Education Sector Dilemma – Video Surveillance Without a Budget

Security needs are different from school to school, and funding for security upgrades can be difficult. Schools still have a responsibility to keep students and staff safe. Read more about the advances in technology, training, and the law from our blog.

Alarm System Preventative Maintenance = Success

Preventative maintenance (PM) is a service that offers early warning, brings peace of mind, and allows for revenue generation to security providers. Most Americans, since they began driving a car, know they need to change the oil in a vehicle on a regular basis. Most homeowners perform maintenance on their home on a yearly basis. Americans are used to the concept of PM. Failure to perform PM can be an expensive self-correcting injury; one not to be repeated without suffering.   

The question is, why would homeowners not want to perform PM of security systems that are entrusted to work at all times? PM and annual testing are generally only offered when required, such as quarterly and for annual fire alarm testing required by an insurance provider. While there are no current PM requirements or annual audit requirements for alarm and/or security systems, this may change in the future.     

Lead From The Front: Surveillance Cameras Solutions

In the security industry, video surveillance is by far the most eye-catching deployment. Intrusion systems alert when tripped and access control prevents unauthorized access, but no one has ever said “come look at my wall of access control panels”. The Security Operations Center (SOC) and the multitude of cameras on a video wall are always part of the tour.  Video surveillance is only a tool, but it is an extremely useful tool. Video can now offer traditional security functions and with analytics, it can perform intrusion detection functions as well. This can include alerting on break-ins while giving a picture of the suspect and reducing false alarms. Cameras are being used for Identity and Access Management (IAM) functions in conjunction with access control to use facial recognition among other analytics to control access.  

Investing in Security for 2021 and Beyond

The COVID-19 Pandemic is fully matured, even spawning new mutations of the virus.  But the light at the end of the tunnel may be near.  A year ago no one thought they would be wearing masks and eating in 50% filled restaurants in August, 2020, let alone today.  The Pandemic has seen companies, small and large, suffer tremendously.  Many of us have furloughed employees, possibly multiple times over the last 12 months.  Our industry is strong, and resilience is something most integrators know.  What does resilience look like?  Integrators have to change how they do business because businesses have changed how they do business.  Change is hard, but in order to be resilient, we must accept change.  The last year has caused customers to realize they care less about what is being sold and more about how it will help them accomplish their goals.  This is prompting technology shifts in our industry to meet those goal demands.