What is a security digital platform?

Gérard Herby: A security digital platform makes it possible to manage security systems for a whole city or a single site, or to manage a crisis or a major event. It is basically a system that processes vast quantities of data from any combination of CCTV cameras or other sensors. It aggregates, analyses and correlates the data, using Big Data techniques and as automatically as possible, to provide end users with a context-sensitive operational picture and the tools they need to take the best decisions and act accordingly.

 

What are the benefits of these platforms for your customers?

There are all sorts of benefits for the customer, but the key advantage is that the software is developed around the end users and tailored to the specific requirements of each line of business. From the earliest design stage, end users are included in the development team to optimise use cases and guarantee the best possible user experience. For simpler system deployment and administration, these digital platforms rely on private, public or hybrid cloud architectures to deliver services to the users.
Digital platforms can also offer pay-per-use services, vastly reducing the initial outlay for the customer.
And last but not least, they are extremely flexible and can quickly accommodate new types of sensors, new data processing methods and any new functions the customer may require.

And last but not least, they are extremely flexible and can quickly accommodate new types of sensors, new data processing methods and any new functions the customer may require.

 

Are any special skills needed to use this type of platform?

No. Their user-centric design makes them intrinsically easy to use, deploy and administer. They have a simple user interface with a clean look-and-feel, and the decision support functions are highly intuitive and draw on technologies like artificial intelligence.
These technologies make it possible to analyse huge streams of CCTV footage or other data, for example to automatically detect a bag that has been left unattended in an airport, or an intruder at a sensitive site, or an unexpected crowd movement or other incident. 

 

What is Thales's value proposition in this market?

We operate in an extremely competitive market, and in some respects our existing security solutions were too conventional, so we differentiate ourselves by focusing on the needs of customers with security requirements that are particularly demanding or complex.
We decided the best way forward was to offer a versatile new platform-based security solution that is flexible, simple to use and capable of handling large volumes of data automatically.
To develop the platform, we relied heavily on the Thales Digital Factory, which was set up more than three years ago to promote this new digital culture throughout the Group.

 

Has it changed the way you work with your customers? 

Digital platforms are a great opportunity for co-development with customers and their ecosystems. Our customers can develop their own applications, for example, which we help them to deploy on the platform. If they want, they can retain full control of any functions that they prefer to keep in-house.

 

And what is the impact of these platforms from a business perspective?

As well as being simple, flexible and automated, digital platforms a driving the transition from a conventional business model of purchasing software or systems to a subscription-based or pay-per-use model, which avoids any initial outlay for customers.
In addition, digital platforms speed up development cycles so much that we can address new market segments that we might have considered out of our reach.
These are powerful arguments for our customers, who are generally converted straight away when we demonstrate our security digital platform.