The new baby panda at Washington’s National Zoo has caused a flurry of excitement and the “panda-monium” caused web cams to be overwhelmed. Popular zoo exhibits such as the pandas as well as lions and elephants help maintain visitor attendance at the parks while sharks, octopus and the ever-popular seals are some of the top attractions at aquariums.

In Japan, it is customary to remove one’s shoes when entering a home, temple or shrine. Italians usually only drink cappuccino in the mornings. Don’t expect to go shopping on Sundays in Vienna because all the stores are closed. In Costa Rica, one is not expected to tip the wait staff as a service charge is already included in the bill.

The technology found in today’s physical security systems is notably more advanced than systems that were deployed even just five years ago. IP cameras were on the scene then but megapixel and panoramic capabilities were just beginning to appear. Access control systems offered integration capabilities but nothing compared to today’s “smart” access cards and systems. And who had even heard of or envisioned cloud technology, SaaS (Software as a Service) or data mining as an integral part of a physical security system.

It used to be said that mechanical keys tell no tales. This was because there was no way to determine or prove who may have last used a key, when it was used, if and when it was returned or even where it might be now. Manual log systems were inefficient at best as a record-keeping/monitoring tool and the honor system relied on the integrity (and memory) of the individual.

Physical security for semi-public buildings such as airports, hospitals, university campuses, museums and others tend to have unique challenges. The main reason for this is that semi-public facilities must accommodate a mix of personnel and outside people who have legitimate reason to be on site; patients and family at hospitals; students and visiting faculty on campus; temporary contractors at an airport, etc.