In a year defined by supply chain shortages, COVID-19 pandemic surges and the return to in-person or hybrid work, physical security professionals have dealt with new challenges in order to maintain safety and security across their organizations.
In January 2021, physical security leaders noted an uptick in security incidents and reported difficulty retaining guards and frontline security officers. As the year continued, many security professionals transitioned their organizations from remote to hybrid or fully in-person work, managing the business and health risks posed by COVID-19. Supply chain shortages around the globe revealed security vulnerabilities and created a focus on confirming the safety and compliance of third-party vendors. After the international protest movements around racial equity and police brutality in 2020, government agencies and enterprises reevaluated their diversity and policing initiatives in 2021.