Page 32 - Security Today, June 2017

Security Strategy
Are you thinking omni-channel or “omni-chance”? Here are 3 areas for your security team to review
BWy John Carter
hile many security teams at retailers are con- cerned about the potential for a big data breach, everyday security threats, like social engineering and shoplifting, are heightened in a world of omni-channel retail. While unfortu-
security who managed physical security at Wal-Mart for more than 30 years, understands better than anyone the need for these tools.
Lindsey recently visited a big box store and had a common experi- ence: purchasing a gift card that understandably was under lock and key. It took a trusted employee several minutes, manager approval, and a patient customer, to complete the transaction. Naturally, Lind- sey had some questions about how they manage access to important assets. “Do you trust this employee?” he asked the manager with the brass keys. “Of course,” the manager said, then Lindsey asked him why the employee couldn’t have access to unlock the gift card he was trying to buy, and the reality is that physical possession of brass keys supersedes employee experience and trust.
The challenge with brass keys is compounded by everyday life: the inconvenience when someone accidentally brings them home, or the holder of the keys is busy and customers are left waiting. Surely technology can help us overcome this, and it has with access control, but why aren’t retailers embracing better solutions?
Lindsey has seen some examples of retailers that offer the ideal experience: you’re in a store, need access to an item behind lock and key, and an employee opens the display case with the tap of a badge or the swipe of a finger. This experience is less common than
nately these physical security threats are more predictable than a data breach, the good news is that predictability is exactly what them more manageable with the right tools and intelligence.
The common thread between threats is understanding and con- trolling, and who has access to what assets and data. Knowing what needs protecting is half the battle. There are three areas worth re- visiting in light of the latest threats and available technology solu- tions to ensure that your company is best protecting people, assets, and the bottom line. These three areas are connected: keyless access control, sensors across the omni-channel landscape and optimizing case management.
Rethink the Brass Keys with Intelligent Access Control
With the advancement of tools and sensors, one of the most under- used areas for retail is access control. Steve Lindsey, a veteran of retail
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