Just the Facts
Your business, school, or home needs a security solution that can give you the control to provide a safe environment for your employees, students, or family. Pro Vision Digital Surveillance's digital video surveillance systems can help insure that you have Security You Control for your business, school, or home. Some of the benefits are:
• Increased sense of security
• Provide a safer environment
• Reduce property crime and vandalism
• Protect your family and valuables.
• Protect property and livestock.
•
Keep students safe.
• Provide a record of activities on campus.
• Lower insurance liability rates.
Digital Video Security reduces crime
There is overwhelming evidence that surveillance cameras, when properly implemented, reduce crime where they are installed. In some areas of the country,reports state that there has been:
• A 2/3 reduction in property crime
• A 72% reduction in business burglary
• A 98% reduction in graffiti
Glowing reports of the effectiveness of digital video security are announced regularly. Cities large and small across the U.S. claim up to a 75 per cent drop in crime following the installation of a state of the art digital video security system. The government believes this is because digital video security deters 'opportunistic' crime where people take advantage of a situation on the spur of the moment. Representatives from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security say the government is using digital video security as part of a long term plan to reduce overall crime and the risk of terrorism. Today's opportunist is tomorrow's professional criminal. If we decrease the number of opportunities for easy crime, we can reduce the number of professional criminals.
IP or Analog Security Cameras?
Choosing between IP and analog security cameras is one of the first and hardest choices facing any prospective buyer, whether it is for home surveillance or for monitoring a business. Both types of systems have advantages and disadvantages, and manufacturers don't make it easy to decide between them. There is a lot of hype and marketing buzz right now because of the growth of the industry.
Both types of cameras work through the use of CCD and CMOS chips. These chips turn visible light (and in some cases infrared light) into a signal. Analog cameras turn this signal into something that a television can see, very much like a camcorder. IP based cameras do something a little more complicated. They take the information from the chip and feed the analog signal into an encoder. This encoder is combined with an onboard web server. This allows for the camera to become a network device and allows it to be viewed by users over an existing or new network like a web page.
Cost of a Digital Surveillance System
It is difficult to provide a dollar figure or cost because each system is customized to your needs. Each installation if different and will utilize different technologies, cameras, software and cabling. Don’t be fooled by vendors with pricing too good to be true. There are often hidden costs in the fine print of the contract. The only way to accurately price a Surveillance system is to perform a thorough site survey. We provide free site surveys and will consult with you to ensure a cost effective solution.
How much are you losing?
Annual loss rates from the University of Florida's 2006 National Retail Security Survey.
For the time to repay calculation, we have assumed a very conservative 25% reduction in loses and $5000 video security investment. Many reported greater reductions in loss rates with the introduction of a video surveillance security system. Another benefit is some protection from fraudulent slip and fall lawsuits. Avoiding one such suit can easily pay for the cost of the system.
How many cameras do you need?
You should begin by deciding and understanding what you’re ultimately trying to achieve. Are you trying to deter unwanted events or crime? Are you trying to capture detailed events for later use, maybe for a criminal investigation? Perhaps you want to establish a chain of events or observe a process. With careful consideration of your specific business and security needs we can provide a solution that includes the right number of cameras to achieve your goals.
Why should you consider hidden cameras?
Hidden cameras are a unique form of surveillance that is highly effective. If fills the security gaps of traditional systems. Hidden cameras are legal anywhere a traditional camera is used and can be hidden in just about anything. Just a few of the benefits of hidden cameras include:
• They see when you are not watching! Hidden cameras capture how people act when they think no one is watching and the video never lies.
• They capture clear identification! While some traditional systems can be disabled, hidden cameras, because of their covert nature, rarely are.
• They help you remove unwanted elements! Whether it is employees or nannies, theft or bad behavior can be stopped with hidden cameras.
• They don't disrupt your design or ambiance! Hidden cameras maintain proper aesthetics while providing necessary security.
Viewing cameras over the internet
We can provide internet access to your Surveillance system and cameras. Some companies have strict security policies and do not allow surveillance video to be available outside their own internal network. Be sure you understand your company’s security policies before internet access is granted.
Storage of video clips
Video clips are stored on the computer system's hard drive. They are usually stored in 3-5 minute segments for quick retrieval and review. Through proper sizing and tuning, the video system will record the maximum number of days that you require. Older video clips are recorded over in a first-in, first-out fashion. You can always choose to archive a clip and save it to another storage device like a DVD, flash drive, or email clip.
DVR or VCR?
A Digital Video Recorder (DVR) system records high resolution digital images to a hard disk drive (HDD) and eliminates the requirement of maintaining VHS tapes. Since the video images are stored digitally, the image quality will not degrade overtime, as would a VHS tape when recorded over multiple times. The time-saving search capabilities of a DVR will enable the user to locate the desired video clips via user defined parameters (camera, time, date, etc.) versus the fast forward and rewind functions of a VCR. A DVR can be accessed remotely 24/7 from anywhere in the world using the Internet. Other benefits include:
•Record only motion – Our systems are configured to only record when your camera detects motion. This greatly simplifies reviewing of video as you only have to point and click on the specific motion detected event. This prevents tedious review of hours of tape in which nothing of value has been recorded.
•Asset protection capability – you have the ability to highlight an asset and then send a notification phone call, email, etc.) if it has been taken.
•Expandability – you can start with a solution that meets your needs today, and expand to as many cameras or days of storage you desire in the future.
•Integration – digital technology allows integration with Point-of-Sales Systems, Alarm Systems, Monitoring Systems, etc. For POS integration, we can integrate with many cash register systems and allow you to see/record the purchased item(s) when reviewing recorded video (this looks very similar to closed-captioning when viewing TV).
Monitoring your surveillance system
Many installers misrepresent their products and “monitoring” offerings which causes confusion among end users. Monitoring can be done by end users themselves, by an employee, or security personnel or by outside monitoring companies that will perform a variety of task under the term “monitoring”. You decide which is right for you. That is part of the Security You Control concept.
