Antonio Pérez Turró (AES): "the security industry is strong and mature"
In the following interview, Antonio Pérez Turró, President of the Spanish Association of Security Companies (AES), states that the security industry is currently in a good position, being strong and mature, as we have been able to see in these difficult and changing times. But he adds that in order to continue to grow, the sector needs to be constantly revitalised.
What is your assessment of the performance of the security sector in 2022 and what are your forecasts for 2023?
I think the security industry as a whole is in a good position. It is strong and mature, as we have seen in these difficult and changing times. The crisis of supply lead times has gradually been overcome and, although we still have occasional delays, this is offset by the foresight with which companies are making their forecasts. This would not be possible without solid demand from users. As I said a few months ago, we are adapting and growing.
Looking to the future, what factors do you think are essential to boost the security industry in the coming year?
In order to continue growing, it is necessary to constantly revitalise the sector - especially if we take into account its maturity -, although events such as cyber-attacks already make it progress rapidly.
I could mention here the well-known need for a new Private Security Regulation that implements the 2014 Act. This is common knowledge. As this does not depend on the industry but on the Government, as far as we at AES are concerned, we are carrying out specific proposals for each speciality, from CRAs to maintenance, installations, physical and electronic security, regulations and certifications, PCI and cybersecurity, our eight areas of work. In this way, we promote all the new initiatives that involve the revitalisation of our environment.
You mentioned cyber-attacks, what does cyber-security mean as a new paradigm for physical security?
Virtually everything and everyone is vulnerable to cyber-threats. We see it every day in our personal and professional lives. Therefore, the word paradigm is a very good definition of how cybersecurity is involved in all developments and applications of security in general... physical included.
This means more requirements and, consequently, perfectly defined specifications to ensure that the solutions provided to the market more than meet the protection expectations of complex systems. In short, and as a paradigm, it is a key element of any project.
In fact, it is one of the main areas in which AES is working on a daily basis. This year we have produced, published and distributed a wide-ranging cybersecurity guide which is available to anyone who needs it.