5 Advantages of Taking Security from Reactive to Proactive
Video surveillance plays a critical role in securing a facility, but some businesses are concerned about how proactive it really is. Without a live monitoring service in the mix, surveillance might offer nothing more than evidential playback after something bad happens.
So what are the options? How can businesses be more proactive in their surveillance and security efforts?
Remotely monitored surveillance: a breakdown
Remote video monitoring is a solution that takes surveillance from reactive to proactive. Here’s how it works.
It starts with intelligent camera analytics, which are set up to monitor and detect unwanted activity based on your preset standards.
For example: if your property is off limits from 6 PM to 6 AM, your system would recognize that. As a result, if someone was loitering on your site during that window of time, your system would pick up on it and automatically trigger an alarm to a remote station.
At the remote station, professional agents would take a look at your live video feeds to view activity. They would then take action based on both their professional judgment and your personal response requests, which should be discussed as you implement the service.
What are the advantages?
Using remote video monitoring for NYC sites can offer facilities several benefits, regardless of the industry. Here are five major advantages of the service:
1. Affordable guard alternative
Employing onsite security guards is a great way to protect your people and property, but it can be costly. By using a remote service to assist a current guard in monitoring your site instead of hiring additional guards, you can reduce guard costs by upwards of 50%.
This makes it a cost-effective solution for many businesses, especially those without the resources to hire overnight security staff.
2. Crime reduction
Crimes like theft, vandalism and trespassing are threats a business or organization will always be forced to face. Fortunately, yours can reduce such crime by implementing effective barriers.
With remote video monitoring, you have remote agents available at all times to step in and take action when necessary. Agents can take action in a number of ways, whether it’s calling the police or setting off an onsite alarm. This is a disruptive barrier for criminals and can prevent a situation from escalating.
3. Improved police response
To deal with something like a break-in, a business needs law enforcement at the scene as quickly as possible. Remote video monitoring aids in that response in a few ways.
The first way is by providing awareness. If a break-in were to happen overnight, it could go undetected and/or unreported for hours. But with a live agent monitoring your site, you can rest assured that someone is watching and ready to dispatch the police immediately.
Remote video monitoring also provides video verification. False alarms are a real issue for response teams. But with video verification by an agent, you would have confirmation of an alarm in the shortest possible time, moving you up on the priority list for authorities.
4. After-hour protection
Most businesses need adequate security during the late hours of the night when no one is present. Overnight security guards are an option, but working an overnight shift can be exhausting and even dangerous when physical altercations take place.
Remote video monitoring is fully functional at all times. It doesn’t sleep, stays alert at all hours and ensures multiple agents are available to handle situations as they come.
5. Effective coverage
While security guards are a valuable defense against unwanted activity, they come with limits. A guard can’t oversee multiple areas of a building at once, which means criminals could target areas not being watched.
With intelligent camera analytics, remote video monitoring can cover multiple areas at once. The service can even be programmed to complete remote site patrols of designated areas on a set schedule. This means vigilant back-up for your security staff.
Remote video monitoring in NYC, New Jersey and beyond
At Peace of Mind Technologies, we provide comprehensive security systems and services to fit the unique needs of businesses and organizations throughout New York and New Jersey.
To get more information about remote video monitoring and what it would look like at your site, contact us today.
