Outside support network
David White argues that remote monitoring is now being seen as a cost-effective security option by many businesses in the Middle East
There are many people that still question the benefits of remote monitoring. But particularly in the current economic climate such a setup can mean less stress for the security manager and can often be cheaper than a fully-manned security system.
In fact, remote monitoring is now a very real option for the many businesses in the Middle East that already have a capable security system in place. When you think about it, today’s security managers have a number of new pressures to deal with: the ever-growing list of threats and responsibility tied up with the financial restraints of a recession. As the recession bites cost savings need to be made across many areas. And when you consider the expense of manned guarding, in-house CCTV monitoring and the training in specialist security applications that this requires – it all adds up.
Cost pressures from reduced budgets and lower incomes have seen the increased risk of redundancies, reduced levels of recruitment and the demand for ever fewer employees to continue the same business output. This often leads to an increasing number of lone workers being put at risk, particularly in isolated areas. Add to the list the risk of an attack on the premises, restricting access to unauthorised people, loss prevention and anti-terrorism measures and it’s no wonder there is a growing market for security assistance and management from outside the business.
Most remote monitoring centres offer a wealth of tailored services designed to deal with these pressures. And many of these come at a fraction of the cost of employing, managing and training in-house staff. Such high-quality services have been made possible by the growth in the broadband network. It is now indeed possible to remotely monitor a site anywhere where broadband exists.
The Middle East security sector already leads the way in best practice integrated solutions in CCTV, access control, intruder alarms and fire detection. Such high quality installations and the ready acceptance of new and innovative technologies has been the breeding ground for security systems that are almost destined to be remotely monitored.
With police providing a priority assistance for visual verification of crime in progress or a mobile patrol being dispatched from the ranks, it is not surprising the subscription levels of remote monitoring from private organisations has dramatically increased.
Monitoring software such as Sureview Immix also provides a full audit trail of event activity delivered to the security manager with video playback of alarm-triggered events and even access reports of night staff clocking in and out.
So the benefits to business are clear – an accountable security service providing expert monitoring 24-hours a day, seven days a week. A remote presence eliminates the risk to workers and CCTV equipment on-site. Should a physical presence be required a mobile security patrol in the area can be swiftly dispatched if the threat level becomes unmanageable. All this and many more security provisions come at a fraction of the cost of the in-house equivalent. In year two of this operation (once the cost of installation has been removed as in year one) the cost comparison is a no-brainer: it is significantly lower in cost for excellent security provision to include remote monitoring in your annual security budget.
The future
The two biggest factors for the future growth of remote monitoring are cost and the business decision to out-source traditional in-house operations to 3rd party service providers.
The economic climate has squeezed the most from margins and demanded the maximum value from spending. Fortunately for security managers this has resulted in some of the best value security measures we have seen in the Middle East – thanks to the security industry’s ability to adapt to new opportunities and the advance of technology and software.
The flexibility and ‘bolt-on’ extra services of remote monitoring packages provide the perfect antidote to the restricted budgets and raised expectations of 21st century security.
Removing the burden of an in-house security operation and outsourcing to a 3rd party saves not only salaries but also valuable employee management and administration tasks.
With the Middle East being arguably the world’s most forward thinking security region, it is indicative that every business can harness the best in monitoring practice and effective security thanks to our open acceptance of a friendly big brother watching our backs.
 David White is export manager at Videcon. For more information visit
www.videcon.co.uk (opens a new window)
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