IOT and the smart security sector
Security is fundamentally important across all walks of life to ensure personal safety as well as that of our homes, businesses and possessions. Cameras and surveillance solutions have become the norm and include everything from home monitoring and burglar alarms, to high-definition, motion-detecting cameras and retina scanning solutions.
Many companies still rely on analogue CCTV to protect their workplaces and buildings. These older systems can be inaccessible and expensive to maintain. IoT has facilitated a mesh of networks where each device talks to each other, exchanging data about the area which they overlook, instead of leading only a two-way dialogue by sending and receiving data to and from the control panel/centre. Smart cameras and connected applications can process visual information without human intervention, opening the door for the adoption of many automated processes.
When data from connected solutions is aggregated and analysed to predict behaviour or hinder undesirable activities, that’s when the real value can be unleashed.
Some of the many applications we are connecting...
CCTV and smart surveillance
Access control
Alarm systems
Lone worker devices
Body cameras
IoT enables next level surveillance and safety
Security cameras have been in use for a long time, but the need for them to be continuously observed by humans is over. Now, thanks to the help of IoT, individuals, building managers, councils and others can monitor and secure their premises and the surrounding areas more effectively. Security surveillance systems and intelligent CCTV systems have improved visibility for organisations and businesses to safeguard their assets, buildings and workers. Connected cameras on buildings, in elevators even doorbells are part of everyday life. Operating within a network of motion sensors, detectors and alarms, smart CCTV cameras can alert an operator to an incident and even act autonomously or request help from emergency responders.
Smart security systems are in high demand across a range of spaces, including commercial buildings, factories, warehouses and public transport. They are being leveraged in various ways, such as facility monitoring, assessing footfall, observing changes in environmental conditions, tracking suspicious individuals which allows quick action without the need to review footage. These machines are able to record and analyse video data in one go and they can provide security managers with deep insights instead of single pieces of information. This will significantly improve security and security-related processes in many areas and industries by enabling faster and more insightful response to any sort of incidents.
Invaluable protection for lone workers
A lone worker is an employee who performs a task in isolation from other workers or without close or direct supervision. With a growing trend towards mobile working and an ever-increasing number of staff working alone across multiple environments, organisations have an enhanced duty of care to ensure the safety and wellbeing of their staff. Over the last number of years, one way in which organisations have looked to tackle this issue is to implement a lone worker solution. Lone worker solutions will include a device (fob, ID badge, specialist device, app), software and connectivity. The connectivity part is essential as it provides an accurate view of the employees locations as well as ensuring they are linked to an Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC) that can then provide essential support.
So whether it’s signalling for support in emergency situations, making sure they’re always accounted for in the field, accessing files and collaborating with colleagues, dialling out to ask for a second opinion, or receiving calls that give them critical information, lone workers with IoT can work worry-free wherever they go.
Why cellular connectivity for smart security?
On top of the right device and software, choosing the right connectivity is essential. Surveillance applications have a heavy reliance on high bandwidth, low latency and 2-way communication. Cellular networks offer several advantages when it comes to smart security. There is no need for cables or a local Wi-Fi connection, so cellular offers much greater flexibility. New devices can also be easily added to the network, making it much more scalable. Cellular networks offer a range of connectivity options – 2G, 3G, LTE, 5G and low power wide area (LPWA).
Streaming video is notoriously data hungry. The huge step-up in speed and bandwidth offered by 5G is set to eliminate that problem. There is now the potential to have thousands of cameras in a deployment all streaming UHD video in real time. Because a 5G network can carry massive amounts of data at lightning speeds over wide areas, it is also set to revolutionise analytics and machine learning, giving rise to new functionalities and business applications.
Alternatively LPWA cellular options like LTE-M and NB-IOT which help improve battery life across devices are often the primary choice for lone worker devices.
Your next step…
Talk to our specialist team about your connectivity needs.
Call us on 0330 056 3300
