Monitoring Supplement

An Eye On It All

Online monitoring services lead to increased security, real-time access to information

  • By Bill Fitzhenry
  • Feb 06, 2007
IN an age when the need for increased security services is at an all-time high, managing security information has become more efficient, flexible and powerful. Monitoring companies continue to deliver products and services to address those needs.

"The world of security is changing, and HSM's eServices are playing a key role in the 21st century security industry. Our customers and the marketplace have told us that. And by partnering with customers to understand their specific security needs--across the entire spectrum--we are better equipped to enable them to better manage their security efforts," said Tony Byerly, senior vice president of sales and national accounts for HSM.

HSM Electronic Protection Services, for example, has introduced eVideoManager video monitoring services and eVideoData real-time online access to video recordings and associated alarm event data. The two products are designed to help manage risk, reduce costs and increase the efficiency of a company's security operations.

Felix Gonzales, vice president of strategic initiatives and business development at HSM, said the company continues to focus on services that help customers better and more profitably run businesses.

Real-Time Reaction
In direct response to customer demand for video monitoring services and real-time access to security information and video images, more monitoring products are popping up in the marketplace. Services used in a UL- and FM-approved monitoring facility with a disaster recovery backup facility are better equipped to respond when needed. A portfolio that includes video alarm verification, video guard tour, video opening/closing services and video escort can provide a real ROI for its customers. There's always a need for increased security and safety from real-time, live support services, and a means to reduce false alarms. Monitoring services can help reduce guard costs and improve guard patrol efficiencies. Some tools also are designed to reduce inventory shrinkage/loss and improve employee productivity.

To ensure a compatibility with existing CCTV systems, some services can be used with existing customer intrusion alarm systems while compatible with most customer communication paths, including DSL, cable, LAN, Ethernet, dial-up or cellular.

Online access to video recordings for monitoring services such as alarm verification, open/close services, guard tour and escort allows customers to view what they want when they want. Video recordings are displayed with the associated alarm event data and are stored in an IT database available online from anywhere to customers.

"The days of paper or data-only reports are gone. eVideoData allows the customer to see data and view associated video clips of events, all in an online format stored on HSM's network," Gonzales said.

eVideoData offers alarm event reports that provide alarm data and a recorded video of the associated event and real-time access to video recordings on the same screen--a means to store and organize video recordings and alarm data and view and share the information.

Managing Video
Customers using monitoring services will see benefits such as reduced false alarm dispatches and increased security by having video monitoring specialists viewing activity in real time.

"Our customers asked us if we could develop a service that enhanced the power and benefits of eVideoManager by making recorded data and images available together and on HSM's existing eServices platform," Byerly said. "Thus the creation of eVideoData, which now takes video monitoring and online data to a new level--it's as simple as point and click from anywhere, anytime."

Customers see value in the added time and cost savings granted by monitoring services. Many services, for instance, are easily accessible via the Internet. Gonzales said that HSM's eServices platform allows customers to view alarm data and embedded video recordings of events online while still having all that information stored in HSM's IT network.

Continuing to Improve
Many companies in the monitoring business are constantly expanding their product offering, tweaking and perfecting existing services while planning for innovative, new products.

"The customer appetite for these type of offerings is huge once they see the plenitude of information available in an easy-to-understand and accessible format," Byerly said.

"Our customers wanted the capability to view their video recordings and alarm data together," Gonzales said. "eVideoData will put an end to searching your computer for e-mails or files for video and alarm events. Available online and at their fingertips, customers will now have everything they need to review or investigate an event."

Customers need an efficient way to view, share, store and retrieve video recordings with the added convenience of embedded alarm data on the same screen online, anytime and anywhere. Current monitoring services are designed to enhance conventional alarm monitoring process by providing real-time, live monitoring support for alarm verification and open/close services. Moreover, monitoring services augment the traditional guard service process by providing a means to document activity, improve patrol efficiencies and reduce guard costs.

This article originally appeared in the February 2007 issue of Security Products' Monitoring supplement, pgs. 26D-26E.

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