CCTV cameras help prevent and investigate crime, but when they are backed by professional remote monitoring services they're a complete site security solution.
As technology has developed, so have the CCTV systems in which your business or site can utilise to protect your assets, building and any employees and/or visitors.
Traditional CCTV systems no longer suit the security needs of many industries nowadays, and due to this, most are led to upgrade their systems to match these new requirements.
Remote CCTV monitoring has become increasingly popular based on its proactive approach to security. We explore what remote CCTV monitoring is and the key benefits it offers.
What is Remote CCTV Monitoring?
Remote CCTV monitoring is a service which allows security cameras to be closely monitored by a team of professionals who can issue real-time audio alerts and dispatch police where necessary, ensuring your premises and assets are completely protected when you’re not there.
Essentially, it eliminates the need for onsite security guards by providing this remotely, normally via a monitoring centre.
By making this move alone, you can save up to 88% on security costs in comparison to security guards.
Similarly to in-person guards, the trained professionals monitoring your site or property will be able to deploy preventative tactics and call Police to respond to the scene if deemed appropriate.
What are the Benefits of Using a Remote CCTV Monitoring Service?
Cost-effective
Compared to security guards, remote CCTV monitoring offers a cost-effective solution for your business.
Following the budget announcement where minimum wage was increased, security guards continue to rise in cost.
By utilising Redeployable CCTV Cameras and Rapid Deployment CCTV Towers backed by remote monitoring, you could save up to 88% with your security costs in comparison to manned security guard.
Secure Arrests
If an alarm is triggered, remotely monitored CCTV will help identify any criminal activity at the specified location through the trained professionals at the station.
From here, they will decide the best response for this, and in some cases this will be to alert the Police or security patrol to the scene.
This helps increase the likelihood of arrests as any calls made to the Police will be marked as priority due to them being an active crime.
Reporting and Analysis
CCTV systems without remote monitoring backing tend to have no reporting system in place if an incident occurs as there are no individuals watching the live footage in order to react proactively.
However, with certain remote monitoring stations, they will provide a detailed report of any incidents that take place at the specified location and give details on what action occurred - including the speed in which it took place.
This allows you to review the response, provide feedback and make any appropriate adjustments for the future.
No Compromise on Quality
Cheaper doesn't mean less effective.
The fact that remote CCTV monitoring will often cost less than security guards doesn’t mean you’ll be compromising on the service you receive. You’ll be surprised to know, the quality will likely be better.
A monitored CCTV system is always alert, always on guard and can spot criminals even in total darkness.
Alarms, Sirens and Live Audio Challenges
If an intrusion is detected at your site, a remote CCTV operator will have access to activate audio features and actions that aim to prevent criminal activity on-site.
With our CCTV Towers, the operators at our monitoring centre can utilise the inbuilt blue lights, siren and live voice-down audio challenge feature, all of which are a proven deterrent to any potential criminal activity.
Expertise
If you choose an advanced security company for your surveillance, the remote CCTV monitoring they provide will often involve greater expertise.
For example, by utilising our systems, our partner monitoring station is an NSI Gold Approved UK-based Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC).
This means their highly-trained SIA licenced operators have received the highest standard of training and are skilled in responding to urgent and emergency situations.
Collect Evidence
Evidence gathering is important to ensure you have video support in any investigations of near-incidents and actual criminal activity.
With remote CCTV monitoring, a professional CCTV operator can track every move a criminal makes, gathering critical evidence that will assist the Police with criminal investigations.
This helps protect you in every aspect of your security because the last thing you want is an incident to happen and you have no evidence to identify the individuals involved.
Less False Alarms
False alarms can be dangerous for multiple reasons, but mainly due to their time wasting and the distraction this can create from real threats.
Having remote CCTV monitoring by professionals means they can detect issues on site that may trigger false alarms, and filter these out completely for you to avoid them doing so.
This reduces the number of false alarms and allows the monitoring centre to focus on the true threats and crime presented to you.
Convenience
Rather than worry about late-night call-outs, reviewing your sites over the weekends and holidays - why not leave it to the experts and have complete peace of mind that your sites are in the best hands?
Remote CCTV monitoring removes this burden from you and places it in the hands of trusted professionals, minimising disruption for you and allowing you to focus on your main responsibilities.
It also provides you with peace of mind that trained security professionals are the individuals responsible for such matters, and not a team of individuals with minimal experience.
Crime Prevention
Remote CCTV monitoring allows potential threats to your site or property to be spotted in real-time and addressed there and then.
When a trigger is alarmed, operators will have immediate eyes on the live footage and respond in that moment, no waiting until the next day to find criminal activity has taken place and working backwards.
Most other systems without this will only have the ability of recording the events, whereby you will then need to work retrospectively to resolve the matter.
How are Alarms Triggered When Using a Remote CCTV Monitoring Service?
Typically, alarms are generated via two methods:
Video Analytics - Using intelligent rule-based surveillance algorithms that are built into all our cameras, video analytics are used to accurately detect movement on your sites.
Passive Infrared Detectors (PIRs) - These are electronic sensors that measure infrared light radiating from objects in their field of view. They are most often used for motion-based detection.
Who Should use Remote CCTV Monitoring?
Remote CCTV monitoring is able to support most industries and businesses looking to hone in their response to security breaches whilst remaining cost-effective and convenient as a solution.
Having been supplying Rapid Deployment CCTV systems globally since 2001, we’ve gained first hand insight on the key applications for remotely monitored security cameras include:
Construction Site Security
Construction sites are commonly faced by theft and vandalism, and this can be costly. From financial loss and increased insurance premiums to project delays and lost contracts.
Hence the importance of proactive security and preventative measures.
Remote CCTV monitoring is designed specifically to support industries like construction with this.
The active monitoring of alarms and prompt responses allows your construction company to get ahead of criminals and prevent them from entering your site.
Critical Infrastructure Security
Critical infrastructure sites such as telecommunication sites, solar farms and electrical substations are heavily relied upon. Any lapse in these and thousands of individuals and businesses could be without key services.
This makes securing your sites vital to the survival of these services, and the best form of protection is with remote CCTV monitoring.
Its proactive approach to security, as well as the audio deterrent features help to prevent crime from taking place. With peace of mind, the Police will be called to the scene if there is a live incident.
Major Public Events
Public events are filled with dangers, especially those with large capacity due to the complex security management issues that come alongside this.
There’s a higher likelihood for threats such as terrorism, crowd control issues and theft, all of which can be costly to your premises or event, and to the public’s safety.
With Martyn’s Law now enacted, it is expected that premises and events begin to implement the measures presented during the implementation process, which for larger events, involve advanced security.
Using a CCTV system backed by remote monitoring services can track suspicious behaviour including, loitering, helping to capture crime at the earliest stage possible.
This allows you as event organisers and premises owners to focus on their other key responsibilities and boost your events security with an advanced CCTV system.
Rail Security
Railways and rail lines are used on a regular basis and this can be difficult for Transport Police to manage them on their own.
Development work can also present dangers as quite often, individuals are unable to monitor trackside security without placing their health and safety at too much risk.
For some remote monitoring systems, like our Network Rail CCTV Tower, they are fully PADS approved meaning they can be based trackside whilst still receiving the benefits of remote monitoring.
Being able to utilise these benefits will ensure any incidents can receive prompt and appropriate action, whether it be dangerous behaviour at the railway or monitoring track development in a remote location.
Vacant Property Security
Vacant properties are prone to squatting, theft and vandalism, all of which can be complex, costly and long-winded to deal with. Not to mention the risk it places on the property’s value.
With most risks presented externally, it’s important that you have a security system in place that will work efficiently and effectively to prevent any unwanted intruders.
Remote CCTV monitoring focuses specifically on that, tracking movement, assessing the threat, filtering false alarms and responding to any crime in that moment.
Public Space Protection
Public sector organisations such as Local Authorities and Councils are responsible for protecting communities and the public spaces within their area.
With issues on the rise such as fly-tipping, you need to remain one step ahead of the perpetrators and remote CCTV monitoring could be the answer to this, especially when included alongside a CCTV Tower.
Utilising this method will provide a visual criminal deterrent whilst security professionals live monitor and respond to any potential offenders if they choose to ignore the presence of the Tower(s).
Transform Your System With Remote CCTV Monitoring Systems
Traditional CCTV systems have become outdated and leaving them in place, whatever the location, could be hindering your security rather than helping it.
We continuously work to create innovative products, improve services and hone in on key security threats, helping you remain ahead of the game when it comes to preventing and protecting yourself against crime.
All our systems are backed by NSI Gold Accredited remote monitoring services, removing the burden of security from yourselves and placing it in the trusted hands of security professionals.
There’s no reason for you to work retrospectively any longer on dealing with crime, and we are here to transform your security into a proactive and reactive system that does all the heavy lifting for you.
To learn more about our fully-managed security system solutions, speak with one of the surveillance experts today!
