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Security Case Study: New Video Surveillance System Reduces Guard Costs

Written by Andrew DeNardo on . Posted in Blog, Design, Monitoring Solutions, Security, Video Analytics, Video Monitoring.

Video Surveillance System Upgrade

The Challenge: The customer had an old analog video surveillance system and on-site guards which were ineffective and expensive to maintain.

The Solution: An Avigillon IP Video Surveillance System Solution with IP Cameras and a Network Video Recorder.  Therefore, providing them with improved security at a lower cost.

A multi-location trucking supply company was using an outdated analog video surveillance system to protect their site and equipment. They were also employing on-site guards to watch their premises.

Hence, they contacted us to upgrade their overall system. So, we installed an IP Video Surveillance System from Avigilon. The system included twelve (12) 3 Megapixel IP H3A Bullet HD cameras for the exterior and eight (8) 3-Megapixel H3A IP Day/Night HD Indoor Dome cameras for the interior. We also installed a 21TB Network Video Recorder (NVR) to record all of the action.

The new video surveillance system provided improved image quality, better monitoring of employee activity and better secured their grounds. This also gave them the ability to remotely access the data. So, to augment the new security system, we were able to add Video Analytics and Video Monitoring. With this ability, we instituted ‘rules’ and ‘triggers’ related to access and certain timeframes. This now allowed them to create alarms to alert them of any incidents. Interestingly, the first thing that they discovered with this new monitoring system was that their guards were not as actively engaged as they needed to be. Therefore, with the new system being monitored at a remote central location, they were able to eliminate their on-site guards. This allowed them to greatly reduce their costs.

The Result: A much MORE secure site and at a LOWER cost, saving the customer $75,000 per year per guard.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did the trucking supply company replace its surveillance system?

The company’s outdated analog cameras and on-site guards were expensive to maintain and did not provide the level of security needed to protect its locations and equipment.

What equipment was included in the new surveillance system?

The company received 12 exterior bullet cameras, eight interior day-and-night dome cameras, and a 21-terabyte network video recorder.

What improvements did the IP cameras provide?

The new cameras delivered clearer images, better coverage of the property, improved monitoring of employee activity, and remote access to surveillance footage.

How did video analytics improve the company’s security?

Video analytics allowed the company to establish rules and triggers for specific access events and timeframes. The system could then generate alarms when potentially suspicious activity occurred.

How much did the company save by using remote video monitoring?

Remote monitoring allowed the company to eliminate its on-site guards while improving security. According to the case study, this saved approximately $75,000 per guard each year.

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Security Case Study: IP Video Protects Your Property and Equipment

Written by Andrew DeNardo on . Posted in Blog, Design, Monitoring Solutions, Video Analytics, Video Monitoring.

IP Video Equipment

Challenge: Construction Company wanted security and remote monitoring of expensive equipment around the clock

Solution: Installation of Avigilon IP Video Bullet HD cameras with Video Analytics and Remote Video Monitoring Solution

We were recently contacted by a large construction firm who does bridge repairs along a major US highway. They have tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of trucks, tools and equipment on their property as well as Conex storage containers and fuel tanks. They know that theft of, or tampering with, any of this equipment would seriously impair their ability to keep their teams working, costing them time and money.

Knowing that any delay would cost them thousands of dollars per hour, they didn’t take any chances. So, they called Alen Security to install eight (8) state of the art Avigilon 3 Megapixel (MP) H3A IP Video Bullet HD cameras with integrated IR and self-learning video analytics along with talk-down speakers.

The video analytics built into to the IP Video security cameras use Avigilon’s “Teach by Example” technology, learning on their own by observation and also from the operators who actively use it. They automatically adjust to changing scene conditions, helping reduce false alarms, and provide superior protection for both assets and personnel.

Along with the IP Video cameras, we also employed an 8 channel, 4TB Video Appliance running the feature-rich ACC5 video management software. This allows them to store the video data and quickly review and search for the video they want.

The event-based remote video monitoring center is staffed by security professionals and schedules thrice-daily guard tours. They also respond to video “alarm triggers” and can talk-down to would-be intruders. Talk-down capability allows them to alert intruders that law enforcement has been notified and to leave the premises immediately. Hence, combining these features protects their facility around the clock.

Result: The IP Video security cameras and event-based remote video monitoring keep their property and equipment secure 24/7/365.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did the construction company need around-the-clock surveillance?

The company stored valuable trucks, tools, equipment, fuel tanks, and storage containers on its property. Theft or tampering could stop its bridge-repair crews from working and cause costly delays.

What surveillance equipment was installed?

The company received eight 3-megapixel HD bullet cameras with infrared capability, self-learning video analytics, and talk-down speakers.

How do self-learning video analytics reduce false alarms?

The analytics learn through observation and feedback from system operators. They adjust to changing conditions within a scene, helping the cameras distinguish potential threats from normal activity.

How is the company’s surveillance footage stored and reviewed?

An eight-channel video appliance with four terabytes of storage records the footage. Video-management software allows authorized users to search for and review specific events quickly.

What happens when the system detects a possible intruder?

Security professionals at the remote monitoring center respond to video alarm triggers. They can use the speakers to warn intruders that law enforcement has been notified and direct them to leave the property.

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Is Your Monitoring Solution Collecting the Right Data?

Written by Andrew DeNardo on . Posted in Access Control, Blog, Monitoring Solutions.

One of the great aspects of a monitoring solution with access control is its ability to collect and log all kinds of data. This makes it easy to integrate with time clocks and other employee tracking methods, but it’s important to know exactly what data you’re logging, what data you NEED to log, and be sure you’re collecting it. Many companies are logging a lot of useless info while disregarding the important stuff. Take log in attempts. Most companies log failed attempts, but let me ask you a question. What about the successful ones? Don’t you want to know who’s logging into your systems? Especially the ones that you rely on to run your access control? Of course you do! Failed attempts mean hackers and other unwanted people were kept out, but if you aren’t monitoring successful attempts you may not realize there is a security issue until it’s too late! Just recently the Department of Homeland Security was blasted for not keeping track of who accesses their building’s access control systems and in fact, not doing a very good job of securing those systems.

Our access control systems allow you to carefully tailor them to monitor specific areas or your entire property and let you decide what types of data to log. They learn as you use them and from their constant monitoring of the area they’re assigned to, which helps them to collect even more targeted data and also to know what sorts of things can be safely disregarded. This greatly reduces both false alarms and the storage space needed for data. If you have you system set to log everything and anything, you’re going to find yourself needing more and more storage space and seeing that space fill up quickly. Take the time to figure out what data you need to be logging and whether there is any you might be missing. You might be surprised!

Frequently Asked Questions

Why should a business decide which security data it needs to collect?

Collecting every available data point can consume storage without providing meaningful security information. Businesses should identify which events matter and configure their systems to record those events.

Should a company record successful login attempts?

Yes. Failed logins show that unauthorized users were blocked, but successful logins reveal who actually accessed a system. Without those records, improper access may go unnoticed.

Can access control data integrate with employee tracking systems?

Yes. Monitoring and access control data can be integrated with time clocks and other employee-tracking methods to provide a more complete record of workplace activity.

Can monitoring be customized for different parts of a property?

Yes. A system can be configured to monitor selected sensitive areas or an entire property, depending on the organization’s needs.

How can targeted data collection reduce storage requirements?

A properly configured system learns which activity is relevant and which events can be safely disregarded. Recording only useful information reduces false alarms and prevents unnecessary data from consuming storage space.