Catching Up

Technology ensures remote monitoring as a vital part of today's security needs

  • By Bill Fitzhenry
  • Feb 29, 2008

From retail and manufacturing to healthcare and government, security departments and staff for decades have looked to security industry experts for new technology and services to improve operations and the bottom line. To that end, remote services provided by electronic security alarm providers that augment local security staff have become a frequent customer request. With advancements in IT and security technology, diverse remote security services are now possible, and a growing number of security industry leaders are introducing a vast assortment of such services.

Bridging the Gap
The most common remote services that customers request from innovative security providers are those using leading-edge video surveillance, access control systems and software. The most often-heard questions are: “Is there anything you can do to help me meet the local alarm verification requirements that does not require an expensive full-time guard service?” or “Can you help us manage adding or deleting access cards and changing door lock schedules so our administrative assistant or security guard can have time to do their real job?” The answer is a resounding yes.

With improved and more affordable bandwidth technology, expanded equipment functionality and specially trained central station staff, full-service alarm providers now can provide cost-effective remote alarm verification and access control management. Since most of these services are provided on an as-needed basis and the alarm company’s central station has the benefit of economies of scale and functionality expertise, the cost to customers for these remote services is typically significantly less than traditional guard services. Thus, with management’s goal to maximum effectiveness with minimum resources, today’s technical advancements can be leveraged without becoming overwhelming because of too many options.

Security companies continue to creatively use advancing technology to verify alarms, replace or augment security guards and ensure that employees adhere to standardized corporate procedures. Having an “extra set of eyes or ears” to substantiate events, check people gaining access to sensitive areas, provide security for employees opening and closing facilities, and help maintain stability at remote locations is now affordable.

Of all the remote monitoring options available today, alarm verification remains one of the most popular. With today’s high rate of false alarms, remotely viewing the scene to quickly verify an incident eliminates reliance on guard staff or customers to determine event specifics. By seeing what caused the alarm before dispatching authorities, businesses save time and money.

“The cost savings today due to proven technology advances is making remote monitoring a reasonable alternative,” said Felix Gonzales, vice president of strategic initiatives and business development at Stanley Convergent Security Solutions Inc. “We are able to enter into environments where we have not previously been. For example, with cameras and alarm systems already in place, and with a minimum investment by the customer or no additional investment with new installations, we are able to provide a wealth of video monitoring services for customers beyond basic video alarm verification.”

Visual Verification
By using video monitoring services, the identity of the person opening or closing a facility can be confirmed, while an employee’s presence at a predetermined place and time also can be verified. This allows customers to establish that the employee is doing what he is supposed to be doing—or not doing, for that matter—such as occupying a restricted area or removing items from the premise. Video also can reveal if a person is under duress—for example, being forced to gain access by a burglar.

“This is the quickest and most accurate method for determining what caused an alarm, providing a visual verification of the activity,” said Steve Walker, vice president of the ProtectionNet customer service center at Stanley Convergent Security. “Because the alarm panel only sends a signal, it doesn’t allow you to view the local premise to get more information.”

On the other hand, by integrating remotely controlled PTZ cameras, video monitoring and two-way audio access points, more information is immediately and accurately available.
“HSM - Stanley has enhanced its alarm verification services to include two-way audio video service,” Walker said. “For example, if an incident occurs and we can see a guard or janitor on the scene, we are able to have an immediate two-way conversation with them to understand what happened and what details they can provide. We’ve not only documented the event, but we have had the opportunity to have a real-time conversation with someone on-site with information about the event.

“Video monitoring is the ultimate in remote monitoring services by serving to replace or augment the customer’s local security staffs. With the traditional central station going by the wayside as a passive function—waiting for a signal to be activated, then taking action—remote monitoring offers a higher level of security, documentation and an economical approach.”

Among the current uses of remote video surveillance are virtual guard tours, meaning a central station operator tours an entire facility through its video surveillance system.  Instead of relying on full-time guard staff, monitoring specialists can conduct remote guard tours, accessing what local guards see at the incident. The major advantage here is recording everything that is viewed, archiving it and being able to retrieve the online, real-time information as needed.

“This allows for absolute accuracy of the video and time stamp versus the memory of a person,” Gonzales said. “From a documentation standpoint, real-time video can be used for investigations, as well as for prosecution at a much higher rate of success over that of an eyewitness.”

“Many of our customers are Fortune 500 and multilocation businesses,” said Chris BenVau, vice president of national accounts at Stanley. “Managing a number of remote locations across a region, a state or the United States is a significant challenge these companies face every day. From employee work schedules, vendor deliveries, corporate policy compliance, internal and external security to the overall operation of the business, these companies are searching for service providers who have the technology and expertise to partner with them by providing remote services that allow them to focus their local resources on their business and customers.”

Do More
Video alarm verification and remote managed access control are only the beginning of the services that alarm companies will provide. In the future, more alarm companies will provide services that include video audits that ensure compliance to company policy procedures at every remote location for a company. Scorecards would be provided to make certain every location is complying with company marketing, operations and customer policy requirements.

As long as technology continues to make steady and reliable advancements and alarm companies continue to understand customer needs, remote service will evolve and expand.  Thus, security providers are offering customers the ability to do more with the help of people who are miles away but still connected intimately with their facility and business.

Featured

  • New Report Reveals Top Trends Transforming Access Controller Technology

    Mercury Security, a provider in access control hardware and open platform solutions, has published its Trends in Access Controllers Report, based on a survey of over 450 security professionals across North America and Europe. The findings highlight the controller’s vital role in a physical access control system (PACS), where the device not only enforces access policies but also connects with readers to verify user credentials—ranging from ID badges to biometrics and mobile identities. With 72% of respondents identifying the controller as a critical or important factor in PACS design, the report underscores how the choice of controller platform has become a strategic decision for today’s security leaders. Read Now

  • Overwhelming Majority of CISOs Anticipate Surge in Cyber Attacks Over the Next Three Years

    An overwhelming 98% of chief information security officers (CISOs) expect a surge in cyber attacks over the next three years as organizations face an increasingly complex and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven digital threat landscape. This is according to new research conducted among 300 CISOs, chief information officers (CIOs), and senior IT professionals by CSC1, the leading provider of enterprise-class domain and domain name system (DNS) security. Read Now

  • ASIS International Introduces New ANSI-Approved Investigations Standard

    • Guard Services

  • Cloud Security Alliance Brings AI-Assisted Auditing to Cloud Computing

    The Cloud Security Alliance (CSA), the world’s leading organization dedicated to defining standards, certifications, and best practices to help ensure a secure cloud computing environment, today introduced an innovative addition to its suite of Security, Trust, Assurance and Risk (STAR) Registry assessments with the launch of Valid-AI-ted, an AI-powered, automated validation system. The new tool provides an automated quality check of assurance information of STAR Level 1 self-assessments using state-of-the-art LLM technology. Read Now

  • Report: Nearly 1 in 5 Healthcare Leaders Say Cyberattacks Have Impacted Patient Care

    Omega Systems, a provider of managed IT and security services, today released new research that reveals the growing impact of cybersecurity challenges on leading healthcare organizations and patient safety. According to the 2025 Healthcare IT Landscape Report, 19% of healthcare leaders say a cyberattack has already disrupted patient care, and more than half (52%) believe a fatal cyber-related incident is inevitable within the next five years. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • ResponderLink

    ResponderLink

    Shooter Detection Systems (SDS), an Alarm.com company and a global leader in gunshot detection solutions, has introduced ResponderLink, a groundbreaking new 911 notification service for gunshot events. ResponderLink completes the circle from detection to 911 notification to first responder awareness, giving law enforcement enhanced situational intelligence they urgently need to save lives. Integrating SDS’s proven gunshot detection system with Noonlight’s SendPolice platform, ResponderLink is the first solution to automatically deliver real-time gunshot detection data to 911 call centers and first responders. When shots are detected, the 911 dispatching center, also known as the Public Safety Answering Point or PSAP, is contacted based on the gunfire location, enabling faster initiation of life-saving emergency protocols.

  • Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

    Connect ONE®

    Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

  • QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    The latest Qualcomm® Vision Intelligence Platform offers next-generation smart camera IoT solutions to improve safety and security across enterprises, cities and spaces. The Vision Intelligence Platform was expanded in March 2022 with the introduction of the QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC), which delivers superior artificial intelligence (AI) inferencing at the edge.