You can have the best cameras and video recorders, but without video management and analytics software, you’ll miss out on many of the benefits of having a video solution.
Depending on your needs, some video management solutions can use motion detection to predict events, read license plates in a parking lot, identify objects added or removed from a room, and more. In addition to their use in loss prevention, video management and analytics software has found many uses in airports, universities, and hospitals.
As video management solutions become more powerful and more affordable, you’ll also be looking to upgrade and expand your current system. Here are some practical tips to help you.
1. Look at the big picture.
First, ask yourself the important questions. Who will be running the software? Will they be using it? Will outside help be needed, and how much, if any? Will you need to consult with existing services to decide what to do? Any questions about installers? Remember that just putting these systems in place and leaving them alone is not the end of the world. You need a plan for maintaining and continuing to operate these systems. You need to think about maintaining the power of these systems over long distances so that they work the way you want them to.
Make sure you do a thorough assessment. Look at your location carefully, because the reality is that if you’re looking to upgrade your existing technology, the condition, appearance, and feel of your building will likely change as well. The original purpose of installing some cameras and some of the locations and equipment may no longer be what they were.
Conducting a thorough risk assessment is also an important first step. This means understanding the vulnerabilities, where they are at risk, and where problems are most likely to occur. Where are the issues that can cause major losses?
2. Be clear about your expectations.
Your expectations and your budget may not be in line. In other words, you may not need all the features you want or think you need, so it’s important to communicate your expectations to your installer or vendor. These expectations can range from image quality to the amount of memory required and the ability to upgrade the system in the future. You want to make sure that everything you want is written down. People often have high expectations and, after installing a system, they often regret that it didn’t live up to their expectations because they didn’t communicate their expectations well to the person they were talking to.
Similarly, the most expensive solution available isn’t necessarily the best option, as these systems need to be actively managed and maintained. If you don’t need complex features, there are solutions that are very affordable. Instead of focusing on the features and functionality of the systems, spend more time on the things that need to be done to maintain the system, as this is very important in evaluating and ensuring that your system is there and working when you need it.
3. Look for the best storage solution based on your needs.
Your decision to use cloud storage or on-premises storage will likely depend on factors such as: the affordability of a solution and your organization’s ability to handle the high bandwidth and storage of video data required. Using cloud backup solutions alongside on-premises storage is an easy choice. Every so often, we create a backup of our existing files, which helps preserve these files. In case we lose these files on-premises, storing them in the cloud will be your key to salvation.
Over time, cloud solution providers have realized the need to provide adequate security for the information they store on behalf of their customers. Managing the storage pool available from the security or IT department and knowing that these services are provided for your use is an attractive topic.
It is recommended that people put SD cards in their cameras in case of power outages. This is one of those things that people wish they knew about before it happened. In many cases, people have lost access to the network and lost the video images recorded on that camera; because the video streams of that camera were transmitted to the network at the same time as the event occurred. Fortunately, the cases of these incidents have not been very common, however, using SD memory cards as a shield against such events will help. When archiving network video, there are many variables that make you want to have some kind of backup on your device.
Taken from SecurityMagazine