3 Reasons for Governments to Deploy Digital Video Surveillance

The global threat landscape is a huge cause for concern for many organizations and governments. Increasingly, they rely on digital video surveillance to protect their people and assets, and to minimize the many risks associated with criminal activity. To this end, IP video cameras are now an attractive option thanks to the proliferation of IP networks and falling prices. No wonder the video surveillance market is expected to be worth $72.19 billion by 2022!

Building an IP-based digital video surveillance system can be simple and cost-effective. Such systems are also convenient to manage, and offer enhanced flexibility and numerous options for design, deployment and security. It’s also easy to optimize such networks and their bandwidth capacity/usage by adding routers and switches from Allied Telesis or other vendors. Cameras too can be added at any time and wherever there is network capability.

For local and federal governments, IP-based video surveillance systems are a very effective investment for the future. In this article, we explore three key reasons to deploy an IP-based video surveillance system in a government setting.

Easy Deployment, Lower Costs plus Remote Video Monitoring and Access

With an IP-based video surveillance system, government security monitoring teams can view and record high-quality video remotely and in real-time. And they can do this from any Internet-enabled computer, cell phone, or other handheld devices. This helps centralize the control of multiple locations, which reduces the administrative burden for busy – and often overloaded and understaffed – government departments. It also reduces staffing and equipment needs, which can yield potential savings of thousands of dollars. Further, such systems can be adjusted, checked or re-configured remotely, so there is no need for expensive on-site service, which reduces maintenance expenses for budget-constrained government agencies.

IP-based systems are also easy to deploy. Unlike analog cameras which must connect directly to a DVR via a cable, IP network cameras can by deployed anywhere that’s reachable by Ethernet cabling or a wireless access point. This supports expanded deployment options including wider areas and outdoor coverage. Plus, by adding a Power over Ethernet (PoE) switch that supports Continuous-PoE, government facilities are ensured uninterrupted power to their cameras via a single Ethernet cable, even when the switch is rebooted.

Image quality is another huge benefit of these systems since they provide high-resolution output that often eclipses even the most advanced analog cameras. There is no need for conversions so there is no possibility of quality loss. IP surveillance systems also offer advanced zoom-in and video sharing capabilities, plus advanced digital signal processing, wide dynamic range, and auto image stabilizers; features that empower professionals to meet their surveillance needs more efficiently. They also speed up security investigations, a vital advantage in many surveillance and monitoring situations for government users.

Improved Storage Capabilities and Scalability

Video requires a lot of storage space. Even a modest system with just 5 IP cameras can consume over 1 TB of storage per week. However, as the cost per GB of storage falls, large amounts of video can be stored affordably. Also, unlike legacy surveillance systems, IP-based systems do not require cumbersome and space-heavy disks or VHS tapes for storage. Footage is stored digitally (and cost-effectively) on servers and Network Video Recorders (NVR), where it can be quickly accessed or searched.

Footage can also be stored and automatically backed up at remote locations, e.g. in the cloud, which is a very popular and economic option. This not only reduces the chances of data being lost, but also makes it possible to revisit footage whenever required. Some solutions also provide enhanced data protection, as well as built-in redundancy and automatic backups which further minimize the probability of data losses, while increasing the efficiency of the system.

IP-based surveillance systems also offer virtually unlimited scalability since they can be effortlessly configured for current requirements, and also expanded or re-configured to match changing surveillance needs. For instance, edge devices like cameras can be added in small increments, and even relocated or temporarily installed anywhere on the network, with little or no additional cabling or power requirements. Industry-standard storage or add-ons can also be added as required.

Advanced System Integration and Analytics Capabilities

IP surveillance systems enable government users to integrate multiple physical security applications like access control, alarm/intrusion, visitor management, etc for crucial synergies that deliver both economic and operational advantages. Moreover, in such a setup, multiple users can simultaneously get a common view that can then be managed from a central control room or mobile device. This also supports better collaboration across multiple users or different functional groups. It also simplifies the integration of entry/exit access control data with maintenance and facilities information, which can help improve the environmental operations of any government building.

The interpretive vision or analytic intelligence that features in IP surveillance edge devices such as cameras and NVRs, as well as central servers, can be leveraged to monitor, record, verify, interpret, archive and retrieve footage data. Thanks to these capabilities, security personnel can perform automated actions such as zooming in to objects setting off alarms in order to improve their abilities. Advanced intelligent analytics technologies like face detection or people tracking can help boost the security of any government facility. And with data mining, users can use video for more than just security. For example, with information about traffic and workforce management, they can optimize their workforce spends, and ensure that they are getting the best value out of each resource.

In Conclusion

For government departments and agencies looking for a scalable, flexible, future-ready, and cost-effective surveillance system, an IP-based system is a great choice. Not only does it help to lower Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), it is a long-term asset that can also improve their Return on Investment (ROI).

Allied Telesis works with numerous local and federal government departments to design, deploy and optimize IP camera surveillance systems for all kinds of networks.

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