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Fortune 500 companies will spend more on outsourced security services in the next few years than they ever have before, according to new figures published by research firm Gartner.
According to "Gartner Forecast: Security Service Market, Worldwide, 2011," worldwide security services spending is on pace to reach $35.1 billion in 2011, up from $31.1 billion in 2010. The market is forecast to total $38.3 billion in 2012 and surpass $49.1 billion in 2015. "The security services market has changed rapidly over the last several years, with a growing number of security technology providers offering their technologies as services, and customers often preferring services to save on operational costs while they consolidate resources to more strategic security related initiatives," said Lawrence Pingree, research director at Gartner. The IT management segment of security services is forecast to grow from $8 billion to $14.9 billion in 2015, almost doubling the size of the security services market for managed security using the outsourced management model. "This is largely driven by organizations looking at managed security services (MSS) providers as a way to maximize resources and lower ongoing operating expenditures on security," Pingree said. "Demand in the small and medium business segments is also high as businesses continue looking to external parties to provide them with additional security expertise and resources that they may be lacking organizationally." North America is the largest market for security services spending, the report states, with revenue forecast to surpass $14.6 billion in 2012 and grow to $19 billion in 2015. In Western Europe, spending is expected to reach $11.9 billion in 2012 and total $14.4 billion in 2015. In Asia/Pacific, spending will total $4.7 billion in 2012 and $7 billion in 2015. "It is still very advantageous for smaller emerging vendors to maintain significant focus on North America, where there is a larger number of dollars at stake, and there is still positive growth," Pingree said.
Identifying Desired System Attributes
Essential characteristics of a new security technology systemshould include the following:
Although technological solutions can beinstalled as free-standing devices, in most institutional settingsit makes sense not only to build an integrated system, but tobuild it from the ground up on the same platform. This is the most cost-efficient approach, and it helps avoid thetechnological glitches found with incompatible software orhardware. An integrator chooses components specifically to ensure they are compatible. The end result should minimizethe amount of training, maintenance, data base managementand software support necessary. Typical components of anintegrated system include access control, surveillancecameras, and intrusion detection systems (IDS), all tiedtogether for maximum effectiveness. They could be linked todata bases, visitor badge and proximity card creation,intercoms, and biometric devices. It’s not enough to state in anRFP that components must be compatible ― your securitytechnology consultant must verify that they are. If an integratorsuggests a system that comes with an “SDK” (softwaredevelopment kit), that means you have to write your ownsoftware; this is both time-consuming and expensive,commonly running $10,000 or a great deal more.
The system should work seamlessly with yourexisting intranet and should be easy to use, particularly underhigh stress circumstances. The displays that appear oncomputer screens (GUI’s, pronounced “gooeys”, or graphicuser interfaces) should be simple to use by authorized userswith minimal training. Large user manuals are a red flag —workers should find it easy to fulfill their roles when a crisis
occurs without having to dig through a manual. The process formaintaining and updating data bases of student or staff contactinformation should be addressed. For example, studentsshould be able to update their own information on-line without
difficulty. Contact information changes so frequently thatkeeping it up to date should be a high priority, or even the bestsystem will fall short. In a worst case scenario, live help shouldbe available by phone 24/7.
Multiple workstations should be able to tap intothe system simultaneously from various locations. In manycases, Internet access should be used to allow authorizedusers to send messages or view images from anywhere in the
world.
The system should be able to growas hardware and software evolves. It should be able to addnew hardware, such as more card readers and cameras, and itshould be able to send messages to newly createdcommunication devices in the future. It should also have someredundancy and backup power, in case of technical glitches orpower failures. (Have a plan B for a worst case scenario, such
as when cell towers fail due to extreme weather or vandalism.)
An integrated system is a long term investment, so it is essential that upkeep be considered. Thereshould be a maintenance agreement (MA) with the integratorin most cases. A “pay as you go” approach is usually moreaffordable, although a comprehensive agreement is also anoption. Provisions for a software support agreement (SSA) arealso essential. Without an SSA, when software glitches occurthe whole system can fail.
A good system should be able to quickly delivermessages in any relevant languages, orally and visually.
Recent improvements in many emergencynotification systems (ENS) allows them to be used for notifyingparents about absences, surveying families for feedback, orfulfilling other non-emergency functions.
Don’t confuse up-front costs with long-termaffordability. System quality is far more important than systemcost , so resist the temptation to go with a low bid. There havebeen a remarkably high number of project disasters that were blindly driven by low bids. The companies involved weregenerally in over their heads, couldn’t deliver what theypromised, and frequently ended up going out of business before completing the job. Schools ultimately had to re-bid,spending far more than they would have if they’d chosen amore realistic bid in the first place. Pin down details, such aswhether you’re paying for unlimited service or are charged a hefty fee every time you send a message.
