How Security Technology Can Improve Operations at Utilities
The threat landscape for utility providers continues to evolve. Utilities are facing new security requirements, and over the years, the tools used for security have risen to the challenge.
With recent advances, these tools now have the capabilities to provide new benefits across the organization. They’re no longer only looking out across the perimeter. They’re looking internally as well, transforming them into assets capable of enhancing operational efficiency, improving safety protocols, and driving value across multiple departments.
Video Surveillance with AI Analytics: AI-capable security cameras can be trained to identify intrusions and send automatic alerts upon classification. They can also learn what a malfunctioning piece of equipment looks like or detect whether people are wearing required safety equipment.
Access Control with Integrated Credentialing: Traditional access control systems can also be deployed to automate manual payroll processes, saving time and money in HR departments.
Integrated Security Management Platforms: Integrated platforms that bring together data from cameras and access control systems can also manage IT and operational systems, laying the groundwork for new forms of collaboration between departments.
Security as Operational Intelligence
At the heart of these examples is a cross-functional use. Many of the assets used in security are sensors, and the data from those sensors has applications beyond security. Getting value from these advanced technologies comes down to visualizing data, using it to automate processes, and then delivering actionable insights that drive business decisions.
Thermal imagers, for example, can spot potential intruders on the perimeter. But because operating temperature is an indicator of equipment performance, thermal cameras can also be trained to identify anomalies and enhance proactive maintenance schedules.
By leveraging these capabilities, utilities organizations can positively affect key indicators that senior leaders focus on, namely operational efficiency.
As the range of business applications continues to expand, the benefits for security teams can also be significant, because it often means they can unlock new sources of budget. There are few security teams that would turn down more cameras or more sensors when the business case spans multiple cost centers. Rather than each group investing in separate solutions, organizations can deploy integrated systems that serve multiple functions. This amplifies impact while optimizing spend across departments.
Driving Value for the Whole Organization
Though the deployment of security technology as operational technology is a relatively new idea, it is happening now at forward-thinking utility companies that are looking to drive value for their security expenditures.
Organizational discipline is required to manage collaboration across departments that haven't traditionally worked together closely. Companies that want to reap these benefits need to break down the silos that organizations may operate in.
Security teams understand threat detection, operations teams know equipment and processes, and HR teams manage workforce compliance. The real value emerges when these groups collaborate around shared objectives.
To start, identify specific use cases where multiple departments benefit from the same data stream. The key is demonstrating ROI in concrete terms: show operations how predictive maintenance reduces downtime costs, show HR how automated time tracking eliminates payroll errors, and show executives how integrated data improves decision-making speed and accuracy.
Meeting Compliance, Maximizing Investment
The regulatory environment continues to push utilities toward more sophisticated monitoring and reporting capabilities. NERC CIP requirements are expanding, state utility commissions are demanding greater transparency, and federal agencies are increasing cybersecurity and physical security mandates.
These pressures make the business case for multi-functional security infrastructure even stronger. Utilities that extract operational value from security infrastructure find it easier to meet their compliance requirements.
The opportunity for innovation remains wide open. The technology exists, the business case is promising, and the regulatory environment supports investment.
Utilities that can orchestrate this cross-functional approach will find competitive advantages that extend far beyond basic security –they'll have the foundation for completely data-driven operations.
