Reimagining Guarding: A Conversation with Security Strategist Bill Schultz
- LandSky.AI
- Jun 11
- 4 min read
In today’s shifting security landscape, the traditional guard isn’t going away—but it is evolving. In a recent conversation on the LandSkyAI podcast, we sat down with ‘Bill Schultz, CSO, ASIS, a decorated veteran and CSO of Integrated Security Consulting, to explore his journey, the real-world challenges of manned guarding, and the future of hybrid guarding through the integration of AI and drones.
Who Is Bill Schultz?
With a career that began in the United States Air Force in 1987, Bill Schultz has lived most of his adult life immersed in security—both manned and unmanned solutions.
“I like to joke around sometimes… I’ve been in a blended guarding model all of my life,” he shared, referencing his military experience with surveillance technology, conventional warfare, and varied air support strategies. After a lengthy detour into physical medicine, Bill returned to security in 2008, where he cut his teeth in the manned guarding space—from unarmed guards to later executive protection.
Bill’s experience spans sales, private investigations, national business development, and advisory roles with firms across the U.S. But it’s his work as the founder of Integrated Security Consulting (ISC) that defines his mission today. Through ISC, Bill helps Managed Guard Service Providers (MSPs), OEMs, and product manufacturers—along with security buyers—align their operational models with modern security expectations. His consultancy acts as a sales enablement partner, guiding firms and clients through the transformation from just traditional guarding to intelligent, well-designed blended strategies.
“At ISC, we’re helping companies break out of the old way of thinking,” Bill shared. “We’re not just selling manned services—we’re reengineering security programs to be proactive, tech-enabled, and scalable.” Whether it’s helping startups structure their offerings or advising larger firms on integrating drones and AI into guard operations, Bill’s focus is on empowering the industry to adapt.
The Current State of Guarding: Challenges and Realities
Bill was quick to point out that some of the biggest challenges in manned guarding haven’t changed in decades.
“There’s just a lack of qualified applicants at the levels that are needed to truly mitigate risk,” he explained. Guard companies, he noted, often fall into a reactive mode—hiring quickly to fulfill contracts without investing in infrastructure or strategic forecasting.
He emphasized that successful guard firms aren’t just filling shifts—they’re building cultures and staying within their capabilities.
“Staffing then and now… it’s still always a big component. The successful organizations are analyzing, planning, and preparing all the time,” Bill said.
Unfortunately, he acknowledged that many companies still remain stuck in old habits: “They kind of follow the lead of others—what’s always been done—and don’t really do enough to be innovative or add their own identity to the mix.”
What Is Hybrid Guarding? And Why It Matters Now
So what exactly is “hybrid” or “blended” guarding? Bill defines it as the layered integration of people, process, and technology: “It’s the implementation of all the true layers of security… combining different levels of manned guarding, emerging technologies, proactive management, and communication and analytics tools.”
These layers can range from unarmed and armed guards to high-level executive protection, even off-duty police and military operators.
“The training and experience dictate the capabilities at each level,” Bill explained. It’s not just about replacing guards with tech—it’s about enhancing their capabilities and understanding the full security ecosystem.
At the heart of this model, ideally, is the right balance.
“Technology should act as a force multiplier,” Bill said, noting that most operations today are still 70–80% manned, depending on budgets and client education and understanding.
Where Drones and AI Fit In
As AI and tech adoption grow, Bill sees drones playing an increasingly vital role. From verifying alarms to providing real-time situational awareness, drones can augment guard duties—especially the routine and mundane.
“The boring, non-gameified tasks that guards perform can be augmented properly… and it’s not just checking boxes, but gathering information to learn and be better the next day,” he said.
But he’s also realistic.
“We’re still only as good as that human-in-the-loop element,” Bill emphasized.
Technology, no matter how advanced, requires real leadership, strategy, training, and the right people behind it.
His vision? A future where adding drones, robotics, and AI-powered protective intelligence seamlessly communicates with well-trained responders.
“We’re not just using drones because it’s a cool tool to have in place. We have a strategy, an infrastructure, and we’re mapping everything we do at all levels.”
Leading the Shift
Bill’s broader goal is to help the industry shift from what he calls “bro science” (from his exercise background)—decisions made on gut feelings, habits, and tradition—to a model backed by data, threat assessments, and academia-based best practices.
“I’ve been applying real tools, along with others, for years, but the industry is just now starting to connect the dots,” he said. “The future of guarding lies in a fusion of skill, strategy, and smart systems.”
Through ISC and his podcast, The Security Shift, Bill is pushing the industry conversation forward. He’s gathering C-level leaders, collaborating with the best consultants, and experimenting with real-world deployments—now working with firms like LandSkyAI to demonstrate what hybrid guarding looks like in action.
The Takeaway
Bill Schultz doesn’t believe in magic silver bullets—but he does believe in measured progress. His insights reveal a security industry at a crossroads: still reliant on manpower, but increasingly needing to be empowered by technology. With drones, AI, and a new generation of security professionals, hybrid guarding isn’t a trend—it’s now a necessity.
As Bill put it: “If you do what’s always been done, you’ll be where you’ve always been.” For security leaders, the message is clear: it’s time to evolve.
Are you interested in connecting Bill and Integrated Guarding? Reach out below!
Written by Colton Teri, Marketing Director at LandSkyAI
Published June 11, 2025
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