Do you wake up at night and wonder if your security system is operating properly? You are probably not alone. Security systems including video, alarm monitoring and access control have new and useful features that we all become dependent upon, but what is their status? Are they working?
The complexity of security systems has increased, and it is almost impossible for a customer to make sure they are working 100% of the time. But here is the good news about complex security systems. Newer systems can be monitored remotely to be sure they are functioning properly. Video systems can report if they are recording pictures and if cameras are out. Alarm monitoring services can identify abnormal conditions and report their status. Access control systems can report repeated invalid attempts to enter a facility and equipment failures. These can all be accomplished without risking your network to hackers and bad actors.
There are many features that can be monitored on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. You can eliminate the need to physically confirm reasons for camera outages and the need for reboots. You can save time and money by remotely determining if a DVR offline notification requires a service call or if your IT Department can get the DVR back up and running. Software updates can be performed remotely to keep your system up-to-date. Camera images and angles can be verified and sometimes fixed remotely.
Analytics can be added to your systems remotely as well, such as virtual tripwires, which trigger a notification if someone enters a restricted or closed area. Loitering detection can be enabled to monitor suspicious activity and alert you to a potential crime before or as it is happening. Receiving these instant alerts can better the response time if the police need to be contacted. You can even turn on directional analytics to monitor the flow of people through your store, restaurant or building, to gain intelligence.
Managing your alarm system and keeping up with adds, deletes or code changes can be tedious. But you can include that service in your remote system monitoring and take one more headache off your plate. Even open/close schedule updates can be included as part of your system monitoring.
Outsourcing remote monitoring can be a huge help to a security professional that must answer to management when things go wrong. Instead of finding and explaining the reason a system may have failed, gain peace of mind and reassurance that your system is being monitored by a trusted security advisor. Knowing that money and time will be saved if, and when, a system fails or needs service can give the security professional peace of mind and a good night’s sleep.
