All Access with Matt Robson & Alcatraz AI

The continuing COVID-19 pandemic and various other factors have renewed scrutiny on workplace safety, requiring companies to reconsider their policies, procedures, and solutions to keep employees safe. At the same time, companies are working overtime to secure their online spaces as data breaches, ransomware attacks, and other cyber incidents put their revenue, reputation, and sustainability on the line. 

When businesses need support with these efforts, they call Matt Robson, a physical security consultant with Netronix Integration. With over 25 years of experience in the Fire and Security industry, Matt provides companies peace of mind by identifying and integrating the right security solutions with a personal drive for exceptional customer service. 

We recently talked with Matt about the qualities companies should look for in a security partner, the challenges of uniting physical and cyber security teams, and the capabilities and limitations of emerging AI security solutions. 

Cybersecurity and data privacy are significant challenges for every company, and many are looking for security partners to enhance their capacity. What are the most important qualities companies should look for when choosing a security partne

Security partners are the glue that connects companies with excellent security products. While these partners rely on manufacturers to create secure and effective products, the right partner will perform due diligence to ensure that these products improve outcomes, not undermine security. 

In addition, the right security partner will work with their clients to conduct penetration testing to test products independent of the manufacturer to ensure that a company’s security solutions protect people and IT networks and maintain regulatory compliance. At Netronix Integration, we collaborate with trusted third parties who perform rigorous testing to ensure that products sold have the correct certification and meet the required standards.

What are a few best practices for helping physical security and IT departments working together to harden their security systems?

Effective security starts with in-house training. Many companies have effectively hardened their networks against threat actors, so perpetrators are targeting people, recognizing that the human element is often a company’s most prolific security vulnerability. Too often, people are not cyber-ready. 

For example, threat actors learned that people are often more vulnerable to phishing scams first thing in the morning, so they target people with convincing, malicious messages that can offer front-door access to a company’s IT infrastructure. That’s why companies must teach their teams to identify scams and other manipulative elements. In addition, encryption for data at rest and in transit, secure authentication, including multi-factor authentication, and regular auditing of operators and processes is critical to hardening security systems. 

When coupled with access control, CCTV, and cybersecurity solutions, companies can be confident that their holistic approach to security will be ready to meet the moment. 

How do you see various technologies and emerging AI capabilities helping businesses protect their physical spaces, especially in a hybrid work environment where teams are more flexible and distributed than ever before?

AI is always adapting, but it does have its limitations. It’s still very much in its infancy while growing very quickly. There is a lot of information and data that the system can process and pull in AI algorithms that can aggregate and analyze, providing businesses and contractors unparalleled insights into emerging problems and potential solutions. 

For instance, as businesses facilitate return to office initiatives, AI is providing critical insights into high-traffic areas, allowing building managers to interpret peak gathering periods and potential security vulnerabilities so they can manage their security policies and procedures better. 

Surveillance cameras and AI technologies analyzed this situation to provide new insights that supported better security outcomes. Right now, AI can help security professionals identify pain points and develop solutions with greater precision and impact than ever before, and it’s a technology that will continue to improve moving forward. 

What's your favorite feature about Alcatraz AI?

There are two things that I love about Alcatraz AI. First, as a UK-based security specialist, regulatory compliance is incredibly important to my workflows. The Rock’s authentication method allows us to deploy a powerful access control solution that complies with appropriate regulations. 

In addition, The Rock’s tailgating detection feature is especially helpful. People are prone to be polite and non-confrontational, often holding the door for strangers rather than ensuring that this person should have access to the space. The Rock identifies these incidents and allows security personnel to react and respond accordingly, enhancing physical safety in an important way.