The South African private security industry is one of the largest globally, with over 16 500 licensed companies employing more than 600 000 personnel, outnumbering the police and defence forces combined.
The sector continues to grow rapidly and standing out in this contested industry requires a fresh approach. Tacticom Protect, under the leadership of Evert Myburgh, is turning to technology, and Automatic Numberplate Recognition (ANPR) in particular, to give his team the edge.
Evert’s story begins in the world of IT support and networking, which laid the foundation for his innovative approach to security. Evert pivoted into physical security, first as a bodyguard and then as a problem-solver for community security networks.
This hands-on approach, combined with a passion for technology, led to the founding of Gauteng headquartered, Tacticom, which is not only experiencing rapid regional expansion, but has been widely recognised for its intelligence-driven security solutions.
Old-School Values, Modern Solutions
Tacticom, specialises in providing integrated security solutions for communities, businesses, and gated estates. Their offering includes security consulting, assessment and optimisation of existing systems, installation of advanced technologies such as cameras, analytics, and access control. The team also relies on the integration of smart platforms like NAVIC for actionable intelligence and data-driven security management.
Evert says he built the business on a blend of old-school values and trust, along with a relentless focus on measurable results.
At the heart of this approach is ANPR technology, and specifically the NAVIC platform. ANPR systems capture and analyse vehicle number plates, generating a wealth of data that can be used for everything from detecting stolen vehicles to tracking fleet movements and monitoring visitor patterns.
“ANPR is just a tool. The real value is the system behind it, and that’s where NAVIC excels,” Evert says. “For Tacticom, NAVIC is more than just a product, it’s the central hub around which our security ecosystem is built.” And it’s this data-driven approach that allows Tacticom to quantify performance in ways that were previously impossible.
Smart Tech With Real-World Benefits
The company emphasises collaboration, adaptability, and providing clients with solutions that genuinely address their needs, rather than pushing unnecessary upgrades. Evert says the actionable intelligence and data provided by NAVIC allow Tacticom to quantify performance, demonstrate value, and continuously optimise security solutions for their clients.
“By having access to NAVIC data we can make informed decisions about clients’ security strategies. For example, we can assess how quickly armed response teams react, how many vehicles or people enter a property, and the frequency of false alarms. This quantifiable information enables continuous optimisation of security solutions, ensuring that resources are used effectively and that clients receive measurable value from their investments,” Evert explains, adding that without data, security performance is left to guesswork. “With ANPR and data-driven insights, we can demonstrate real results and make improvements based on evidence rather than assumptions.”
A Vision for the Future
Evert is clear-eyed about the disruptive potential of AI and data analytics in security. “AI is going to be the greatest disruptor. People just don’t realise it yet,” he says, going on to say that the real power of AI lies in its ability to process and analyse massive amounts of data, something that’s increasingly central to modern security operations.
“With ANPR as the data source, AI can detect patterns, predict suspicious behaviour, and help security teams make smarter, faster decisions. This not only improves security outcomes but also enables upskilling. Now, rather than sitting at the gate, a guard can sit in a control room and manage 100 gates. We shouldn’t see AI as a threat to jobs, but rather as an opportunity to reward potential through upskilling,” he says.
By optimising existing systems and leveraging the power of ANPR, Evert and his team are setting a new standard for what security can, and should, deliver. He sums up saying: “In a world where security challenges are constantly evolving, trust, and the intelligence that underpins it, may be the most valuable asset of all.”