Security on a Grand Scale

• By Ralph C. Jensen
• May 01, 2018

When we talk about government security, the first thoughts are of the federal government. It is true that the federal government is bloated and somewhat mismanaged, but let’s talk about security on the grander scale; safe cities and even safer schools.

There has been a movement afoot for quite some time now, about Safe Cities.

Safe Cities attract businesses, foster innovation and will provide numerous opportunities for those companies and people who value security. As city populations grow, governments’ urban planners and business leaders have to make critical decisions about security and safety. Collaborative efforts on the part of business, government and technology leaders can lay the groundwork for continued success.

Emergency preparedness is a keystone to success in every city. Keeping citizens and cities safe means that emergency services must have the ability to respond quickly during an unplanned event or when natural disasters occur. Through public-private partnerships, cities can better assist all stakeholders proactively assess and prepare for emergency situations throughout a municipality, which also includes education and public utilities.

It is also critical that any emergency service have a complete picture to maintain a secure environment. That means that security and law enforcement can be given greater situational awareness through a partnership. Cities need a solution that allows public organizations to grant police departments full system access to view cameras at a facility that is under a lockdown in order to effectively respond to a threat.

Now, more than ever before, cities have more people living within their boundaries and certainly more people working in the city, and without a comprehensive strategy, an urban environment runs the risk of becoming an inefficient place to live and work. This can lead to lost productively, a reduced quality of life and more crime.

Cities require solutions that are effective and intelligently managed for the experiences of daily life, including traffic management, municipal transportation and city infrastructure.

This article originally appeared in the May 2018 issue of Security Today.