G4S Security Services - Experts & Thought Leaders

Across Europe, security services are on high alert to a potential increase in subversive attacks, following a spate of arson and sabotage strikes on infrastructure and businesses in the Baltics, Germany and the UK. Recent examples include a fire at a homeware store in Lithuania in May, which the Polish Prime Minister suggested may have been started by a foreign saboteur; investigators alleged an arson attack in London showed signs of overseas involvement; an inferno destroyed Poland’s biggest shopping mall and attempted sabotage on a military facility in Germany. G4S’s first-ever World Security Report The threat from subversives is on the increase with almost half (44%) of European Chief Security Officers (CSOs) expecting to be impacted by this group, up from a third in the previous year. 447 CSOs were surveyed in Europe for G4S’s first-ever World Security Report, which surveyed 1,775 CSOs in 30 countries globally. CSOs from Austria were the most concerned in Europe about being impacted (60%). 447 CSOs were surveyed in Europe for G4S’s first-ever World Security Report Noah Price, G4S Academy International Director, said: "The anticipated rise in subversive threats across Europe signifies a critical juncture for corporate security. These threats are becoming increasingly more prevalent, so businesses must adopt a proactive and comprehensive approach to safeguard their operations and assets.  Businesses must invest in physical security measures such as AI-enabled surveillance systems, fire suppression systems, and multi-layered access controls. This should be done in conjunction with cybersecurity measures and fostering a work culture of vigilance and security awareness." What businesses need to do to reduce the threat Companies of all sizes can play a crucial role in preventing subversive threats against their organisation, and securing their country’s national infrastructure. Tips include: Enhancing Cybersecurity Infrastructure: Invest in advanced cybersecurity technologies and ensure systems are regularly updated to protect against the latest threats. Implement multi-factor authentication, encryption, and regular security audits. Physical Security Enhancements: In addition to cybersecurity, enhance physical security measures such as surveillance, access controls, and secure facilities to protect against sabotage and espionage. Employee Training and Awareness: Conduct regular training sessions to educate employees about the latest security threats, phishing schemes, and safe online practices. Awareness is the first line of defence against subversive activities. Incident Response Planning: Develop and maintain a robust incident response plan. This should include procedures for identifying, containing, and mitigating security breaches, as well as communication strategies for internal and external stakeholders. Regular Risk Assessments: Conduct regular risk assessments to identify potential vulnerabilities and implement appropriate mitigation strategies. This should cover both physical and digital assets. Supply Chain Security: Ensure that third-party vendors and suppliers adhere to stringent security standards. A compromised supplier can be a weak link that exposes the organisation to subversive threats. Collaborate with Security Experts: Engage with security experts and participate in information-sharing networks. Collaboration with industry peers and security experts can provide valuable insights and enhance threat detection and response capabilities. Concluding, Price said: “Proactively incorporating as many of the above physical and cyber security measures will deter saboteurs and threat actors before they strike. A preventative approach is the best approach and one that all organisations must look to foster.”

For customers who remain operational, they can be reassured that G4S’s capabilities in Nigeria are some of the best; including Close Protection Officers, Secure Transportation Services, and Tracking and Response capabilities. And due to growing demand, in January 2023 G4S increased its in-country workforce by 26% compared with the previous year. Addressing the threat challenge “We have strengthened our capabilities due to the very real threat of violence, especially pre, and post-election,” said Sid Odoi, G4S Nigeria’s Managing Director. “Despite being Africa’s largest economy, we are seeing an increase in violent crime however, our in-country security experts are constantly rising to the challenges and delivering top-tier services for our customers." Close Protection Officers (CPOs) CPOs work with the Secure Transportation Services team, which provides staff, and crew transportation and recovery services Demand for Close Protection Officers (CPOs) has increased as companies seek greater protection for their executives and employees as they travel. CPOs work closely with the Secure Transportation Services team, which provides executive, staff, and crew transportation including scheduling, dispatching, and recovery services. In-vehicle communications Drivers and officers are trained to City & Guilds standards in defensive driving and close protection. Vehicles are equipped with mobile communications, vehicle tracking, trauma kits, and extinguishers. In-vehicle communications mean the G4S control room can share live updates relating to incidents, road closures, and traffic collisions with the G4S team in the vehicle. Tracking & response G4S tracks vehicles by attaching a geo-tracking device, while individuals are tracked through an app The capability to know the whereabouts of executives and employees in real-time is a service increasingly requested by customers, whether they are multinational or Nigeria-based. G4S tracks vehicles by attaching a geo-tracking device, while individuals are tracked through an app installed on their smartphones. If a customer finds themselves facing a security threat, such as a protest or a crowd surrounding their building, they can call upon G4S’s response team for safe extraction. Working in partnership with the police, the response teams can deploy officers to investigate. Demand for G4S’s response services has increased by 30% in the build-up to the election. Equally the number of drivers and response officers has risen by the same percentage. Using real-time and predictive data One multinational with operations in Nigeria requires 40% more security officers and has increased patrols to 24 hours from 12 hours, in direct response to the election-related unrest. They have done this as a precaution to deter potential criminals, protect their assets, and have seen the benefits of employing security officers who are using real-time and predictive data, evaluation, and technology to carry out strategic patrols. Risk360 G4S’s own data analytics app, Risk360, allows security officers to create incident records remotely on-site G4S’s own data analytics app, Risk360, allows security officers to create incident records remotely on-site. This data is analysed to produce trend patterns and heat maps which allow for better planning of where resources are most needed. Due to Risk360, this customer has seen 82 foiled thefts between January - June 2022 and eight arrests. The number of successful thefts dropped by more than a third during the same period. The trends feature showed that over the last 12 months, Thursdays and Fridays were days when thefts were most likely to occur. As such, G4S increased patrols during these evenings. Saves time and money “The use of data and analysis is helping us, and more importantly our customers, to make strategic decisions which are saving time and money." "The benefits of Risk360 are staggering and we’re increasingly demonstrating this to our global customers here in Nigeria,” said Sid. Daily intelligence bulletins “We have a duty to inform and protect our customers to the best of our ability - which aligns with our company value to always put safety first. Ahead of the elections, we’ve been sending customers regular bulletins that capture potential security threats,” said Sid.  This bulletin informs customers of high-risk areas and possible threats to be aware of. In the first bulletin, customers were provided with a Risk Heat Map detailing States that have perceived higher levels of risk to visit or work in. Ensuring safe movement Every day, customers receive a report which highlights any incidents of note from the day before Every day, customers receive a report which highlights any incidents of note from the day before and, based on analysis of security data, informs them of events or large activities across different states. “We expect a lot of footfall traffic over the next few weeks as supporters and protesters travel. Therefore it’s really important that customers are aware of what is happening across the country, and the Daily Intelligence Bulletin will help them plan for their day and make their movements safe and without disruption,” Sid continued. Tips & advice Whilst G4S has stepped up its services, customers are being advised on steps they can take to keep their people and assets safe, such as: Different areas of the country require different levels of CPO deployment. Movement within North-West, North-East, North-Central & South-East requires more CPOs, compared to the South-West & South-South of Nigeria. Rally and campaign areas should be avoided. If attendance is necessary for these regions, review your security arrangements in advance. If a customer suspects its employees are being monitored or trailed, drive to the nearest police station or public place and seek emergency assistance.

Protecting multiple assets in remote and urban locations is nothing new for G4S security professionals in Nigeria, as they cover thousands of square kilometres across the country. To make sure the correct staff is deployed to the appropriate locations, the team uses G4S’s Risk360 platform to stop thefts, and criminal damage and support the police in making arrests. Keeping connected  Since January 2019, G4S has worked across the south of Nigeria deploying 40 security teams to protect a large percentage of the country's communications infrastructure to keep everyone connected. G4S works hard to save thousands of customer sites in Lagos and the south of the country from thieves attempting to steal metal components, generators as well as the valuable diesel used as a source of power. Deploying targeted patrols Because we cover so many different sites across the south of Nigeria, we carefully divide up our patrols" The location of the customer’s assets varies; from cities to rural villages, and remote and isolated plots of land, meaning that officers are strategically positioned to enable them to get to a particular location as quickly as possible. In the first six months of 2022, G4S patrols carried out 73,962 site visits, averaging at over 12,000 per month. “Because we cover so many different sites across the south of Nigeria, we carefully divide up our patrols,” said Bukky Bademosi, Head of Sales for G4S in Nigeria. Safety and protection  “We deploy 40 vehicles on every 12-hour shift. The teams deployed include a driver, a supervisor, and two armed mobile policemen who support our officers." "This work can be dangerous and criminals sometimes carry weapons with them, so it's for our safety and protection that our officers patrol with armed police officers who are subcontracted to help us.” Real-time footage Working closely with the patrolling teams, colleagues at a Surveillance Centre monitor real-time footage across various sites. If they spot any suspicious activity or criminal actions, they quickly contact and deploy the closest ground unit through the Risk360 application.  During the first six months of 2022, employees in the Surveillance Centre recorded 353 incidents on Risk360 of an alarm warning them of unknown activity at a site during the night. Teamwork catches and deters criminals The number of successful thefts has also decreased during this same period by 35 percent This swift teamwork resulted in 82 foiled theft attempts between January and June 2022 and eight arrests, with evidence supplied to law enforcement. The number of successful thefts has also decreased during this same period by 35 percent. Between April and December 2021, G4S has been successful in reducing thefts by just under 50 percent. Intelligence-led reports After attending a call out to a possible disturbance, the ground unit will complete a report for the customer on Risk360, which they can access in real time. G4S also provides intelligence-led reports to highlight sites that have any vulnerabilities or have been targeted frequently by criminals as well as being able to correlate the data to calculate the most effective patrols for the most vulnerable sites. Risk360 app G4S employees concluded that over the last 12 months Thursdays and Fridays were the days where theft at the sites was most likely to occur (410 thefts and 273 thefts respectively). As such, G4S increased patrols during these evenings. “Our data-led approach to deploying patrols strategically allows us to deliver the best service for the customer,” said Bukky. “The Risk360 app helps us deploy speed to protect the customers' assets and apprehend criminals.” Sid Odoi, Managing Director of G4S in Nigeria said, “The statistics show that our operation is having a positive impact on the security of the customers' assets and we are delivering a service regularly deterring criminality.”

Video surveillance as a service (VSaaS) is not just for commercial organisations. Federal, state and local governments can also realise benefits from the technology—and use it to deliver an integrated video surveillance system that addresses some of their unique security needs. Video Surveillance as a Service (VSaaS) What is VSaaS? Simply stated, it’s a cloud-based video surveillance solution that is packaged and delivered as a service over the internet. The price varies depending on the features of your plan (i.e. number of cameras, amount of storage, software features, etc.), and you pay a monthly subscription price to use it. How does it work? Internet Protocol (IP) cameras are installed at site locations, and the video is captured and streamed to a service provider’s data center via an internet connection. The video management software (VMS) runs on backend infrastructure provided by the service provider’s cloud. All video processing is done in the cloud, and all that is required to view the footage is an internet-connected device and a web browser. Retail, health care, education, and transportation all benefit from the flexibility and architecture of VSaas Growing VSaaS providers Solution providers such as Axis Communications, Genetec, and G4S among many others offer VSaaS solutions, and the market is growing. According to IHS Markit, the market is expected to reach $2.3 billion in 2021. VSaaS is a solution with cross-industry appeal. Retail, health care, education, and transportation all benefit from the flexibility and architecture of the solution. But how does VSaaS address the surveillance needs of government institutions? Geographic coverage and access To protect cities and towns, law enforcement must watch over widespread geographic areas. Their work involves monitoring and policing many different neighborhoods, buildings, garages, parks, and walking paths—basically anywhere there is property or people to protect. They rely on video surveillance to help them keep these environments safe. But it’s more than local law enforcement officers who use video footage. From local city officials to federal and state law enforcement agencies, many other people, at times, need access to video footage captured by city surveillance cameras. Centralised remote monitoring How does VSaaS help? VSaaS enables the installation of cameras throughout cities and communities and stream footage to a central location via the Internet. Because the system is centralised, it eliminates the need to manage a lot of different standalone DVRs or NVRs, which enables organisations to monitor a large area from a remote command center. VSaaS enables the installation of cameras throughout cities and communities and stream footage to a central location via the Internet Plus, anyone with proper credentials can access the footage from an Internet-connected device—whether that be a smartphone, laptop, desktop, or tablet. That makes it easier for multiple agencies to work together, which in turn can improve communication and response time to incidents. Budget concerns and flexibility Tight budgets are normal in government. As a result, it’s often a challenge to procure capital for new technology purchases—and that sometimes leads to underfunded projects and difficulty upgrading old technology. VSaaS changes the expense model. It allows you to shift from a capital expenditure (CapEx) model, where large capital funding is required to purchase equipment, to an operational expenditure (OpEx) model, where the costs of the solution become an operating expense. Since the cameras, installation, storage, and software are packaged into a service, you don’t need a large capital outlay up front—you simply pay a predictable expense every month. VSaaS provides the capability for you to increase storage capacity when you need it Feature and storage capacity upgrade features VSaaS also makes it easier to upgrade old technology. When new technology becomes available, you can upgrade to it as part of the service. You no longer have to stick with old technology because of capital budget restrictions. Instead, you can upgrade to better cameras and management software features as they become available. The same is true for storage capacity. As camera resolution increases, the amount of data captured also increases. In addition, with the evolution of smart city technology and big data analytics, video data has become more valuable. As a result, there is a need not only to store more data but also to keep that data accessible for a longer period of time. VSaaS provides the capability for you to increase storage capacity when you need it. You can scale to accommodate growth, and since the storage is delivered as part of the service, you can leverage the “pay for use” model to manage your costs. On-premise storage or hybrid Where should surveillance video be stored? It’s an important question. After all, government entities must always comply with data privacy laws and handle data properly to ensure it can be used as evidence if needed. As a result, officials may prefer to be selective about where they store video data. In fact, the concern over regulatory requirements and security and privacy issues, according to Gartner, will lead governments to implement private cloud at twice the rate of public cloud through 2021. The provider’s ability to store large amounts of data cost-effectively makes VSaaS possible That’s not necessarily a show-stopper when it comes to video surveillance. Some VSaaS providers offer hybrid options. Plus, one of the things that makes VSaaS possible is the provider’s ability to store large amounts of data cost-effectively. Because service providers can manage their storage infrastructures economically, they can offer their service at an attractive price. Multi-tier storage infrastructure In a way, government institutions (as well as commercial organisations) can do the same thing. If a government entity—for example, a small municipality—wanted to store their data on-premise or implement a hybrid configuration, they could solve some of their video storage challenges by implementing a multi-tier storage infrastructure similar to what a VSaaS provider might use to provide the actual service. A multi-tier storage infrastructure uses different storage media—disk, object storage, tape, and cloud—and combines them to deliver the total capacity needed while balancing performance and cost. The diagram below is an illustration of a multi-tier infrastructure: As the diagram shows, storage capacity grows using lower cost forms of media as volume and long-term retention requirements change. Files are moved between tiers based on user-defined policies. When the policies are met, the files are moved to a lower cost tier. Some file systems allow for multiple copies be written at ingest which not only minimises the traffic of moving files across the network, but also provides much needed data protection through a second copy on a lower-cost tier. This scenario enables you to optimise the amount of high-performance media in your infrastructure and lower the long-term cost of retaining files. VSaaS offers many benefits for government institutions and commercial organisations alike Choice of implementations VSaaS offers many benefits for government institutions and commercial organisations alike. But not every implementation has the same needs or requirements. The good news is, when it comes to video surveillance solutions, you have options. You can leverage the benefits of VSaaS, in either a public cloud or hybrid scenario, depending on the service provider. Or if your needs dictate, you can achieve some of the same capacity and cost-saving benefits you would get from a VSaaS solution by implementing an on-premise solution based on a centralised VMS system and multi-tier storage. The choice is yours.