Efficiency vs. Security

It is a common belief that efficiency and security contradicts each other. Let's take a few examples:
* Airports - when the security is tight the flow of passengers is slow
* Networks - the more security check there is the slower is the transfer of information
* Services - when more verification is needed the provisioning of services is slower

There are multitudes of examples and real life situations where efficiency and security are always two items that does not go very well with each other. The compromise is of course finding the right balance between efficiency and security. This balance is often dictated by availability of infrastructure to process the security requirements, most especially in transport and logistics. Some goes to the extent of recommending that the cost of additional infrastructure should be passed to those who require the extensive security check. However such solution would create a wider repercussion to the local economy both good and bad.

There are of course more acceptable solutions such as using RFID. It seems that any solution requires additional infrastructure. Let's look on the human side and on how we deal with efficiency and security. In airports for example more advance detectors are being deployed to make the flow of people faster through security checks. This also goes hand in hand with the introduction of electronic and biometric measurements. For example in some European airports you no longer need a paper passport but can use a plastic "National ID Card" where a machines scans your card and compares your physical biometric info. Others are more advance where they use iris scan. This is both to increase efficiency and decrease the cost of human resources.

With advancement of technology the efficiency gains grow even though the security threat remains high. But is there a much better way? How about using well trained canines to sniff our potential threats and contrabands? How about a more advance technology to ensure a fluid flow of people and merchandize while maintaining the best possible security. It is a need since every now and then humans try to get around security if they can for whatever purpose they have.