Closing Human Gap Key Goal Of Security Research, Says Gallagher’s Scott Johnson.
Closing Human Gap Key Goal Of Security Research – While chatting recently with an industry veteran about a site with a confounding problem, Gallagher Security’s Scott Johnstone realised that despite a strong security culture and the latest technology, end user staff were regularly breaking a basic rule of access control.
“A door to an outside break area was locking when they’d step outside for some fresh air, so employees routinely propped it open to avoid making the trek to the nearest open access location – the front door,” Johnstone says.
It seemed like an easy problem to solve by just putting a reader outside, but according to the veteran’s account, staff didn’t use it.
“Instead, they chose to take the long way around to the front door,” Johnstone explains. “Why? Because they didn’t want to create a record of how long they’d been on break!”
The pair agreed that despite investing heavily in the newest technology, the organization – and industry experts, too – had failed to account for simple human behaviour.
“It’s the perfect illustration of a critical gap across our industry’s security research: understanding the human factors that shape security effectiveness,” Johnstone says.
According to Johnstone, the industry’s focus on features – encryption levels, AI-driven analytics, biometric authentication – often overshadows a more fundamental question: How do people interact with these solutions in the real world?
Johnstone believes the answers could mean the difference between a system that enhances security and one that creates new vulnerabilities.
“Security solutions don’t operate in a vacuum,” he explains. “They rely on people to use them correctly, from employees badging into buildings to security operators monitoring alarms. Yet, human behaviour is unpredictable.”
“A state-of-the-art access control system won’t prevent breaches if employees prop doors open for convenience. A sophisticated surveillance network loses its effectiveness if operators aren’t trained to manage alarms correctly.”
Research into user behaviour – how people perceive risk, how they interact with security technologies, and what motivates compliance – is essential for designing systems that work as intended. Without it, security measures risk being ignored, misused, or even circumvented.
“Security professionals across Australia have a unique opportunity to integrate behavioural research into security strategy,” says Johnstone. “Conducting trials to understand how employees and security personnel interact with systems in real-world conditions can reveal crucial insights.”
“Identifying patterns of non-compliance and uncovering why people bypass security protocols allows for the development of more effective systems. Examining best practices from sectors like healthcare, aviation, and retail, where human factors are central to safety and security practices, can provide valuable guidance.”
Johnstone points out that Australia (and NZ, too), has long been at the forefront of security innovation.
“The next step is ensuring that human behaviour is part of the research equation,” he says. “The organization whose employees were propping open their door found a simple solution (setting the door to open access) by understanding human behaviour.”
“By prioritizing the people behind the systems, the industry can develop more effective, resilient security solutions that stand the test of time.”
You can learn more about Closing Human Gap Research and Gallagher Security’s solutions here or read more SEN news here.
“Closing Human Gap Key Goal Of Security Research, Says Gallagher’s Scott Johnson.”
