Do you have an alarm system linked to a key-holder response service, possibly supported by a night-time security guard patrolling the premises… but is that enough?”

A key-holder service offering a manned reaction is fantastic to have if someone does in fact try to break in to your offices. But key holder and response companies have the constant challenge of false alarms, which account for far more call-outs than genuine incidents.

CCTV remote monitoring offers additional protection for your premises, while also cutting down on false alarms.

Video monitoring is both practical and affordable. It is not helpful for a monitor to sit and watch a wall full of screens on which nothing is happening. Instead, the system can be programmed to put your video feed on screen when, for example, a motion sensor is triggered or a perimeter alarm goes off. Then the monitor can use the camera to examine what is happening, zooming in on areas of interest if necessary.

If it turns out that the first alert was just a stray cat or a tree blowing in the wind, nothing further happens. If there is a genuine intruder, the monitor can instantly alert the response company – who will know for sure that it is not a false alarm. The monitor can then also remotely operate gates to give the armed response team quick access to the premises.

These systems work particularly well for large or exposed sites and provide an alternative to the out-of-hours continuous live monitoring of images or having to employ security guards. In fact, when comparing security guards Vs electronic security there are huge financial savings to be achieved.

Video evidence can be critical in criminal cases as well. If you do decide to opt for remote video monitoring, the video feeds are recorded in a format that will stand up as evidence in court.

It is also important to work with a qualified installation company who will carefully assess your individual needs and create a customised incident management procedure. This will include, for example, a specification of how particular kinds of incidents should be dealt with, who to call and whose desk the incident report should go to in the morning.

Where premises need to be secured or high value items protected around-the-clock, remotely monitored CCTV can be an effective and economical solution for detecting and then identifying potential intrusion within a secure area.

Utilising Rapid Dome Cameras and CCTV, in conjunction with an External Deterrent System, is seen as the most cost-efficient way of providing businesses with an effective response to intrusion onto their premises.