Whether you are looking to secure a shop, office, warehouse, or any other premises, your security requirements have likely changed over the past year. Many premises have closed entirely, are open for much shorter hours or are functioning at much lower capacity.
Security officers have been in high demand in front of house positions to enforce Covid precautions in premises that are in use. Security systems, particularly, have been important for vacant premises. Fire, gas, and flood warnings alongside many others have been vital. As we move out the pandemic, the importance of technology in security will not diminish. Alongside these systems, remote monitoring continues to be a core element of most security provisions.
Cost effective and consistent
Remote monitoring is the most cost-effective way to have eyes on your premises 24/7. Having cameras signalling event alerts to a monitoring centre rather than a security officer onsite means there are always multiple eyes on the alarm boards so there is no chance of missing anything. An officer onsite could have another task to complete or become distracted for a moment which increases the risk of something passing unnoticed. Utilising remote monitoring allows for onsite officers to focus on patrols and other tasks that make the most of their skills. With the continued innovation and falling cost of technology, there is no need to compromise.
Scalable solutions
As organisations move out of this challenging time, many are looking to make adjustments by scaling down or adjusting opening hours, for example. These changes are likely to continue for some time to come as we see business practices settling into the ‘new normal’. Remote monitoring systems are easy to scale up and down, adjusting camera numbers and the duration of monitored periods according to need.
When manned guarding isn’t the right option
Often, combining manned guarding with technology is a great option for tailoring a security provision but there may be cases where manned guarding is not an option. It may be that 24/7 manned guarding is cost prohibitive, that the risk of working through the night in certain areas is not worth the benefit, or that the client works with sensitive technology or data and doesn’t want outsourced staff onsite. Here, remote monitoring is the ideal alternative.
Our central monitoring station model is particularly valuable where in such scenarios, allowing the relevant authorities to be rapidly notified even without an officer onsite.
An obvious deterrent
Finally, prevention is always better than mitigation. Visible security acts as a deterrent to opportunists, who more often than not will simply move on to the next premises with less prominent security measures in place. Cameras and lights can make a huge difference to the likelihood of a building being targeted.
The reality is, there are many options out there for a security provision and when talking about something so vital, this can become overwhelming. Remote monitoring has numerous advantages that should not be ignored. It can be an effective, standalone security solution or work in tandem with manned guarding depending on the environment. Work closely with your provider. Ensure they listen to your needs and create an approach that is tailored to you.
