Friday, August 24, 2012

Increasing Need of Experts- Security & Surveillance


This article is not about some new Technology. Here we talk about our perceptions of existing technology, and how we can use and understand the perceptions to fill a void in the security industry.



India is changing. And our perceptions are changing, too. Today, a security professional is not defined by a moustached body-builder with a baton in hand, but probably by a cool guy in a T-shirt with knowledgeable access to electronic systems. And this change in perception is not limited to security industry alone, it’s percolated to the safety & surveillance world and the ever-increasing world of biometrics and forensics.

With this change, the need of modern experts is increasing in these fields. The question remains on how do we create these experts and from where. The expertise needed here must not be superficial, but should be formed by core and deep knowledge of the sciences in combination with practical training where the knowledge can be used effectively.

Certain places in US seemed to have found the answer. The Biometric Department of Michigan State University gives a distinct answer to this by having introduced a course for Computer engineers, and thus creating a new brand of engineers: Biometric engineers. They run a specific course on biometrics which talks about the various ways in which biometric systems can be used.

India is not far behind, Solus runs regular training programmes to keep all Solus technical geeks updated on technologies and trends on Biometrics and Surveillance, which looks at providing expertise through practical and theoretical analysis. 

So we can hope that the future of Indian security industry is going to be very similar to the stud looking officers seen in those patriotic TV series or in various Hollywood/Bollywood movies: Intelligent, Knowledgeable and Automated. But before delving into the dreams of future, the present must be strengthened. And how do we do that, where do we find potential security experts in the present world?

Where do we find the potential Experts?

Apart from the various hardware networking students and diploma/degree seeking undergraduates, who will solve the future needs of this expert domain, the present also offers many prospects of creating experts.

And here, we provide you a few visual case studies of some live Solus customers which increase our understanding of how to fill the void.

  • Amongst the hundreds of computer repairing shops in Lamington Road of Mumbai, there sits a middle-aged man ruing over the weakening revenue every day. He wishes to expand and start selling biometric systems for attendance management and access control to small offices in his region. He is a potential expert.
  • Having been fed up of the rat race in which all of his friends have participated and joined an IT Call centre, a young engineering graduate wants to do something different and in the process, be a part of the Indian growth story. He is a potential expert.
  • A lawyer in Nigeria loses an important national court case, because he does not understand the technology behind fingerprint systems used in their national elections. He decides to come to India- the biometric nation- and gain expertise. He is a potential expert.
  • With a company in Bangalore already focused on working as security system integrators, the proprietor is finding it difficult to survive in the market and requires something new and a different approach to bring the technology to end users. But he has a team of mechanical people who know what to do but lack the ‘whys’. This is a half-expert, but a potential full one.
And there are many more, which are willing to learn. The technology needs to be taught to all of the above. It won’t be easy to teach expertise, because its not easy to learn something deep when you are used to practical experience only. You need knowledge in the garb of Fun.

Fun in Biometrics & Surveillance

A picture of Aamir Khan in his ‘Ghajini’ avatar is shown as a slide in the classroom. The trainer informs the curious faces that this person is in the direst need of a biometric system. If he had a biometric system, he would have been able to replace his memory by technology. The class erupts with interesting analogies and many of them are able to connect the use of biometrics and surveillance to their lives.

This scene is from the classroom where a basic level course is going on. But this scene can be from any other place as well, which decides to look at technology with tinted glasses. We relate to play and fun, and hence we are able to learn the most when we are surrounded by things we are comfortable in.

Let’s take the example of how we can teach advanced technology, like live finger detection. Bollywood and Shahrukh fans who have seen Don 2 saw him rob an international bank using a fake fingerprint system, but would he have been able to do the same if the bank used a system with Live Finger Detection sensor. Probably not, since live finger detection receives and accepts signals which require your finger to be emitting heat.

Whenever a new technology is developed, the pioneers always wonder how it will reach out to the people who matter. It can reach out well if we do our homework and understand there is fun in everything new.

Concluding words of Secure Wisdom

The security industry needs new and fresh experts who can think beyond the regularities, and are able to understand the development of every new technology easily. We need people who know how to connect the dots, and be a contributing factor to help this industry prosper. And with UID and increasing security threats, the number of such people is very high. As per a recent submission to NSDC, about 10 lac + professionals are needed in this industry, possessing the knowledge of automation and its usage.

Few years ago Infosys and TCS also needed bulk IT professionals; that’s when many colleges in India came up with IT as a branch of engineering. That’s how their manpower demands were met.We have given some solutions above, by which our manpower demands can be met. Identifying potential security experts, making them undergo a fun practical training, and then creating professional whose baton will be an electronic gadget.

Popular author James Thurber had once said “Let us not look back in anger or forward in fear, but around in awareness. And this will make us more secure.” On similar lines: If we look around us, we will find answer to every void in the security industry. Let’s do so!

To learn more about how other enterprises in your domain having safer environment by having smarter security implemented contact us today http://www.solus.co.in/contact
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