The security industry is at a crossroads. Cloud platforms are replacing legacy systems, AI is reshaping situational awareness, and the line between physical and cybersecurity continues to blur.
In a recent Security Systems News interview, Saif Nomani, Atriade’s Director of Design and Technology, sat down with Cory Harris to share a ground-level view of these shifts. Drawing on two decades of project experience across K-12 schools, universities, hospitals, and Fortune 500 companies, Nomani reveals what it really takes to build security programs that work in the real world.
SSN: What kinds of systems do you design/specify and what services does the company provide?
Nomani: We design and specify physical security and safety systems, including electronic access control, video surveillance/VMS, intrusion detection, identity and credential management, intercoms and communications, and mass notification/emergency communications.
We also routinely account for the supporting layers that make those systems effective in practice, like alarm monitoring workflows, system integrations, and enterprise architecture considerations so the technology aligns with operations instead of fighting them.
On the program development side, we help clients evaluate their current state and build a security program that’s operational – not just theoretical – often producing a security master plan/road-map aligned to business and operational goals.
Our professional services focus on execution and sustainment, operational work-flow development, program administration, and customized configuration of software applications to fit the client’s environment.
Finally, we deliver end-to-end project management, providing technical and operational oversight from inception through closeout, with structured quality control along the way.
SSN: What vertical markets does the company specialize in? Any interesting projects that you can mention?
Nomani: We specialize in K-12 schools, higher education, corporate and Fortune 500 companies, pharmaceuticals, utilities, and hospitals. What’s consistent across those markets is our approach: we focus on delivering customized security solutions by first understanding the client’s business and operational needs, then designing the program and technology around that reality.
Some interesting projects we have recently been engaged with include:
Running an end-of-life/end-of-support access control and video management platforms that couldn’t meet enterprise needs across 30+ offices. Key gaps included an aging platform, limited integrations, and inconsistent identity/credentialing workflows.
Atriade’s Role
We conducted a detailed assessment of the access control and video environment through stakeholder workshops, application reviews, and on-site surveys. We documented the current state topology, technical and network requirements, cloud vs. on-prem considerations, mobile and frictionless credentialing needs, and integration requirements with employee records.
We then managed a structured technical RFI to validate solutions in writing, supported selection of a cloud-based platform, and developed an enterprise design framework to guide future deployments. We also provided system programming/configuration, Level 1 technical support, project management, and lifecycle management.
The institution had multiple separate access control systems spread across two campuses – different vendors, different ages, and no central management for credentialing, access management, or alarm management. They needed a path to consolidate everything into a single enterprise platform without disrupting day-to-day operations.
Atriade’s Role
We led the effort by conducting a detailed requirements workshop to establish desired outcomes for credentialing and access management. We then produced the technical design and program management documentation needed to execute a full consolidation and designed and managed the data integration between the new access control platform and their existing identity management infrastructure.
The district had over 10,000 analog and IP cameras on disparate end-of-life systems over aging infrastructure with no central management or monitoring.
Atriade’s Role
The scale of this assessment encompassed over 200 schools and additional administrative buildings. The Atriade team has been onsite in every school conducting extensive assessments of the school’s cameras, network infrastructure, conduits, cabling routes and installation details. Our scope has included inventorying every device, mapping out pathways, identifying locations, and creating coverages.
To ensure an effective and efficient delivery, we developed a three-year roadmap to replace all existing analog cameras and add over 5,000 new cameras on a single enterprise video management system with centralized administration and monitoring, with best practices on camera coverages, system operation and management.
SSN: How did you get started in security and designing/specifying?
Nomani: Honestly, it started with a bit of good timing and an unexpected opportunity. Shortly after graduating from college, I met my current manager through a mutual friend at a social event. About a month later, he brought me on as a security design consultant at a low-voltage design consulting firm focused on corporate relocations – and that role became my entry point into designing and specifying security systems.
SSN: Can you talk about what new or emerging technologies you are seeing or specifying today?
Nomani: We’re seeing increased interest in a few technology areas that are reshaping how organizations approach security programs and system architecture. On the technology side, that includes touchless and mobile credentialing, cloud-based and hybrid deployments, and more demand for integrated platforms that unify access control, video, identity, and incident work-flows.
We’re also seeing growing adoption of AI and machine learning capabilities – primarily to improve situational awareness and operational efficiency – as well as emerging use cases for drones in perimeter awareness, large-area monitoring, and rapid assessment.
SSN: What is your view on the industry moving forward?
Nomani: Looking forward, I think the industry will continue to shift toward data-driven security operations – with more organizations consolidating inputs from access control, video, identity, and other systems into centralized data environments (often “data lakes”) to improve analytics, reporting, and decision-making. At the same time, the distributed work-force is changing the perimeter – security programs have to support remote and hybrid users without sacrificing control or user experience.
I also expect continued acceleration in cybersecurity and physical security convergence, especially as more security platforms move to cloud or hybrid architectures and as identity becomes the common thread across both domains.
Saif Nomani is Director of Design and Technology at Atriade. He has expertise in physical security system design, project management, construction administration and commissioning services. Saif also oversees all of Atriade’s design projects and deliverables. His experience includes corporate relocation, higher education and pharmaceuticals. He also has technical expertise in access control, video management, biometric and other electronic security systems. Saif creates benchmarking and risk analysis metrics based on historical client data and current state. He holds a Bachelors in Computer Engineering from Rutgers University. Passionate for wildlife conservation, he also holds a Masters in Wildlife Ecology.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
This article was originally published in the January 2026 edition of Specifically Speaking, a Security Systems News monthly column, featuring Q-and-A with a security consultant provided to SSN by Security Specifiers.
About Atriade
Atriade is a trusted security consulting firm with decades of experience delivering tailored security solutions. We specialize in security system design for access control, perimeter protection, video surveillance, visitor management, and other advanced physical security technologies.
Our expertise also extends beyond system design to include security master planning, program development, risk assessments, professional services, and end-to-end project management.
For more than 20 years, we have partnered with Fortune 50 companies, Ivy League universities, and leading technology firms in Silicon Valley to help them navigate complex security challenges with a strategic, forward-thinking approach.
Visit us online at Atriade.com
Connect with us on LinkedIn
Subscribe to our LinkedIn Newsletter Take A Risk
Why do legacy access control and video systems limit growth?
Legacy systems often lack integration, centralized management, and consistent credentialing. This creates fragmented operations that are difficult to maintain or expand across multiple locations.
How do operational workflows affect physical security effectiveness?
Workflows such as alarm monitoring, credentialing, and incident response determine how usable a system is day to day. When workflows are designed alongside the technology, security programs are easier to operate and sustain.
How do cloud and hybrid platforms support modern security programs?
Cloud and hybrid platforms enable centralized management, better integrations, and support for distributed workforces while maintaining control and visibility across the organization.
Why is identity central to the future of physical security?
Identity connects access control, video, and other security systems, enabling centralized data, improved analytics, and more informed decision-making as physical and cyber security continue to converge.
- Categories:
- Security Operations