In today’s world it seems that everywhere you go, you run into some form of security. In banks, schools, and even malls, we have cameras capturing our every movement on CCTV, security officials and sometimes even police officers guarding entrances and maneuvering through the crowds assessing the situation. At times it seems that these security efforts can be unorganized with no real coordination.
Nowadays there is an abundance of technology at our disposal that should enable private security providers to expand their protective reach. Cloud computing and mobile devices have rapidly transformed how all businesses operate. Not surprisingly, new technology is also moving the physical security industry into territory that would have been considered science-fiction just a few years ago.
When you think of security, it is at times synonymous with Israel. The small country in the middle east has hundreds of private companies that deal with a wide range of both physical and cyber security threats on a daily basis. Many of these companies are attempting to provide a cumulative service that touches on all aspects of security. One such company is Octopus.
Octopus is a Physical Security Information Management (PSIM) service. The company provides a cloud-enabled security system that enables security supervisors to have complete control over their security apparatus. The team behind Octopus pulls from extensive experience in the security and defense industries. Tal Bar or, the Co-Founder and CEO of Octopus, describes the technology as a symbiosis of digital and physical security, that can monitor and relay various types of data sources including biometrics, infrastructure management, fire and burglar alarm systems, police dispatch, and real time video feeds.
Octopus also has an app that provides added flexibility. They claim the app leverages native capabilities of smartphones, tablets, and other wireless devices, to streamline all security operations onto one screen. In addition, it positions the user as a human sensor. This versatility positions Octopus to be able to handle the security needs of large scale facilities such as airports, hospitals, factories, and commercial buildings. The software can also integrate with almost all existing security systems so institutions can upgrade their current operations practically overnight and at very low cost.
“We know that modern businesses are looking for security management that can ensure maximum usability, flexibility, and agility,” says Bar Or. “Cloud computing provides comprehensive security management for the user, and easy, cost-effective integration as technologies improve and new devices appear on the market. We are already seeing more cloud-based security services emerge, such as cloud hosted video surveillance systems and IoT based devices, and we are geared to offer our customers a solution which is future-proof, enabling easy integration with other cloud based services in a secure manner.”
On the surface the Octopus security platform seems to be a highly advanced system, however, it is dependent on a constant internet connection. If connectivity is limited or unavailable, Octopus can be rendered ineffective and require actual on site activity. It is definitely a step in the right direction in terms of providing a security service that enables comprehensive support in both physical and cyber security.
