Airport Business - 22

SECURITY MATTERS
of airport security management that
may strain security resources, these are
the ones most likely to cause additional
work for today's airports. They are also
the issues experienced most by private
security firms working in tandem with
the FAA and TSA departments at the
local level.

Maintaining Security
Standards and
Mitigating Challenges
With so many areas to proactively manage
and control, how can security teams
manage it all? The sheer volume of what
goes on in an airport requires nothing
short of a robust set of supervisory tools
and powerful oversight designed to see
it all at a glance with relevant alerts built
in at appropriate places. It must also track
and report to ensure compliance at every
step of a shift. Maintaining security
standards and mitigating challenges can
be achieved by:
* Creating a comprehensive view of
the airport's security status and
potential risks. This is best achieved
by moving the airport security officers
into a fully digitalized workforce
management environment. With a
cloud-based solution that delivers realtime data, managers and supervisors can
see their entire airport security status
on a single screen, allowing them to
identify potential security or customer
conflicts before they become a serious
issue. Security teams move from being
reactive to proactive.
* Anticipating adjustments in
staffing requirements. Supervisors
can proactively manage sudden changes
in passenger f low or needs, as well.
Long waits for just the right additional
personnel are cut down when a
supervisor can see, at a glance, who is
on the clock and available to assist with
coverage. With this approach, travelers
needing extra assistance or enhanced
screening can be assured that personnel
is ready to do the job.
* Improving field monitoring and
reporting operations. Security
supervisors need more than assurance
that their security off icers are in
the proper place at the proper time.
From passenger screening to luggage
checks to utilization of de-escalation
techniques, supervisors need the

ONLY THROUGH A BALANCE
OF QUALIFIED SECURITY
OFFERS FOLLOWING
REGULATIONS AND THE
SATISFACTION OF CUSTOMERS,
CAN PRIVATE COMPANIES BE TRULY
PROACTIVE WITH AIRPORT SECURITY.
unfettered ability to inspect officers in
the field to ensure they are doing tasks
by the book. Reporting the findings
and reviewing them regularly should
be a key part to improving the overall
quality of your security operations.
* Locating and dispatching officers
in real-time. Airports cover large
surface areas and security officers will
likely be patrolling and performing
duties in a myriad of locations.
Supervisors can reduce risks and
the margin for error by having the
ability to locate their officers in realtime via GPS technology so they can
instantly see where their officers are at
anytime and ensure they are at their
stations performing their duties. This
capability allows them to immediately
dispatch the nearest officer, based on
proximity, to investigate an alarm,
support another officer, or respond to
a member of the public. Geolocation
capabilities mitigate risks by enhancing
officer accountability and the delivery
of efficient security services.
* Meeting SLA requirements and
measuring performance. For an
airport, the investment in an outsourced
and reliable security operation is not
cheap. Airport administrators will want
reassurance that the security company
is delivering its services per the contract
and that KPIs are being achieved.
Security companies can mitigate the
risk of being perceived as 'not meeting
expectations' by having access to the
right technology that continuously
validates its security. This is delivered
based on measurable KPIs and
documentation of how risk factors are
mitigated, and efficiencies are improved
upon. The right software tools do more
than basic security functions; they
provide quality assurance tools and tie

22 \ AIRPORTBUSINESS / NOVEMBER 2019

value back to the investment in private
security teams.

How Advanced
Solutions Simplify
Operations
How might these solutions look during
a typical security-screening shift? With
each security officer's profile, including
current certification, human resources
record (including any disciplinary
reports or task limitations), gender, and
training on hand each time they check
into their shift, supervisors can see if
there are discrepancies before they start
to work. Only authorized workers will
cover checkpoints, and shift changes -
when needed - can happen seamlessly
and without error. Stations won't be
accidentally unmanned, and there's
a limited possibility of doubling up
or having staff report to the wrong
checkpoint or lane.

Quality and Security
Working as One
The technology available for private
airport security companies enables teams
to meet firm safety and security standards
without sacrificing the comfort and free
movement of passengers or interrupting
supply chains. Since many travelers report
experiencing stress over the baggage
checkpoints and possible enhanced
security screenings, it behooves security
teams not to diminish the customer
experience. Calm passengers are less
likely to strain security resources.
Only through a balance of qualified
security offers following regulations
and the satisfaction of customers, can
private companies be truly proactive with
airport security. Digitalized workforce
management environments get us there
with the fewest steps possible. 
Airport Business

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Airport Business
