Development of an Integrated Security Maintenance Tracking System (Isms) For Security Firms in Nairobi County

Abstract

The growing reliance on integrated security technologies in Kenya necessitates robust maintenance of Integrated Security Management Systems (ISMS) to ensure operational continuity and resilience. This study, guided by the Design Science Research (DSR) paradigm, drew upon General Systems Theory (GST), the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), and Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) theory to examine maintenance practices within Nairobi’s private security sector and to develop a digital ISMS Maintenance Tracking System. The system comprises modules for role-based login, client and premises management, task assignment with Service Level Agreement (SLA) tracking, automated audit logging, and email notifications, all accessible via a mobile-first interface that supports offline operation for field technicians. The target population comprised ICT managers in registered private security firms in Nairobi County. A stratified purposive sample of 90 respondents was drawn, and 63 valid responses were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation, and multiple regression. Findings revealed that current maintenance practices were weak and significantly negatively impacted system effectiveness (B = -0.893, p < .001). Conversely, established best practices such as preventive scheduling, accountability, and real-time monitoring showed a strong positive relationship with effectiveness (B = 0.815, p < .001). A combined model explained 75% of the variance in system effectiveness (Adj. R² = 0.741, p < .001), demonstrating that integrating best practices into an automated system substantially enhances performance. User Acceptance Testing (UAT) confirmed the system’s efficacy, with 100% of users affirming login and notification functionality, 95% rating task assignment as very easy, and 90% describing the system as user-friendly. The study concludes that automating structured best practices can overcome the limitations of current fragmented approaches. It recommends the adoption of ISMS tracking tools aligned with ISO/IEC 27001:2022 and Kenya’s Private Security Regulation Act (2016) and suggests further research into sector-wide scaling and predictive analytics integration.