Surveillance cameras, access readers, temperature monitoring tags, IoT devices – today’s business environments are rich with connected security sensors that are continually processing security and operational data.
But there’s another powerful sensor on-site: the security officer.
Across thousands of locations around the world, officers play a central role in day-to-day business operations – observing subtle changes in the environment, making decisions in real time, and actively preventing, responding to, and resolving security issues.
And despite advancements in technology and automation, the value of the security officer is only increasing, with their role becoming more – not less – essential to business security. That’s why continued investment in officers and their evolving role within organizations is more critical than ever.
Here are three examples of what that looks like at Securitas today:
Turning guarding into intelligence-led protection
As more businesses adopt platforms for real-time risk intelligence, many still struggle to apply the “so what?” to their organization, including translating alerts into action. Officers, with the right training, can bridge that gap.
We’ve developed a pilot program to train officers in the fundamentals of intelligence, equipping them with the essential skills and knowledge of an intelligence operator. The program builds core competencies, such as developing an understanding of intelligence requirements to determine what matters to an organization, using different sources for collection – including engaging with local emergency services – and how to use intelligence analysis to stay ahead in today’s evolving threat landscape.
Most importantly, officers learn how to embed intelligence into day-to-day decision-making on-site, helping organizations respond faster and avoid bottlenecks at the local level.
Developing specialized expertise in data center security
Another specialized training program is preparing more than 10,000 officers to meet the complex demands of one of the world’s most critical and fastest-growing industries: data centers.
Launched in 2024 and accredited by the Holistic Information Security Practitioner Institute (HISPI), the program trains officers to become Certified Data Center Security Professionals. It’s designed to address the specific risks and requirements of this sector – recognizing that the traditional one-size-fits-all approach to guarding is no longer enough for high-stakes, high-security environments like data centers.
The program continues to evolve, with new modules introduced regularly to support continuous learning. The latest addition to the Data Center Academy strengthens the focus on health and safety, equipping officers with knowledge of key regulatory requirements, practical hazard awareness, and clear response protocols. It reinforces their ability to protect themselves and others while maintaining the high standards expected in these critical environments.
This type of advanced knowledge and specialization makes officers increasingly vital resources that further enhance a data center’s security posture and bolster its resilience.
Optimizing officer routes and staffing
While advanced training prepares officers for more strategic roles, technology plays an equally important part in streamlining their impact and driving significant efficiencies for organizations.
In several European countries, we’ve introduced AI models that enhance how we deploy officers by factoring in commute times, skill alignment, and long-range staffing forecasts. In the Berlin metropolitan area alone, optimized routing has the potential to reduce daily commuting distances by 44%.
AI is also helping us optimize guarding office locations, which has already led to a 10% average reduction in driving time in Germany, generating indirect cost savings for the organizations we serve.
All of this amplifies the impact of officers, leading to greater efficiency, faster support, and ultimately, more satisfied clients.
Reimagining the role of the officer
Each of these examples points to a broader shift in how we think about security – and about people.
The most effective security strategies aren’t built on technology alone. They’re powered by people – trained, trusted, and connected – who can plug into an organization’s security ecosystem and keep it running smoothly.
And as the industry continues to evolve, our commitment to those people remains at the heart of everything we do. With advanced training, specialized expertise, and AI, we’re empowering officers with the tools to face the future, while strengthening the resilience of the organizations they help protect.
