Pinkerton and Securitas Put People First at GSX, Calling for ‘First Principles’ in Modern Security

Human-first security takes center stage at GSX

On the main stage at this year’s Global Security Exchange (GSX), leaders from Pinkerton and Securitas made a clear case: security works best when people come first. Through two back-to-back panels, the companies stepped away from shiny tech demos and instead focused on practical changes to how organizations hire, train and design security programs. The message was straightforward — rethink assumptions, start from basic human needs, and build outward. For facility managers and security planners, that shift is less about replacing systems and more about changing how teams operate every day.

Panel one: Rethinking risk with people at the center

The first session, billed as a discussion on applying ‘first principles’ thinking to risk management, was moderated by Pinkerton’s head of global operations. Panelists included senior leaders from Pinkerton’s investigations and intelligence teams, a Securitas director responsible for integrated security solutions, and an independent campus security director who runs operations at a large public institution.

Speakers walked the audience through scenarios where standard checklists fail — for example, when a complex event spills beyond a facility’s physical perimeter or when social pressures change how staff report concerns. The discussion stressed listening to frontline workers, mapping real human behavior, and testing simple responses before layering on technology.

One repeated anecdote involved a large events venue that found its security posture improved not by adding cameras but by changing shift overlap times so outgoing staff could brief incoming teams face to face. The panel argued that small, human-led fixes often prevent problems that sophisticated systems only detect after the fact.

Panel two: Training, vetting and integrating tech the right way

The second panel focused on the operational steps that follow a people-first diagnosis. Moderated by a Securitas operational excellence lead, this conversation featured a director of talent and background screening, a training head from Pinkerton, and a chief technology officer who works on integrating sensor data with human reports.

Panelists described concrete practices: tightening background checks in roles with public contact, shifting training to scenario-based exercises that mirror likely incidents, and designing technology to support — not replace — human judgment. A recurring point was the need to align procurement with those human realities; buying a system that ignores how staff actually work creates friction and limits benefit.

Practical anecdotes included an organization that reworked its contract language to require vendors to support hands-on training, and another that introduced a simple incident debrief ritual that captured lessons from each shift.

What ‘first principles’ and human-centric security look like in practice

Speakers described the first principles approach as stripping a problem down to its most basic truths: who is at risk, what triggers incidents, and which responses genuinely reduce harm. From there, teams design simple, testable solutions and scale what works.

In practice, that meant prioritizing a few core actions: clearer staff roles during incidents, routine face-to-face handoffs, scenario-based drills tied to real threats, and background vetting focused on trust and competence rather than only credential checks. Technology was framed as an amplifier of human work — for example, using data to surface patterns that supervisors then verify with conversations and targeted coaching.

The panelists contrasted this with tech-first models that often introduce alerts people ignore, or process-first models that add paperwork without improving outcomes. The recommended balance: build processes that respect how people think and move, then use tools to make those processes faster and more reliable.

What this means for clients and the wider security industry

For buyers and facility managers, the takeaway is practical. Procurement should ask not just what a system can do, but how it fits into daily routines. Contracts should include training and integration support, and vendors should be judged on whether their products reduce workload or add it.

The industry implication is a stronger market for background vetting, scenario-led training, and services that wrap tech in human-centered deployment. Firms that sell turnkey sensor arrays without training or operational change may find slower adoption unless they pair hardware with human-focused services.

Corporate context: why Pinkerton and Securitas sharing the stage matters

Pinkerton appeared alongside Securitas as part of a coordinated presence that emphasizes their complementary strengths — investigations, risk consulting and large-scale guarding and integrated services. The joint panels signaled a move to present unified solutions to enterprise clients who want both strategic intelligence and day-to-day operational reliability.

For attendees, the collaboration felt strategic: one brand speaks to deep investigative tradecraft, the other to global delivery and logistics.

Notable quotes and what to watch next

Speakers repeated a few lines that captured the session’s tone: security should be designed for people, not dashboards; simple human fixes often beat complex systems; and procurement must reward vendors who train and integrate. The companies said they will follow up with white papers and session materials available through GSX and with additional local workshops. Watch for those resources to see how these ideas move from stage talk to field practice.

Sources

• prnewswire.com