Why appoint a CCTV regulator?

New IP solutions encourages new appointment.

Why has the UK government decided to appoint an interim CCTV regulator? Well Andy Rennison certainly has a big task ahead of him. To be fair it seems on the surface just another public servant being appointed just for the sake of it. We already have regulation within the industry in the form of the NSI and this is effectively controlled by the government already through the implementation of European standards for intruder alarms, access control and CCTV.

The challenges ahead.

There are however some challenges ahead within our industry that to the credit of government officials have actually been foreseen at a relatively early stage. Integration between CCTV, access control and intruder alarms mean that the boundaries are becoming blurred between the security technologies . Of even more relevance is that CCTV evidence produced by camera systems has always been contentious but now with the advent of IP CCTV and integrated CCTV systems mean that the police and the courts are desperately seeking guidelines and regulation to ensure that evidence that is forth coming from the new IP surveillance systems can be used in the courts  and this is very much in the public interest.

Government interference?

Government intervention can only be justified if it is profoundly in the public interest and with CCTV software being used more and more, guidelines are are must to ensure forensic integrity is maintained and all evidence is 100% acceptable however it may need to be used.

Complaints procedure for CCTV systems defined by the CCTV regulator.

The right for the public to be able to complain is only a step forward if there is a real understanding in the public domain as to how IP CCTV works . So if education is part of Andy Rennison’s  remit then this cannot be viewed as bad thing.

Conclusion.

Within the industry we have to look at this in a positive way. No publicity is bad publicity and if it means that high standards are enforced then only the most professional companies will be able to take on the new challenges set out by the new CCTV regulator. We look forward to the way this develops with interest . Your thoughts are welcomed. Do we need this kind of regulation or can the industry be relied upon to govern itself ?

IP CCTV. Who is to blame when it fails?

Who takes the wrap when the network goes down?

It seems a fairly simple question. A break -in has occurred, there is a very large loss and someone needs to pay up. Well of course it must be the installer who is to blame? Perhaps in the old days of analogue CCTV systems it generally was and often quite easy to prove that this was the case.

Integrated IP solutions means things are different now.

IP security solutions mean that by the very nature of the product there are lots of different technologies integrated into one holistic solution. We now have an installers cameras going onto to a customers network , linked to a router (sometimes wireless) connected to an unmonitored broadband connection. Then we send the data through countless different routes in the Internet cloud, to be finally viewed by a third party monitoring station. Lots to go awry i would suggest and no real way of finding out who is to blame when things go wrong.

Emizon IP monitoring.

The very first thing that installers should insist upon is that the broadband line is properly monitored and Emizon offers that solution. It gives the peace of mind to the installer and the customer that should the broadband line fail for any reason the key holders will be called . In addition it gives the installer the ability following an incident to check that the line was intact at the time.

Third party remote connection.

It is also crucial that the installer has the ability to remotely connect to the customers site at all times. Most DVR’s and VMS software gives a comprehensive log of how the customers network is responding and will also record if any cameras have failed and for what reason .

Logs at the central station.

Finally a central station should be used that offers both the customer and the installer complete transparency when it comes to viewing events stored at the monitoring centre. The best RVRC’s offer this service through a web browser and this can never be underestimated as a service when a dispute arises.

In summary.

With analytics becoming more popular in generating alarms and cameras becoming more powerful in the images they can provide, remote monitoring of  IP camera systems will be increasing. Failure however in picking up incidents will never go away but the best installers will ensure that with extensive testing during the commissioning process and service engineers who always fully test systems during routine maintenance will suffer far fewer incidents and far fewer cases of litigation against them.

Advice on choosing a CCTV installer

My advice to end users is choose your installer with care IT integrators may seem an attractive solution but there is no substitute for a professional CCTV installer.


Integrated Access Control

Integrated access control

Integrated Access control systems are the most effective way of controlling movement and maintaining the security within your organization whether it be one site or multiple locations.

No more key cabinets.

Companies are moving away from using the traditional method of securing your establishment i.e locks and keys. This  is fast becoming unfashionable and inconvenient as well as actually not being that secure at all. Keys are often lost or copied and for the determined individual offer only limited effectiveness.

Who is responsible.

To add to this there is also the fact that companies heavily rely on individuals to lock the building down at the end of the day. Any errors within this process means you can easily be left unprotected.

Access control.

So the solution is access control often integrated to CCTV to give you a belt and braces answer to your security issues. Everyone has heard about it but are we all aware of the huge benefits it can bring.

Control and information.

The other great thing about  integrated access control is that you will know who has been through what door at what time. In addition,  this is backed up with CCTV images to allow verification of the card data. Of course you also want to control when and where your staff can be at any one time within the building, most access control software is now equipped to allow you time zones and access rights into the  certain designated areas you define.

Securing the door.

There are different ways of controlling the locking down of the doors. Mag-locks and electronic door locks together with sheer bolts form the main way of doing this. Combine this with a door closer and when someone has successfully passed through the door it is always locked down behind them.

How do we open the door?

We fit a reader to the door. When a card or fob is addressed up to the reader it sends its unique code through the network to the controller the controller then sends a command to the door release mechanism and opens the door .The software logs each action and the  time it occurred. Sometimes on the un-secured side of the door we fit a push to release button that will allow egress without the need for a card.

Fire.

There are two different ways to exit the building in the case of fire. The first is electronically. To achieve this we are able to interface the controllers to the fire alarm system. Should the fire alarm sound, the software can release every door in the building allowing unrestricted egress. Also adjacent to each door there is a break glass and in the case of an emergency this can be broken and the door will open.

What is right for your organisation?

Well integrated access control comes in many different shapes and sizes from single door solutions to multiple doors within one building . However some of the big access control systems have been designed to incorporate a world wide solution for global organizations. Most access control sysems now also offer IP solutions, so the flexibility of integrated CCTV/ access control systems is unlimited and will bring some welcome control back to your company.

CCTV Engineer required ?

Installation engineer.

CCTV engineers are a breed unto themselves. They combine the skills of drilling, fixing and cable running for starters. Add to this the need to be able to wire up intricate panels and program them .They also have to fault find and commission what are  sometimes very large systems. Add to this the ability to work at height and you can see they have a to have a large and varied skill set.

More skills

However it does not stop here. The CCTV engineer must be able to have other skills such as being able to fit access control and intruder alarms and all sorts of integrated security. They have to work in extremely varied environments from scrap yards to car sale showrooms to high- tec manufacturers to garden centres, the list is endless. Simply because CCTV, Access control and intruder alarms have to be installed into just about every business environment in the country.

A rare breed!

Can they need any more skills? Well yes they need to be able to read drawings and specifications. They must carry out risk assessment and be able to deal face to face with customers. They must complete paperwork and be clean and tidy. They have to think on their feet and have the ability and training be able to operate cherry pickers. Most of all they must present a good company image at all times.

Difficult job?

If you look  into everything listed above you would be right to think that your friendly CCTV engineer is expected to be all things to all people and to some degree it is true, the best ones are quite simply the life blood of a security installer. A thought here now though. Much of the above is associated with running cables and terminating connections!

But for how long will all these skills be required?

Things though are changing and probably at the fastest pace for the last 20 years. IP solutions are beginning to dominate the market and this certainly means that the CCTV engineer needs to adapt into something quite alien to what he has been used to for the last few years.

Networks and Laptops.

Understanding of customers networks, loading and operating software and a total understanding of Internet protocol. These will soon be the new tools of the  CCTV engineer. Admittedly many products already require a laptop to set them up but this can nearly always  be done by the IT department before the product goes to site. Remote connectivity is almost rendering the commissioning process on site redundant and the engineer as we know him is being pushed to one side by the IT departments. This however is inevitable, Integrated CCTV , IP intruder alarms and access control is now the prefered option of many companies and the CCTV engineer needs to be ever more technically minded and versatile.

Conclusion.

Finally we ask will the CCTV engineer actually ever be replaced ? Well more and more functions can be carried out remotely and with customers networks being used instead of coaxial cable runs many skills are being lost or replaced by IT functions. It seems to me that the the friendly CCTV engineer must evolve quickly or sadly, very soon he could be replaced by the IT integrator.

NSI, SSAIB why they are needed within the CCTV industry.

SSAIB, NACOSS, NSI

It does not matter what inspectorate you use, the need to audit is an unquestionable asset in the security industry today. To be fair most of the big companies are “forced” to subscribe to an auditor to be able to give the correct certification to their customers in order that the customer can comply with their insurers demands.

The dreaded visit.

It is fair to say that most company Quality assurance managers dread the impending visit by their inspector,  MD’s also tend to fuss around at the last minute trying to ensure that all their paperwork is up to date and all their internal and external audits have been completed. Staff are briefed what to say and the office and vehicles are meticulously cleaned ready to greet the unwelcome guest.

Think about it though!

Why is this necessary though? At the end of the day all the inspector will look at is to see that you do what you actually say you do in order to give your customers fair service , well installed equipment and value for money. The company should always work to these standards and seek to continuously improve on them. Whats wrong with doing what you have agreed to do when you are certificated? After all it is usually the MD or QAM who has written the proceedures your company will be following anyway.

What are the benefits of being audited?

Well, training is audited , administrative procedures to, Installation standards, stock control, security screening and so on. All of these things are a crucial to maintaining the highest standards within your company. Lets be honest would you want to let anyone into your house or business to install something as sensitive as a security system if they had not been audited on the above subjects? I would think not!

It should be easy.

It certainly should be easy. All your company and its employees have to do is follow the instructions written down in your company manual , simple! Any changes or improvements to procedures simply need to be noted and updated within the manual and adhered to. Anyone cutting corners or breaking company procedures really do need to be reprimanded and bought to book . After all you must want staff to do as they are are asked and follow the instructions laid down pretty much to the letter.

Changes within the industry.

With the rapid introduction of integrated CCTV, IP cameras and integrated access control companies and inspectorates alike must adapt to these changes. Manuals will need to be re-written and procedures changed especially bearing in mind that third party networks will form the backbone of any IP CCTV solutions in the integrated security market place. This being said it will not be insurmountable to introduce standards to ensure the end user is not short changed.

Summary.

So in summary being regulated and inspected is actually good for all involved . Security companies get the staff they deserve and the staff get the training and clear working mandate they need. Most importantly the security industry is thankfully short of cowboy installers and this of course means that the end user can be rest assured that they will get a well installed reliable security solution.