Some may believe AI is a futuristic threat - but the truth is, it's already here and it's transforming workplaces and how you secure them. Government contractors still stuck using outdated security frameworks are playing a risky game. It’s not enough to react to threats anymore; you need to anticipate, adapt, and act faster than adversaries— setting the rules for how AI is used before it’s used against you..
Sign In Solutions’ 2025 Security Benchmark Report reveals that 77% of security teams already lean on AI to protect their assets. AI is here, and it’s rewriting the rules of the defense industrial base. Ready or not, it's time to keep pace or fall behind.
Five Security Imperatives for Government Contractors in 2025
1. Govern AI as if the worst has already happened
Be proactive, not reactive. Comprehensive governance frameworks need to address both defensive uses of AI and the offensive threats it enables—now, not later.. Policies, detection capabilities, and training to spot deepfakes and AI-powered social engineering aren't optional—they’re baseline requirements.
"We’re in the sandbox era of AI," says Paul "IX" Kemppainen, former Head of National Security Programs at SpaceX. "Explore now—but understand the sand is running out."
2. Merge digital and physical security
Cyber and physical threats aren’t siloed, so your response shouldn’t be either. Modern security platforms integrate badge scans, network activity, visitor data, and alerts into a single, actionable view. That's visibility, simplified.
3. Be audit-ready. Always
We said be proactive when it comes to governing AI, the same applies to your audits. Periodic audits don’t cut it. Continuous compliance is the new standard. Automate documentation, get real-time compliance oversight, and generate audit-ready reports instantly.
Pete Akeley, Director of Product Management at Sign In Solutions, says it bluntly: "The best contractors don't prepare for audits—they’re always ready."
4. Embed security in leadership
Security isn’t a line item—it’s a leadership discipline. Integrate security leaders into strategic decision-making, and educate business leaders on security essentials. This fusion of expertise is how you build resilience from the boardroom to the front door.
5. Automate smartly, but keep humans in charge
Automation amplifies human judgment; it doesn’t replace it. Let AI handle routine tasks and pattern recognition, escalating complex issues to skilled personnel. Human authority remains central. Remember, AI informs; humans decide. That balance keeps speed and accuracy without sacrificing accountability
Why AI-Powered Visitor Management Makes A Difference For Government Contractors
Small Teams, Big Stakes
Smaller aerospace and defense contractors face disproportionate challenges—complying with defense-prime standards with fewer resources. To bridge the gap, these teams invest strategically:
- 46% spending more on physical security
- 46% enhancing training programs
- 42% embracing AI tools
AI-powered visitor management delivers on all fronts—strengthening physical security, enhancing training, and putting AI tools to work for faster, smarter protection.
"The real reason you invest," says Jacques LeCour, VP Customer Success at Sign In Solutions, "isn't compliance alone—it's protecting people, your operations, and your mission."
Taming Compliance Complexity
Navigating overlapping requirements—ITAR, DFARS, CMMC, ISO 27001—isn't getting easier. Contractors need systems that adapt to regulatory complexity without crushing productivity. Success means automated, tailored workflows based on visitor type, nationality, location, and more—delivering simplicity amid complexity.
Building Security from the Inside
Three key practices define successful defense contractors:
- Mission-driven culture: Connect security directly to mission success.
- Integrated workflows: Make security processes seamless, not disruptive.
- Clear accountability: Ensure everyone knows—and owns—their security responsibilities.
Take Everfox. Once bogged down by Excel tracking chaos, their integrated visitor management overhaul slashed internal communications by 50%, delivered real-time visibility, and transformed security into an enterprise-wide responsibility.
AI at the Intersection of Security and Compliance
Using AI in aerospace and defense isn’t about replacing humans—it’s about sharpening their focus. AI-driven visitor management delivers:
- Instant visibility into potential anomalies
- Rapid response to unexpected visitor behaviors
- Automated compliance readiness, reducing risk exposure
In mission-critical scenarios, AI handles verification and approvals, escalating complex or suspicious cases immediately to human experts.
Trust Starts at the Front Door
In the age of AI, threats evolve too quickly for outdated security playbooks. The most successful government contractors treat security and compliance as built-in, not bolt-on—woven into every process, every day. Trust is the mission’s foundation, earned from the first moment someone approaches your facility. Nail the frontline, and you set the tone for everything that follows.
Want to see how Sign In Solutions can transform how your organization approaches security? Get in touch.
