By Jordan Rivchun and Kevin Darnell, Hanwha Vision AmericaWhen selecting video surveillance systems, security, IT, and operations teams can all play vital and complementary roles.Better collaboration helps companies to maximize the benefits of AI in security, optimize budgets, and successfully mitigate risks, especially those related to cybersecurity and network capabilities.Ideally, every situation would involve seamless teamwork leading to smooth deployments.But in reality, we know that alignment between departments doesn’t always go as planned. So, as a security professional, what can you do when you have to bridge a gap between IT or operations?Below, we provide some of our recommended best practices to spur organizational alignment and understanding. These tips stem from our experiences at Hanwha Vision and combined 40+ years working as surveillance and loss prevention leaders with major global retailers.
Building A Culture of Collaboration & Cross Functional Understanding:
AI in video is more valuable in an organization when all of its key stakeholders are informed and on board with its uses, benefits, and desired outcomes.
As the primary guardians of video technology, security leaders have the opportunity to educate your IT and operational colleagues. Help your peers understand the many ways that AI-enabled video surveillance can enhance their business functions.
Emphasize the capabilities, affordability, and importance of responsible usage. Building awareness and understanding across departments will be crucial for gaining buy-in and fostering trust as AI-enabled video technology progresses.
When working with IT, compliance, or operations, a good place to start is by establishing common goals that center on protecting data and ensuring system integrity. A shared vision will help unite efforts. Encourage regular communication by holding cross-departmental meetings where each team discusses challenges, progress, and concerns.
Additionally, cross-training between team members will help everyone understand each other’s roles, promoting a sense of mutual respect and teamwork. For example, consider implementing joint training sessions to covers aspects of both IT and security, building a unified skill set and approach.
Overall, regular communication will help integrate IT and security functions more effectively, ensuring better outcomes.
Strategic & Sequential Approaches
Digital transformation is happening so fast in every industry, and it’s impacting nearly every business function. For IT and compliance leaders, this is often overwhelming.
On a daily basis, they plan and allocate for necessary infrastructure upgrades to support a growing number of AI-enabled connected devices. They must ensure that all devices have the appropriate built-in cybersecurity credentials, and that any layered on AI-based software programs do not pose challenges for customer, employee, or organizational data security.
If an overwhelmed or understaffed IT team seeks to push back or slow up a large-scale surveillance project, security professionals can devise creative approaches to drive progress.
For example, consider implementing AI video surveillance solutions in phases, starting with areas that will have the most business impact.
In many cases, a scaled approach will help simplify execution. It will also give your cross-functional colleagues the opportunity to experience new technologies in action and see their many benefits.
Developing Collaborative Vendor Evaluation Criteria
Together, security, IT, and operations team members can create aligned vendor selection criteria terms. Consider scoring potential AI surveillance vendors on various factors, including:
- Data security posture/cybersecurity credentials (SOC 2 or ISO 27001 certification, FIPS)
- Model transparency (explainability, no “black-box” biases)
- Track record of success serving your industry
- Integration ease (APIs, SDKs, compatibility with existing VMS/NVR)
- Total cost of ownership (license fees, hardware acceleration needs, ongoing support)
- Vendor’s commitment to sustainability
Transparency & Celebrating Shared Success
At the start a surveillance installation project, it’s important to align on cybersecurity priorities with the overall business objectives. Ensure all key stakeholders collaborate on identifying and evaluating potential threats and vulnerabilities.
To promote transparency in decision-making and product selection, consider creating joint planning meetings to review security reports and a product manufacturers’ cybersecurity credentials. When teams tackle challenges together-whether it’s resolving vulnerabilities or optimizing performance- it usually fosters mutual respect and shared responsibility.
Looking for a smart and easy way to improve collaboration?
Work with human resources or C-suite business leaders to create rewards or recognition programs that celebrate joint, cross-functional achievements. Done right and consistently, we have seen this approach quickly break down siloes and reinforce a culture of collaboration.
Governance & Accountability
We have seen customers generate great results by creating AI Surveillance Steering Committees with reps from security, IT, legal/compliance, and operations all playing valued roles.
Some of the committee’s key efforts can include drafting a user/usage policy that clearly defines who has access to view surveillance footage, guidelines for video retention, audit-trail requirements, and more. Common KPIs like – percent of false positives detected, patch-cycle adherence, total number of incident detections and corresponding response times – should are typically reviewed at monthly/quarterly governance meetings.
We have also seen companies successfully create committees that have full oversight of AI technology deployment, execution, and evaluation.
These groups are either led by a chief AI officer, or by a combination of IT, security, and other business leaders. Typically, in this set up, surveillance is one of many functions that are handled by the AI Committee.
Closing Thoughts
Collaboration isn’t always easy. But it’s essential for driving both innovation and protection.One of the most valuable outcomes of cross-functional collaboration is the ability to build a strong, data-backed ROI model.By bringing together security, IT, operations, and compliance leaders, organizations can define the right performance metrics-such as incident reduction, response time improvements, system uptime, and operational efficiencies. Each team contributes unique insights that help identify cost drivers, efficiency gains, and measurable outcomes.
With this collective input, businesses can quantify both direct savings and indirect benefits, creating a clear ROI model that justifies initial investments and guides future budget decisions.
About the Authors
Jordan Rivchun
Senior Director of Business DevelopmentHanwha Vision AmericaJordan is a seasoned security and business development leader who brings a rare blend of operational insight and strategic vision to the stage. As Senior Director of Business Development at Hanwha Vision, Jordan leads growth across key verticals and enterprise markets, helping bridge the gap between customer needs and technology solutions. With a background in corporate security and retail loss prevention, he understands the challenges today’s organizations face-and knows how to translate those needs into meaningful action.Before joining Hanwha, Jordan led national loss prevention programs at DSW and held key roles with Security Risk Management Consultants, Target, and Nordstrom. He’s a former member of the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) Asset Protection Leaders Council and a longtime supporter of ASIS International and the Security Industry Association (SIA).Jordan holds a bachelor’s degree from The Ohio State University and an MBA from Franklin University. He brings energy, insight, and practical experience to every conversation-making him a trusted voice in the security and technology space.
Kevin Darnell
Business Development DirectorHanwha Vision AmericaBefore joining Hanwha Vision, Kevin Darnell spent over 30 years in the retail industry, progressing from an entry-level Loss Prevention agent to leading Loss Prevention, Asset Revenue Management, and Retail Operations for some of the nation’s top retailers. He held leadership roles at Fortune 500 companies including JC Penney, Lowe’s, Michaels, Kmart, Bass Pro Shops, Dollar General, RadioShack, and Caleres (Famous Footwear).
Kevin’s expertise extends beyond security, he has overseen executive protection, investigations, audits, safety, compliance, and managed capital investments. In his final retail role, he led a successful transition to Hanwha’s security solutions, prompting his move to Hanwha Vision’s Business Development team.
Beyond corporate roles, Kevin has delivered keynotes at major security and retail events, been featured in multiple publications, and produced and hosted a podcast with listeners in over 40 countries highlighting his ability to engage global audiences and share practical insights.
Now, as a leader at Hanwha and former customer, Kevin brings unmatched real-world perspective and deep industry knowledge.