both current and cost-effective, providing long-term value and adaptability in a fast-changing security landscape.
Conclusion
The incursion of AI, IoT, and machine learning into physical security has significantly bolstered the sector's capabilities in Asia. These technologies have not only enhanced traditional security measures but have also paved the way for innovative solutions that offer predictive, real-time, and highly efficient operations.
As companies continue to embrace these advanced technologies, the security landscape is being reshaped into a more intelligent, connected, and resilient domain. This ongoing transformation is pivotal for ensuring the safety and security of assets and individuals in an increasingly complex and digital world.