Over the past few years, IP surveillance has changed the security industry and has opened many doors for security companies to become more proactive and implement surveillance in ways never before possible.
The architecture of IP surveillance is not much different from older CCTV standards, as you still have surveillance cameras, and recording solutions. The major difference is the communications medium that it used. With IP surveillance, you no longer use coaxial cabling as you did with CCTV systems, instead, all surveillance is sent over a computer network (LAN or WAN), via networking cable, over wireless networks or the Internet.
One of the biggest advantages of having an IP surveillance system, is the ubiquitous access it provides to your live and archived video. There is no need for specialised screens and CCTV terminals, any PC or laptop on your computer network can be used. You can also configure the system to provide access via the Internet or even your cellphone.
Many industry sectors have embraced IP surveillance, such as mining, security, gaming and even banking. The latest area opening up for IP surveillance implementation, is the residential sector, and especially security estates and gated communities.
It is a growing trend for high-end, gated communities such as golf estates and the like, so install IP surveillance systems as a security measure for their residents. Residents of these communities are now able use their computer, or their cellphones to access various security cameras within the complex. This allows them to ensure that visitors are who they say they are, and keep an eye on any internal activities such as children playing in parks and the like.
Security officers have also been given access to cameras installed throughout these estates, which allows them to monitor any happenings within the complex, without having to do physical patrols. In some estates, armed reaction vehicles have been equipped with mobile vehicle computer systems so as to log into the security network from anywhere within a 3 km radius via Wi-Fi. This of course helps to improve reaction times of the armed personnel, but also keeps the operational cost of these armed reaction units to a minimum. No longer do the reaction vehicles have to drive around the estates on patrols, they can monitor the entire estate, while remaining stationary.
As the surveillance software applications evolve and become more specialised, the IP surveillance network can be linked to various data streams. Instead of storing a simple video stream, which can only be accessed via a time-line, these systems are integrated with number plate recognition, biometric access units and many more. This provides security personnell with very fast access to past events. With IP communications, the security options are endless, and in coming months, the only thing that will hold back large security companies, will be their imagination.
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