Imagine standing guard as a security officer at a hospital entrance, a school hallway, or a busy transit hub—knowing you’re vulnerable, and knowing there’s no protection if things go sideways.
That was the reality for one officer who recently told us, “I feel like a sitting duck.” He was doing his job, unarmed, in a high-risk location.
It’s a reality too many security professionals face. But there is new technology now being leveraged to help protect those who protect us.
Security professionals know this reality all too well: visibility and vigilance are essential—but costly. As organizations seek to tighten budgets while increasing public safety, the next generation of security solutions must do more than watch. They must act, respond, and protect—intelligently.
That’s where next-gen technology steps in. An article published by Police1 discusses the potential for holographic technology to “transform law enforcement, allowing officers to safely navigate dangerous situations and improve de-escalation tactics.”
For sales teams, integrators, and security professionals looking for scalable solutions, utilizing integrated state-of-the-art technology can create a workforce multiplier for organizations. With security budgets stretched thin and violence on the rise, it’s critical to offer clients solutions that increase coverage and reduce risk—without multiplying costs.
New innovations have produced technology that can equip hospitals, schools and other critical facilities with interactive holograms powered by AI. These are full-bodied, responsive “virtual” on-site officers capable of answering visitor questions, de-escalating situations, and when needed, dispatching real human personnel.
Such technology creates an added layer of efficiency, automation, and safety. It allows one trained officer to be virtually present at multiple locations, backed by a live support team and seamlessly integrated with the facility’s dispatch system.
Securing Facilities and Security Officers
The scenario described above is precisely the kind of gap emerging technologies are closing. With interactive holographic systems, institutions can maintain the strong first impression and safety assurance of a uniformed figure—without exposing personnel to unnecessary risk.
The concept is simple: Visitors interact with the system just as they would with an in-person officer—asking questions, receiving directions, or reporting suspicious behavior. When needed, the system escalates to live personnel or emergency services.
Benefits for Integrators and Security Decision-Makers
For integrators and sales professionals, this is more than a cool tech upgrade—it’s a strategic offering that adds tangible value for clients. The technology serves as a workforce multiplier. One trained officer can now cover multiple sites virtually, reducing cost without reducing presence.
An AI-powered holographic system opens up powerful opportunities for integrators to help clients:
- Reduce reliance on multiple full-time security officers
- Increase coverage across campuses and high-traffic areas
- Automate routine tasks such as visitor assistance and FAQs
- Free up live personnel for more critical or mobile response roles
- Ensure consistent, 24/7 monitoring without fatigue or downtime
From hospitals and corporate buildings to transit hubs and schools, clients across sectors are asking the same question: how do we provide top-tier protection with limited resources? Now there are options.
Interactive, Not Just Observational
Where traditional virtual security setups often rely on passive camera feeds and offsite monitoring, this new approach adds interaction. A life-size, projected figure responds to voice prompts, answers pre-programmed questions, and if needed, connects users to live security officers.
If a situation requires immediate escalation, the system can alert on-site personnel or route the issue through the client’s internal dispatch center. In emergency cases, the system can activate the appropriate medical, law enforcement, or safety response.
This intelligent triage system means help is never far away—even when a physical officer is not stationed at every entrance.
Maintaining the Human Factor
It’s important to note that these systems don’t eliminate the human element—they enhance it. In most environments, at least one security professional remains onsite, per regulatory or organizational policy. What changes now is how their time is used.
Rather than standing at an entryway for eight hours answering repetitive questions, a security professional can respond only when needed—while the virtual system handles routine questions. This allows for smarter allocation of security personnel and more effective incident management.
If AI fails to answer a question, or if a user requests a live conversation, the system can instantly escalate the call to a remote officer. This ensures continuity, professionalism, and accountability.
Overcoming Objections
Some clients may initially worry that a virtual interface won’t feel secure or responsive enough. But once clients see how the system interacts—how questions are answered in real time, how incidents are escalated without delay—those concerns quickly fade.
In fact, organizations may find that visitor satisfaction improves. Guests will appreciate the speed, clarity, and consistency of automated responses, and staff benefit from reduced interruptions.
Integrators and sales teams should emphasize that such systems are not a replacement—but an enhancement. A well-designed virtual interface, when integrated with existing weapons detection systems, amplifies existing security frameworks while lowering exposure and increasing efficiency.
The Future of Frontline Security
Security is evolving. The challenges are greater, but so are the tools at our disposal. With virtual AI-powered solutions, organizations gain flexibility, safety, and intelligence—all in one integrated platform.
And for those working in security integration, this technology represents a new standard. It’s what your clients will expect tomorrow—and what forward-thinking teams are deploying today.
By offering these systems, you’re not just selling a product. You’re providing a proactive, cost-effective way to protect people and property in a world where static solutions no longer suffice.
Chris Ciabarra is the co-founder and chief technology officer of Athena Security Weapons Detection System, Inc.
