What if?
That’s the powerful question driving a fundamental shift in how organizations view security, from a cost center to a platform for possibility – to do more.
Leading organizations are moving beyond viewing security as just protection. They're seeing it as a powerful platform for broader value creation and reimagining what security investments can enable.
Visionary leaders are embracing this evolution, identifying opportunities to transform their systems into engines of efficiency, innovation, and competitive advantage.
They've developed practical approaches to build support for this expanded vision and created new metrics that capture security's contribution beyond traditional protection measures.
A Shift in Mindset
Unlocking this potential begins with a crucial element: curiosity.
Organizations must foster a culture where there is a willingness to ask questions, where asking “what if" becomes the norm. This means shifting beyond silos and actively engaging with various departments, understanding their unique challenges, and exploring how existing security infrastructure can be leveraged to provide solutions beyond conventional functions.
Because opening doors is boring, right?
A great example of this curiosity mindset comes from a national grocery chain. This client approached us with an interesting challenge. Their real estate organization needed to understand how their various spaces were being used to determine the feasibility of selling or leasing. The tricky part lay in nailing down reliable unique occupancy data. By developing customized reports that tracked badge usage including frequency of access and specific room access, we provided the client with the data needed by their real estate organization.
This demonstrates the tangible business value that emerges when we ask, “what if?” In this case, the security system became a source of crucial data for optimizing operations and maximizing profitability.
Reimagining Possibility
A key step in unlocking security's broader value is actively challenging organizations to reimagine the capabilities of their current solutions.
By initiating conversations within the organization and asking, “what are your pain points, and how can I support you?”, security teams can uncover surprising and valuable applications.
A mining company approached us seeking to enhance the efficiency of their daily blasting operations, which required a complete evacuation of the blast zone before each detonation. They sought to rethink their approach to leveraging their security system for enhanced efficiency.
Our solution involved tagging all staff members using asset tags attached to items like boots and helmets. We then strategically placed readers throughout the mine shaft to ensure they could reliably pick up tag signals while the shuttle buses were in motion. This allowed for fast, accurate verification that all individuals had safely exited the blast zone prior to detonation - without requiring the bus to stop.
This innovative application of their security infrastructure enhanced workforce safety and significantly sped up the blasting process, allowing for more frequent blasts and efficient operations.
Identifying Opportunity
Unlocking broader value creation also requires a proactive and collaborative approach. Security professionals need to move beyond their traditional silos, actively network and build relationships with other departments, including operations, IT, and HR.
By understanding the challenges and objectives of these different teams, security professionals can identify opportunities to provide support and innovative solutions.
The ability to identify opportunities comes back to that shift in mindset, being curious and asking questions like, "how can I support you or what challenges are you having?" which can open new avenues for collaboration and value creation, ultimately building support for an expanded vision of security.
Measuring Success
Measuring the success of this expanded role of security requires a shift in metrics.
While traditional security metrics like incident rates and loss prevention remain important, new metrics should be introduced to track the broader value being generated. This could include measures of operational efficiency gains enabled by security integrations, improvements in customer experience facilitated by security technologies, or even the contribution of security data to revenue-generating activities.
For example, tracking attendance at events managed through an access control system can provide valuable data for marketing and engagement strategies.
Overcoming Resistance
Overcoming resistance to this evolving role of security is a crucial step. Some stakeholders may be hesitant to view security as anything beyond its traditional protective function.
To address this involves a return to that curiosity mindset and asking those simple yet powerful questions, “what are your challenges, and how can security help?”
This shift isn’t about radical change in thinking, rather nurturing a willingness to explore and a curiosity to do more.
It falls upon security professionals, whether manufacturers or internal teams, to act as trusted advisors, clearly communicating the potential benefits of a broader approach, showcasing real-world examples and demonstrating how security can directly address objectives.
Encouraging pilot projects and demonstrating tangible results can help shift perspectives mindsets and foster a culture of innovation.
Unlocking More
The journey towards realizing the full value creation of security is one of curiosity, networking, and continuous innovation.
When teams are encouraged to explore "what if" scenarios and connect with diverse stakeholders, new applications and opportunities constantly emerge.
By embracing a curiosity mindset, organizations can transform their security systems from necessary expenses into strategic assets that drive tangible business value across the enterprise.
We have an opportunity to reimagine security - and we shouldn’t wait.
We have more to work with than we think - it’s just a matter of shifting our perspective.
By asking those simple yet powerful "what if?" questions, organizations can unlock security's broader value creation and position it as a strategic tool in achieving overall business objectives.
Because opening doors is boring.