Security has traditionally been an afterthought in the building management industry, says a Frost & Sullivan report, but the integration of IT presents vendors and service providers the opportunity to position security as the technology that will lead the vision for Smart Buildings and Smart Homes.

IT is the biggest driver for growth in the security industry, the report says, and IT platforms provide vendors the ability to integrate disparate systems such as video surveillance, access control, and intrusion sensors seamlessly. In addition to integrating security technologies, IT's acceptance in the building management and controls market enables the integration of building subsystems with security, enabling building/facility managers to have complete situation awareness and management capabilities.

 

"IT infrastructure is the key piece of the puzzle that was missing over the past few years in the Convergence story," states Frost & Sullivan Analyst Dilip Sarangan. "The ability to integrate hardware and software products seamlessly provides vendors and service providers with numerous opportunities that did not exist earlier. For customers, the key benefit is the ability to use best-of-breed solutions without getting locked in with one vendor."

 

As the world continues to experience an explosion of available information, the security industry is catching up with the move towards IT-based systems that will enable seamless integration. Security is a key component of Smart Buildings and will enjoy that position in the near future. In addition, increase in crime, terrorism, and heightened national security concerns will boost the use of state-of-the-art security solutions.