Blended Security in Action: Titan Protection Integrates Tech, Guards and Innovation for Enterprise-Scale Asset Protection

By: Dawn Zoldi

Titan Protection, headquartered in Overland Park, Kansas, has reframed security services for enterprise clients across the Midwest by expertly blending experienced security professionals with advanced autonomous monitoring technologies. For nearly 15 years, Titan’s forward-thinking approach has earned it recognition as a top-tier security services provider and an innovator at the nexus of physical security and cutting-edge tech. Under the leadership of CEO Ryan Smith, a law enforcement veteran and advocate for integrated drone operations, Titan has built a model where “blended security” is more than a catchphrase. It’s a quantifiable deliverable that’s generating ROI, cutting response times and deterring even the most persistent threats.

When Ryan Smith entered the security field in 1996, the sector seemed starkly divided. He explained, “You were either an integrator, deploying tech, or one of the ‘guards, gates, and guns’ crowd.” Smith, who started as a security officer at 18, and later advanced to police SWAT veteran and defensive tactics instructor, saw a critical disconnect. The industry relied on siloed solutions, either heavy on manpower or tech, but rarely integrating the two for maximum effect.

Smith’s vision for Titan Protection stemmed from a core belief: expertly trained security officers, empowered by strategic technology adoption, can deliver results that neither approach achieves alone. Instead of mimicking the “mall cop” stereotype, Titan provides both security guards and security officers. Both undergo rigorous training, including on advanced digital tools. This positions them to move from “observe and report” to “observe and respond.”

Titan Protection’s hallmark is its Automated Response and Patrol (ARP) model, an evolution of the industry’s much-discussed “drones as first responder” (DFR) concept. Unlike the traditional DFR which requires a person to call 9-11 as the trigger for a drone response, Titan turbocharges this concept with integrated drone-in-a-box (DIB) solutions, advanced sensors (such as thermal radars) and sensor fusion. (For a good laugh, check out Titan’s “drone in a box” parody video). When triggered by a thermal or motion anomaly, the system autonomously deploys a drone to the area of interest to provide real-time video intelligence that engages on-site officers with actionable data. Smith explained, “Our drone serves two main purposes: active patrolling for suspicious activity and rapid response to system-triggered events.” 

Smith continued, “Everything we do revolves around maximizing beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) capabilities.” Titan secured a national BVLOS waiver, a first for security companies, which allows its drones to patrol expansive properties from centralized, remote operations without on-site pilots tethered to a physical location. This breakthrough has accelerated Titan’s ability to offer true “drones-as-a-service” (DaaS) at scale.

Clients pay a monthly fee for an integrated solution package. This gives them full access to live footage and data without the regulatory, maintenance or insurance headaches of in-house drone programs. “The beauty is that customers enjoy all the benefits and none of the liabilities,” Smith noted. He attributes Titan’s banner year, in part, due to the appeal of the company’s DaaS offering for businesses wary of the complexity and costs of building their own drone teams.

Titan’s 24/7 Remote Operations Center (ROC), a Five Diamond UL-listed command hub, forms the core of its operations. Equipped to coordinate thousands of sensors, fixed cameras, drones, and patrol officers across hundreds of client sites, the ROC leverages redundancy in internet and power. Importantly, it houses Titan’s highly trained professionals who monitor real-time feeds. 

Often overlooked in regulatory conversations, the ROC will enable Titan to fully exploit the advantages of one-to-many drone management, a critical focus for 2026 as the company scales to serve even more sites with fewer on-site personnel. “Having a purpose-built ops center is a huge value-add for clients who want best-of-class security without standing up their own facilities,” Smith said. Not only does this model increase efficiency, it also offers robust contingency planning for emergencies, a necessity for true enterprise-grade protection.

One of Titan’s most compelling use cases is its deployment at a large auto dealership that had been suffering costly thefts, despite assigning two security officers to patrol nightly. Titan changed the game. “With a mile-long virtual perimeter supported by thermal radar, the drone launches any time there’s after-hours activity,” Smith recounted. This integrated solution allowed Titan to reduce labor from two officers to one, as the drone and virtual monitoring delivered persistent, actionable overwatch.

The result was a dramatic reduction in annual costs, roughly $100,000 in savings, and an end to recurring six-figure theft losses. In just months, Titan’s blended solution not only prevented a theft in progress but also deterred multiple trespassing attempts, all while enabling rapid on-site audio interventions and evidence capture for law enforcement. “It’s rare in security that you can increase the quality of the coverage and cut the bill in half. But that’s what we achieved,” Smith said.

Titan’s DaaS and blended security approach have been embraced by a wide range of clients, from large retailers and corporate campuses to sports training facilities. Any organization with high-value outdoor assets stands to benefit, as Titan’s modular approach integrates with both legacy and open-architecture systems. Smith likened it to taking the “Android” path rather than forcing customers into a rigid tech ecosystem. The company aims to solve the client’s problems by using the best combination of trained personnel and interoperable solutions, with a focus on outputs, instead of selling hardware for its own sake.

Moreover, Titan’s team includes highly trained professionals, many former or off-duty law enforcement officers, who receive advanced scenario-based training, including de-escalation and interoperability with onsite client staff. Titan facilitates collaborations with local law enforcement and integrates robust privacy and cybersecurity measures in all deployments, to ensure that sensitive video data is protected, segmented and only accessible to authorized users.

With a firm foundation in both operational experience and technological prowess, Titan stands positioned for further growth in 2026 and beyond. Titan Protection recently achieved elite recognition as one of America’s Top 25 Security Firms, standing out among 8,000 security companies nationwide. This accolade, awarded by SecurityLetter, highlights Titan’s status as an industry leader and underscores its effectiveness. 

As for what’s on tap, Smith has set his sights on the “one-to-many” drone operations model, where a single operator manages multiple drones across sites, to drive further efficiency and scalability. Advances in video and behavioral analytics, AI-driven pattern recognition and seamless integration of ground-based robotics also dot the company’s roadmap. Smith also indicated he’s speaking with potential international clients as well.

As regulations mature to reflect the unique risk profiles of contained, on-property drone operations, Titan will continue to set the standard for modern security as an ongoing partner to enterprise and critical infrastructure clients.

Smith’s call to action is clear. “We’re always looking for strong technology partners and clients who want to do more than just react to threats, those who want to prevent them before they escalate,” he explained. B2B technology innovators seeking integration opportunities, as well as asset owners grappling with theft, trespass or rising security costs, will find in Titan a partner that delivers measurable value. Whether the challenge involves construction sites, energy, transportation or sprawling retail assets, Titan Protection remains committed to innovative, client-focused solutions that redefine what’s possible with blended security.

Smith reflected, “Seeing this go from concept to real-world proof, stopping crimes and saving clients money, is the most exciting part of my career.” 

For enterprises seeking a future-proof security strategy, where expert guards, advanced technologies and seamless coordination converge, Titan Protection stands at the forefront, ready to deliver on the promise of top tier security.

Watch Ryan Smith on Episode 93 of the Dawn of Autonomy podcast.