Meet The Team – Jonathan McBay

While advances in smart security technology are constantly evolving the industry, it is our people who ensure our expert security service delivery remains industry leading.

We sat down with Jonathan McBay, a CCTV operator who joined Corps Monitoring fresh out of college two years ago –

Tell us about your career at Corps so far?

In the two years since joining Corps, I have learned so much about the security industry and how the monitoring centre works. My current role as a CCTV operator is the starting point for everyone in the ARC. I work on one of the dayshift teams, which deals primarily with helping engineers and installers set up and test their systems, changing site details and handling general customer enquiries.

Why did you join the Corps Monitoring team?

I joined Corps Monitoring during the Covid pandemic. I had just finished college and couldn’t go to the university of my choice because they were only able to offer remote learning. I needed money, so I decided instead to go straight into working. Since security had always interested me when I found Corps Monitoring, I saw the potential. I quickly found that I enjoy the job and see a future here.

Why is remote monitoring important today and how is it evolving?

One of the most significant benefits of remote monitoring today is that it carries a low risk to security personnel. Having an operator in a remote secure control room is far safer than having a security officer stationed on a client site. As an industry, remote monitoring is constantly evolving; new and upgraded technology is being developed yearly, such as cameras with integrated AI that pick up and recognise threats and non-threats on sites and new alarm systems that work better than ever. Without a doubt, remote monitoring is the future of security.

How has Corps Monitoring changed in the last 5 years?

As a business, Corps Monitoring has advanced a lot in recent years. We’ve added more automated systems like Umbo, which filters false alarms to free up a lot of time for operators, helping them to focus on other aspects of their job. We’ve also expanded the team so much; we had only one operator and one engineering support on a day shift when I started. Now, we can have up to four operators working on a single shift.

What’s next for the remote monitoring industry?

The remote monitoring industry is poised for significant advancement and transformation very soon. As security technology keeps a rapid pace in its evolution, we’re anticipating several key developments and trends that will shape the future of remote monitoring. Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are set to be further integrated. These technologies are already changing the game in remote monitoring by enhancing data analytics capabilities. 5G technology is also advancing, which will unlock more significant potential for the remote monitoring industry; with high-speed, low-latency connections, we’ll see seamless data transmission and the capability to facilitate monitoring over vast areas in real-time.

What’s the most exciting aspect of working at Corps?

Working at Corps Monitoring, there is real learning and professional development opportunity. There is always something new to learn about the job. The team dynamic is also exciting because you get to build relationships with colleagues with whom you spend a lot of time each day during a shift, and you grow together as a team.