Border security management as we know it today is filled with complex challenges.
The COVID-19 pandemic completely changed how borders are managed and dictated the need for adopting new and flexible approaches. It became vital for border control authorities to enforce medical examination and quarantine policies targeting both legal and illegal visitors. New policies needed to be established with regards to the outbreak but in a way that the safety of borders and of border control staff was not compromised.
The world has become a smaller place thanks to technology, but at the same time this has increased the number and level of security threats. Today’s border security is not all about physical barriers, as defending against cyber breaches is equally crucial in protecting a nation’s interests. In the not-so-distant future, AI integration into border control systems which allows for autonomous or semi-autonomous systems will most likely be the standard, not the exception, as it is effective against evolving border risks.
The evolution of border protection in our present times from the traditional border security is more than a simple addition on the available tools and technologies but a complete conceptual shift as it requires true understanding of the past, present and the foreseen future. In other words, this framework is very much dependent on the people’s knowledge and expertise, which allows them to have a wider perspective and better use of the tools available to them.
Looking forward, it is clear that a shift from reactive to proactive should now be the standard and having a coherent and synchronized border security strategy will be crucial. This strategy that requires real situational understanding is depended on physical protection, cyberspace protection, intelligence, analytics, and speed of action. This level of complexity is the most effective way to ensure truly efficient security and the potential borders of the future will consist in cross-platform solutions which will integrate both the land and cyber borders within one virtual boundary.