While solutions like Evolv have tremendous potential, this scrutiny demonstrates the systemic commercial dysfunction inherent in the security industry. Physical security should be the most sophisticated risk management discipline, considering the consequences. Instead, it falls far behind other categories.
Evolv and similar systems can be essential to a more comprehensive security program. However, they are often sold as stand-alone solutions that eliminate a particular threat while demonstrating the buyers “are doing something.”
Security technology sales representatives are usually not security experts. They often don’t understand the cause and effect between threat and vulnerability variables. Their job is to maximize revenue and satisfy the immediate demands of investors and shareholders, for which they are typically well compensated. That’s it. It’s a role that’s critical to every organization.
However, it’s naive to think that given the broad spectrum of security risks and the numerous options available to mitigate them, they have the total solution or even understand the overall risk.
Interestingly, the salesman in this video stated that smaller weapons could be detected with higher sensitivity settings at additional checkpoints inside. Even if a site were to benefit from an inner protective ring, which most won’t - especially schools - the entire outer ring would be, by design, exposed. That’s not a risk any objective security professional would accept.
Physical security will never evolve to the level of sophistication and respect it merits, which is at the top (considering the consequences), until, at least:
1. Technology providers begin deferring to the experts, at least a little, rather than representing themselves as experts or attempting to undermine them and see themselves as part of a more extensive solutions team.
2. Those who represent themselves as experts ensure they are experts in principles, practices, and technologies rather than relying on former careers that, despite how they appear, only provide them a foundation on which to build the required expertise.
3. Buyers of security solutions stop looking for the fastest, easiest, least expensive, and “shiniest” solutions to do “doing something.” They should insist on a detailed assessment of their threats and vulnerabilities, along with prioritized recommendations, while also knowing exactly where and how a particular technology solution fits and what benefits it’s expected to bring.
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