Why Security Firms Must Build In-House Software to Stay Competitive
I would like to start this article with a quick story. I was recently at an ASIS International meetup where several executives and owners of private security companies in the Los Angeles area gathered to connect and share insights. During the event, I had a conversation with the Director of IT for a reputable security firm and brought up an advanced visitor logging system that our firm, MSB Protection, is currently researching and developing.
Naturally, he asked if his company could eventually use our product—and OF COURSE, the conversation immediately shifted to per-site pricing. I shared our pricing structure, and as expected, he went straight into negotiation mode. What he said next really stuck with me:
“We’ve been looking for a software solution like the one you described. I went on several platforms where you can hire top-tier software engineers from around the world. One developer quoted us $25,000 for a visitor management system. Given the number of clients we serve, it might actually make more sense for us to develop our own solution instead of paying a monthly fee per site.”
Now, my role at MSB Protection is a bit unique. I’m not just the CEO—I’m also the one leading our software development efforts. Kind of like how Elon Musk is directly involved in building the rockets at SpaceX (lol). Because of my background in both executive protection and software engineering, I was able to steer the IT director away from making what could have been a costly and potentially damaging mistake.
The Dangers of Outsourcing Development—Especially Overseas
Many non-programmers assume that once software is built, it “just runs.” But nothing could be further from the truth. Even robust, well-funded operating systems like Windows require constant updates, patches, and bug fixes. When it comes to mission-critical security software—especially anything cloud-based—you’re not just building it once and walking away. You’re entering a lifecycle of maintenance, real-world testing, and continuous improvement.
Now imagine this scenario: A security company hires a freelance developer overseas—say, in New Delhi. The developer is competent, well-meaning, and affordable. He builds a prototype visitor logging system and delivers it on time. The company begins testing it at the residences of their Ultra High Net Worth clients.
Then—as is always the case with early-stage software—it breaks. Something fails. A bug appears. Data isn’t saving properly and the interface freezes. And now the developer is called back in to debug the issue.
To troubleshoot, he needs full access to the dataset. That means every report, every timestamp, every incident log. Because without the actual data, he can’t trace the error.
A Devastating Scenario
Let me paint you a real-world (fictionalized) scenario for clarity.
A security focused visitor/reporting system has to be able to store incident reports. One of those reports involves a private altercation between a celebrity client and a high-profile public figure. It wasn’t reported to law enforcement—but it was logged meticulously for legal and professional reasons. That’s proper procedure in our industry.
Now your overseas developer logs in to inspect the data and sees this:
This fictional record documents a late-night altercation between Marilyn Monroe and President John F. Kennedy—including details like nudity, surveillance timestamps, and a link to video footage hosted on an S3 bucket.
Even if the developer has no malicious intent, human curiosity takes over. He shares the video with a friend. That friend knows someone at a tabloid. One week later, the report and video footage are plastered across TV screens, newspapers, and social media. The tabloid cites an anonymous source. The fallout is immediate—reputation ruined, lawsuits threatened, and the security firm’s credibility shattered.
All because of a single software bug… and the wrong person having access to the wrong data at the wrong time.
I will say it again, NO SOFTWARE IS BUG FREE! EARLY SOFTWARE WILL ALWAYS BREAK AND REQUIRE DEBUGGING.
Why In-House, Domain-Specific Development Matters
This is exactly why we at MSB Protection build our software in-house.
Our developers aren’t just coders—they’re U.S.-based, background-checked professionals who understand both the technical and operational risks in the private security industry. We know how to build systems that safeguard clients, not just collect data. And we implement protocols that ensure no sensitive information is ever visible to someone who shouldn’t have access.
Security software is not a typical app. It’s not a restaurant POS system. It’s a mission-critical layer of defense that protects people, property, and in some cases—reputation and freedom.
If you’re a security company considering building your own visitor management system or incident reporting platform—think twice before outsourcing. The short-term savings are never worth the long-term risk.
That said, at MSB Protection, we recognize that not every firm has the in-house resources to build software from scratch. When there’s a clear strategic and operational fit, we do allow select companies to use our custom-built software solutions. In such cases, we always enter into a binding, U.S.-based Confidentiality and Non-Solicitation Agreement to protect our partners, their clients, and their internal operations. Security begins with trust—and we treat that responsibility with the same seriousness as we treat executive protection itself.
The Strategic Role of Custom Software in Modern Security
In today’s rapidly evolving security landscape, the integration of custom software solutions has become essential to maintaining a competitive edge. Beyond avoiding the pitfalls of outsourcing, custom software enables organizations to align tools and workflows precisely with their unique mission, operating environment, and client expectations.
The Growing Importance of Custom Software in Security
As threats become more sophisticated, traditional off-the-shelf systems often fall short. Custom software bridges that gap, offering solutions that are scalable, adaptable, and purpose-built. Whether you’re managing access control at a private estate or analyzing threat intel for a Fortune 500 executive, tailored systems bring unmatched flexibility and control.
Enhancing Physical Security Through Custom Software
Integrated Security Management Systems
Custom-built platforms can unify access control, surveillance, alarms, and more into a centralized dashboard—improving real-time situational awareness and simplifying incident response.
Advanced Surveillance Solutions
Custom solutions allow for AI-powered monitoring, facial recognition, and automated alerts—designed specifically for the threats your clients face.
Access Control and Identity Management
Custom applications can integrate with biometrics, mobile credentials, and advanced permission logic—ensuring only authorized individuals access secure areas.
Fortifying Cybersecurity with Custom Solutions
Tailored Threat Detection & Response
Custom cybersecurity tools can be tuned to detect attack patterns specific to your operation—whether that’s high-risk clients, digital surveillance systems, or internal systems.
Secure Software Development Practices
When you own the software stack, you own the security. Custom software lets you embed security protocols from day one—eliminating entire classes of vulnerabilities.
Compliance and Regulatory Alignment
Different industries face different regulations. Custom software ensures you’re aligned with HIPAA, SOC 2, GDPR, or whatever standard applies to your operations and clients.
Challenges and Considerations
Custom development isn’t without its hurdles—resource intensiveness, ongoing maintenance, and securing the development lifecycle are all critical factors. For example, hiring a skilled U.S.-based React/Node.js engineer typically costs between $100–$150 per hour, depending on experience and region.
To reach a prototype level for an advanced visitor logging system—including features like secure check-in/out, ID capture, incident reporting, admin dashboards, and multi-site support—you’re looking at approximately 400–600 development hours.
Getting from that prototype to a stable, production-ready release—complete with user permissions, auditing, cloud backups, mobile compatibility, and threat-hardened infrastructure—can easily require another 800–1,000 hours of development, QA, and refinements.
Once you factor in:
- Initial backend + frontend development
- DevOps setup and infrastructure deployment
- Security testing
- UI/UX refinements
- Cloud architecture (e.g., AWS, Azure)
- Documentation and onboarding tools
…it brings the total cost to approximately $250,000 for a fully operational, stable product.
And that’s just to get version 1.0 out the door.
To further illustrate the cost factor that goes into writing security software, check out this post.
What many companies don’t anticipate is this: your engineer isn’t going anywhere. Software is not “set it and forget it.” You’ll need that developer—or an entire team—on payroll or retainer to handle bug fixes, performance issues, security patches, and new feature requests as your operation grows or client demands change.
At MSB Protection, we’ve already made this investment. We employ U.S.-based engineers, DevOps professionals, and infrastructure architects to ensure our tools don’t just work—they work securely, reliably, and at scale. Our software is built from the ground up for private security operations, and we constantly reinvest in improving it because it directly enhances our service and operational edge.
And for trusted partners, we make these tools available—under a binding, U.S.-based Confidentiality and Non-Solicitation Agreement—to ensure data privacy, trust, and mutual success.
Future Trends in Custom Security Software
Expect to see more AI and ML integration for predictive threat detection, automation of security protocols, and real-time adaptive systems. Firms like Trend Micro are already embedding AI brains into enterprise security stacks.
The future is intelligent, integrated, and individualized.
Final Thoughts
Security is no longer just boots on the ground or cameras on a pole. It’s software. It’s data. It’s intelligence.
And the firms that survive—and thrive—will be the ones that build technology like they build protection: with foresight, expertise, and an uncompromising commitment to control.
Custom software isn’t a luxury. In today’s world, it’s a necessity for serious private security companies that want to stay competetive.