Guarding going Digital
Manned security guarding is now an expensive option for premise protection. Companies relying on manned guarding have seen costs rise as the need for enhanced training, vetting, rest facilities and vehicles steadily increases.
There is also the inherent risk that manned guarding by its very nature is subject to human failings, such as lack of concentration, distractions and unplanned absences. Manned guards also have the physical limitation of only being able to be in one place at a time resulting in limited coverage. In the event of planned incident guards can be targeted as they are often key-holders with knowledge of security procedures.
As security solutions evolve, a new option for consideration is electronic guarding (e-guarding). With an e-guarding system, security staff have access to more site and system information than ever before, meaning more options for response. These systems can provide comprehensive, always-on detection that ensures there is permanently an immediate and effective reaction, while also limiting risk to security staff and clients assets.
Electronic Security Solutions
An electronic security system allows sites to be protected 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. So CCTV and remote monitoring are a significantly cheaper option than manned guarding. For a typical installation, a saving can be realized in the first year with savings of 80% over 5 years. A remotely monitored CCTV system will not only dramatically reduce overall security costs but deliver a far more effective security solution.
An e-guarding solution can be invaluable for augmenting or even replacing existing manned guard patrols to address these vulnerabilities and deliver proactive threat prevention of a campus or facility. With the addition of video content analytics for proactive threat detection, security staff receive an alarm and can visually verify the threat to ensure they understand the context of the alert fully.
For example, if there is an intrusion at the perimeter, an alarm is triggered and transmitted to the command and control software via the NVR+ platform sending live and recorded video and audio to be reviewed and analyzed by an operator or guard. They can then enact the appropriate response – ranging from bi-directional audio to deter the intruder, turning on additional lights to illuminate the scene, deploying a roaming guard patrol, or deploying first responders. They can also continue to monitor and listen in on the incident until it has been resolved.
E-guarding can also support manned guarding through virtual guard tours. These are ideal for sites where organizing 24/7 guard patrols may not be viable.
The second priority is verification. Traditionally, businesses rely on their guards to call in a disturbance to central command or first responders, but this increases the opportunity for human error or a delay in response times, which can be make-or-break in an emergency scenario. In the worst case, guards could be left with a dead phone, no coverage, or in an altercation with the intruder, making it even harder to call in an alert. But an e-guarding solution can prevent this from happening. It can transmit alarm events with live and recorded video and audio directly to the CMS operator to visually verify the threat to aid in determining the appropriate response. Remote visual verification eliminates unnecessary intervention and reduces false alarms.
The third element is remote response. Where e-guarding solutions really excel is by providing a multi-faceted remote response that can also act as an effective prevention measure. A guard force has limited options when responding to an alert, many of which carry a risk of personal injury, but with an e-guarding solution, response can be initiated remotely, improving response times and ensuring there is no risk to guards from face-to-face interaction.
E-guarding solutions can also be integrated with other systems, such as building management commands and two-way audio, to support deterrence measures.