"Security is not a state – it is a process" – these words by Bruce Schneier, an American cryptographer and IT security expert, became the starting point for a discussion on the contemporary challenges faced by offices and office buildings.On 6 November, the LookUp conference and event space at Skyliner in Warsaw hosted the conference "Innovation and Technology in Office and Office Building Security," co-organised by Karimpol Polska and CBRE Poland, with the participation of partners Safety Project and ISSA Polska.

The event was attended by representatives of the real estate, technology and management industries, who discussed physical, digital and psychological security in the workplace – from building solutions to organisational culture.

"We listen to our tenants and their expectations. Security, both physical and digital, is a key element of their daily work. At Skyliner, we have implemented a number of solutions that allow them to feel safe – from over 300 cameras monitoring the building in real time and an advanced access control system, through evacuation procedures, to systems protecting the BMS network against cyber threats. In addition, we regularly cooperate with emergency services, which conduct their trainings in our office building and thus familiarise themselves with its specific features. All these aspects mean that our tenants can work in complete comfort and safety”, said Michał Orłowski, Head of Leasing & Asset Management, Karimpol Polska.

The topic of a practical approach to security management in organisations was raised by Maciej Maciejewski, security expert at Safety Project:

“Safety is not only a priority, but also an everyday practice. With the number of threats growing, it is crucial to foster preparedness through awareness and cooperation. Remember that there are people behind every technology, and they are the ones who foster a culture of safety within an organisation.”

Artur Markiewicz from the ISSA Poland Association, in turn, drew attention to the key aspects of cybersecurity and the responsibility of system users:

“There is no one-size-fits-all solution to cybersecurity – it all depends on the context. The most important thing is for organisations to be able to ask themselves the right questions: do we know how to respond to an attack, who is responsible for it, how do we protect our data? The key is reflection, risk analysis and the awareness that we do not need to know everything – but we do need to know who to ask.”

In addition to the technical and systemic aspects that form the basis of office security, the conference also devoted a lot of attention to its soft dimensions – such as designing spaces that promote a sense of security, employee well-being and team integration. Experts emphasised that a well-designed office can not only support efficiency, but also reduce stress and build a positive work experience.

"A trend that is becoming increasingly prominent in office design is the creation of spaces that give users a sense of security, calm and balance. The offices of the future will be flexible, mobile, biophilic and inclusive – responding to the needs of different people, including those with neurodiversity. By designing with nature, sustainability and emotions in mind, we create places that people really want to return to," said Iwona Pasik, Director of Leasing Design HUB, Architect IARP, CBRE.

Emilia Brzóska from the Nowe Przestrzenie / SafeSpace Foundation discussed the psychological dimension of safety in the workplace:

“Physical safety does not exist without psychological safety. We can have the best procedures and technologies, but what matters most is how people feel within the organisation. A culture of openness, trust and the ability to talk about mistakes are the foundations of psychological safety. Leaders play a huge role here – they build a sense of security that the team will follow in difficult times.”

During the conference, participants learned about the modern technologies and security solutions used at Skyliner, how to build resilience and a sense of security in the workplace – physical, digital and psychological – and gained practical tips on trends in office design and cybersecurity. They also took part in an expert discussion on combining technology, architecture and management.

The conference confirmed that office security is not only about infrastructure and technology, but also about awareness, relationships and shared responsibility. It is a process that starts with people – their knowledge, skills and cooperation.