Page 25 - the SyI Quarterly 15

Alan had explained that security officer rates of pay
were significantly behind inflation and hadn’t risen
since prior to Covid which was not helping retention
rates. Cybersecurity has become an increasingly
lucrative field, with high salaries, attractive benefits,
and opportunities for advancement. This pay disparity
is leading many potential security industry recruits
to opt for careers in cybersecurity instead of physical
security roles as although physical security is just of
as much importance, it is not commanding the same
benefits as cybersecurity roles, draining talent from
the broader security pool.

Moreover, the cybersecurity field, with its constantly
evolving nature and dynamic challenges, offers
an intellectually stimulating career path, further
enhancing its attractiveness over guarding or security
system engineering roles, which are both not on
power with today’s cybersecurity offerings and are
only set to become further apart over the coming
years if the trend continues.

The Rise of Untrained and Unlicensed Personnel

Faced with a shortage of trained professionals,
many companies and organisations are resorting to
employing untrained and unlicensed security staff,
more so within the physical and electronic security
sectors. This practice raises severe concerns for
me about the quality of security provided and the
potential risks posed by unqualified staff, which I see
now on a regular basis.

Inexperienced security staff may not be able to
effectively assess potential threats or manage
security incidents appropriately. They might also
lack knowledge about legal implications, potentially
leading to liabilities for their employers and their
clients.

Technological Changes: The Double-Edged Sword

Technology has brought about significant changes
in the security industry. The advent of plug-and-play
security technology, for instance, has transformed the
way security measures are implemented. These easy-
to-install systems, while cost-effective and accessible,
can be a double-edged sword.

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