Security Magazine logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Security Magazine logo
  • NEWS
    • Security Newswire
    • Technologies & Solutions
  • MANAGEMENT
    • Leadership Management
    • Enterprise Services
    • Security Education & Training
    • Logical Security
    • Security & Business Resilience
    • Profiles in Excellence
  • PHYSICAL
    • Access Management
    • Fire & Life Safety
    • Identity Management
    • Physical Security
    • Video Surveillance
    • Case Studies (Physical)
  • CYBER
    • Cybersecurity News
    • More
  • BLOG
  • COLUMNS
    • Cyber Tactics
    • Leadership & Management
    • Security Talk
    • Career Intelligence
    • Leader to Leader
    • Cybersecurity Education & Training
  • EXCLUSIVES
    • Annual Guarding Report
    • Most Influential People in Security
    • The Security Benchmark Report
    • Top Guard and Security Officer Companies
    • Top Cybersecurity Leaders
    • Women in Security
  • SECTORS
    • Arenas / Stadiums / Leagues / Entertainment
    • Banking/Finance/Insurance
    • Construction, Real Estate, Property Management
    • Education: K-12
    • Education: University
    • Government: Federal, State and Local
    • Hospitality & Casinos
    • Hospitals & Medical Centers
    • Infrastructure:Electric,Gas & Water
    • Ports: Sea, Land, & Air
    • Retail/Restaurants/Convenience
    • Transportation/Logistics/Supply Chain/Distribution/ Warehousing
  • EVENTS
    • Industry Events
    • Webinars
    • Solutions by Sector
    • Security 500 Conference
  • MEDIA
    • Videos
      • Cybersecurity & Geopolitical Discussion
      • Ask Me Anything (AMA) Series
    • Podcasts
    • Polls
    • Photo Galleries
  • MORE
    • Call for Entries
    • Classifieds & Job Listings
    • Continuing Education
    • Newsletter
    • Sponsor Insights
    • Store
    • White Papers
  • EMAG
    • eMagazine
    • This Month's Content
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP!
Access Management

How to Converge PSIM and PIAM for Total Situational Awareness

By Ajay Jain
Security key pad

Jupiterimages / PHOTOS.com>> / Getty Images Plus / Via Getty Images

May 14, 2013

 

As companies grow, security becomes both a bigger challenge and a more urgent concern. Companies typically add new security systems as they grow, often resulting in an assortment of disparate systems that lack centralized management. During the recession, many companies opted to acquire existing facilities instead of building new ones, and those facilities often came with legacy security systems. Administering multiple systems is labor-intensive, and incompatible systems present higher risks as well as additional costs. Eventually it becomes evident that all these diverse technologies should be tied together into a unified system – which is an incredibly daunting task. However, streamlining systems and honing efficiencies are critical steps to effective security management enterprise-wide.

Unifying Systems with Software

Unifying an existing large, disparate group of physical security systems really boils down to central management of two key factors – information and identity. Physical security information management (PSIM) systems have evolved to collect and manage information from the various systems. PSIM systems can streamline operations and reduce the overhead for security departments. They can also simplify workflows and automate responses to specific events to reduce errors and inconsistencies.

The other requirement of centralized control of physical security systems is identity management, provided by physical identity and access management (PIAM) software. PIAM software manages the full range of identities and access privileges across an organization – who's who and who can go where and when. PIAM systems also provide automation capabilities such as on-boarding and off-boarding of identities. They are another way to eliminate errors and inconsistency, which in turn lowers risks. PIAM systems link logical and physical identities throughout the organization, from computer passwords to ID credentials to visitor management.

Combining PSIM and PIAM systems provides the ultimate route to unify the disparate components of an enterprise's security systems. Combining management of security information with management of physical identity and access enables complete centralized operation of security functions.

System Advantages Enterprise-Wide

PSIM software provides a platform and applications that collect and correlate events from existing security devices and information systems (video, access control, sensors, analytics, networks, building systems, etc). The systems empower personnel to identify and proactively resolve situations as they unfold. The software eliminates data silos by streaming all the information from a variety of devices and systems into one location or dashboard. PSIM software aggregates information from physical and logical security systems and automates processes.

Physical identity and access management (PIAM) software can unify identities enterprise-wide, integrating physical security systems, automating processes and simplifying control of employees, vendors and other identities. The technology allows enterprises to manage the lifecycle of identities as they relate to physical access, including synchronized on/off-boarding across all systems harboring an identity record, access profile and zone management, and role-based physical access.

Combining PSIM and PIAM creates a comprehensive situational management platform that also provides verification, planning and automated responses. The PIAM system correlates all the identity and access data with the event/situation data from the PSIM system to enable automatic, policy-driven responses to physical security situations. The combination enables correlation of any security incident or event with associated identities and access data to promote expedient and effective responses. PIAM provides the element of “who” and PSIM provides elements of “what,” “when” and “where.” Together, the systems can provide information about “why” and “how” (i.e., how to respond).

Empowering Security Operators

Integration of PSIM and PIAM systems constitutes an intelligent, connected infrastructure that enables intelligent operations. Automated processes eliminate errors, decrease costs and improve security. Automatic and pre-planned reactions ensure a consistent response when, where and how it is needed. Automated compliance and workflow promote better management of risk and increased return on investment (ROI) from lower operating expenses.

Together, PSIM and PIAM empower security operators across public safety and private organizations with quick access to information to enable personnel to respond faster and more effectively, enhancing the overall security of the organization.

KEYWORDS: legacy security systems PIAM (physical identity and access management) psim Situational Awareness

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Quantumsecureajayjain2011
Ajay Jain is President and CEO of Quantum Secure

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
To unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • Security's Top Cybersecurity Leaders 2024

    Security's Top Cybersecurity Leaders 2024

    Security magazine's Top Cybersecurity Leaders 2024 award...
    Top Cybersecurity Leaders
    By: Security Staff
  • cyber brain

    The intersection of cybersecurity and artificial intelligence

    Artificial intelligence (AI) is a valuable cybersecurity...
    Cybersecurity
    By: Pam Nigro
  • artificial intelligence AI graphic

    Assessing the pros and cons of AI for cybersecurity

    Artificial intelligence (AI) has significant implications...
    Logical Security
    By: Charles Denyer
Manage My Account
  • Security eNewsletter & Other eNews Alerts
  • eMagazine Subscriptions
  • Manage My Preferences
  • Online Registration
  • Mobile App
  • Subscription Customer Service

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the Security audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of Security or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • Sureview screen
    Sponsored bySureView Systems

    The Evolution of Automation in the Command Center

  • Crisis Response Team
    Sponsored byEverbridge

    Automate or Fall Behind – Crisis Response at the Speed of Risk

  • Perimeter security
    Sponsored byAMAROK

    Why Property Security is the New Competitive Advantage

Popular Stories

Rendered computer with keyboard

16B Login Credentials Exposed in World’s Largest Data Breach

Verizon on phone screen

61M Records Listed for Sale Online, Allegedly Belong to Verizon

Security camera

40,000 IoT Security Cameras Are Exposed Online

Security’s 2025 Women in Security

Security’s 2025 Women in Security

Red spiderweb

From Retail to Insurance, Scattered Spider Changes Targets

2025 Security Benchmark banner

Events

July 17, 2025

Tech in the Jungle: Leveraging Surveillance, Access Control, and Technology in Unique Environments

What do zebras, school groups and high-tech surveillance have in common? They're all part of a day’s work for the security team at the Toledo Zoo.

August 7, 2025

Threats to the Energy Sector: Implications for Corporate and National Security

The energy sector has found itself in the crosshairs of virtually every bad actor on the global stage.

View All Submit An Event

Products

Security Culture: A How-to Guide for Improving Security Culture and Dealing with People Risk in Your Organisation

Security Culture: A How-to Guide for Improving Security Culture and Dealing with People Risk in Your Organisation

See More Products

Related Articles

  • Pelco IP sruveillance

    Provides Range with Total Situational Awareness

    See More
  • Move Over PSIM – Drones May Be Ultimate “Situational Awareness” Tool

    See More
  • Surveillance, video wall

    Improving situational awareness via video content analytics is the key to business safety and compliance for COVID-19

    See More

Related Products

See More Products
  • security culture.webp

    Security Culture: A How-to Guide for Improving Security Culture and Dealing with People Risk in Your Organisation

  • school security.jpg

    School Security: How to Build and Strengthen a School Safety Program

  • 150 things.jpg

    The Handbook for School Safety and Security

See More Products

Events

View AllSubmit An Event
  • April 16, 2025

    Modernizing GSOC Operations: Ensuring Full Control and Complete Situational Awareness

    ON DEMAND: For many organizations, physical security management can be a daunting task. Threats are on the rise and risks are becoming increasingly diverse. 
View AllSubmit An Event
×

Sign-up to receive top management & result-driven techniques in the industry.

Join over 20,000+ industry leaders who receive our premium content.

SIGN UP TODAY!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • eNewsletter
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing