To enhance security for your business, CCTV security cameras play a vital role in safeguarding against theft, vandalism, and various security breaches.
However, the true effectiveness of these security devices comes to light when they area linked to a remote video monitoring center.
Video verification and video monitoring are two services offered by top-notch remote video monitoring centers. Both offer better security than unmonitored burglar alarms and surveillance systems.
While verification occurs after the triggering of an alarm or sensor, active monitoring is a proactive security solution!
If you seek a deeper understanding of difference between alarm video verification vs CCTV monitoring to enhance your business’s security, this guide is tailored for you!
The Essential Role of Alarm Video Verification Systems
Alarm video verification is an upgraded security system as compared to traditional security systems. Businesses began installing fire and burglar alarms when the number of robberies, burglaries and arson reached its peak.
These unmonitored security systems notified the authorities directly! This resulted in a huge number of false alarms.
How catastrophic is the false alarm condition in Canada?
- Ottawa Fire Department tackles over 10,000 false alarms annually.
- Toronto Fire Service dealt with over 4,800 false alarms exclusively from residential buildings.
- York region police report confirms 99.5 percent of false alarms out of 5000 alarms!
In 2020, this resulted in an astonishing 4,000 hours of police officer time squandered on responding to false alarms.
You may wonder how the authorities respond to all these false alarms. Here is an explanation of the false alarm reduction program:
False alarm reduction program:
Canadian cities launched a program to reduce false alarms, adjusting their response to triggered alarms with two significant protocol changes.
- Imposing heavy false alarm fines:
- Montreal imposes fines of $100-$500 for subsequent false alarms and $250-$2700 for non-commercial buildings.
- Calgary enforces a $2,000 fine for each false security alarm directed to the Fire Department.
- Section 437 of the Criminal Code in Canada allows for a maximum prison sentence of two years for false alarm offenses.
- Demanding evidence before dispatch:
Authorities require a verified response protocol to be followed in areas where the number of false alarms is high.
It means authorities, such as fire brigades and police, will not be dispatched without confirmation of an actual crime. They will now require some kind of verification that a break-in is actually happening. Dispatch verification ensures accurate responses to alarms.
What do business owners turn to?
Business owners often can’t monitor alarms throughout the day, leading them to require the services of a premium remote video monitoring center.
These centers offer alarm video verification by providing visual evidence through video footage, ensuring only legitimate alarms are acted upon.
What is alarm video verification?
Video alarm verification (VAV) is the process of reviewing video clips that are generated by a system before and after an alarm is triggered.
A skilled operator at a reputable remote operation centre accesses real-time video feeds for verification! He determines whether an alarm that has been triggered is genuine or not.
This visual verification enhances the authenticity of the triggered alarm!
What is the purpose of alarm video verification?
Process of alarm video verification (VAV) involves reviewing video footage before and after an alarm is triggered so that emergency services can swiftly respond and provide the required help.
The integration of video and alarm systems maximizes security through the detection and response of video alarms.
How does alarm video verification work?
Alarm video verification is a process that starts after an alarm or sensor is triggered.The alarms are triggered by sensors, such as microphone/glass break, fence detection, PIR/IR motion detectors, microwave sensors, window sensors, door contact, or smoke sensors, to name a few.
When an alarm is triggered, agents at a monitoring center receive an alert. They then check the security camera footage to determine the cause of the alarm.
With alarm video verification, remote operators do not have access to the footage of what triggered the alarm. They can only activate the camera linked to the triggered sensor to see what is happening right now.
However, when camera review happens swiftly, operators get to assess the situation. If the alarm is verified to be legitimate and the “crime is in progress,” the remote operator springs into action and carries out the following two key actions:
- Direct intervention
- Contacting police authorities/ security guard agencies
Here’s a summary of how VAV works:
- An alarm is triggered
- A video clip is recorded on site
- The clip is sent to the central station with the alarm trigger
- Agents at a monitoring center receive the alarm alert
- They quickly check your security camera footage to determine the cause of the alarm
- Operator confirms the intrusion and acts according to the clients` SOPs.
- The entire event is recorded.
Check out our most recent blog post for more information on alarm video verification, including what it is and how it operates.
Benefits of alarm video verification:
- A verified alarm system confirms the presence of intruders or emergencies. The biggest benefit of a verified alarm is that the police treat the information as a priority.
leading to faster and more efficient emergency response times.
- Video alarm verification significantly reduces false alarms. Verified alarms prevent unnecessary disturbances and potential fines by ensuring alarms are only escalated when genuine threats are detected.
Alarm video verification is just a trailer of the services remote video monitoring can offer!
Remote video monitoring – proactive detection:
As soon as the camera AI triggers an alarm at the remote video center, the remote operator observes and analyzes live video feeds to find anomalies.
Its primary emphasis is on identifying security breaches proactively to prevent further harm. This differs from alarm video verification because the cameras are continuously recording and detecting.
Additionally, operators can also view the footage of what triggered the alarm.
Advanced video analytics:
Surveillance cameras become significantly more effective with the integration of AI capabilities into their feeds, enabling precise threat detection. A wide array of AI solutions is available, tailored to various businesses and industries.
- Time-lapse
- Slip and fall detection AI
- Loitering detection AI
- Long-range object detection AI
- Mask detection AI
- License plate recognition
- Smoke and fire detection AI
- Object detection and tracking AI
- Shoplifting detection AI
- Time alerts for parking lots
- Gun detection AI and much more!
How does remote video monitoring work:
In remote video monitoring, the system enables instant viewing of the footage that activated the alarm, alongside live video feed for immediate context.
Take a look at how remote operators look at triggered alarms:
Unlike alarm video verification, operators quickly understand the situation by simultaneously accessing footage of the trigger event and the current live scene on the business premises.
Benefits of remote video monitoring:
- Instant security breach detection:
The biggest benefit of remote video monitoring is the quick detection of security breaches. This is what we are looking for, right? because quick detection means prompt action!
For instance, as soon as intruders approach the perimeter or attempt to tailgate along the way, the camera AI captures their presence and activates an alarm.
- Enhanced employee/resident safety:
Remote video monitoring uses AI capabilities to ensure adherence to safety protocols and minimize various risks.
For instance, the implementation of AI can involve checks to ensure that all workers are wearing required safety gear, such as hard hats, promoting a safer work environment and reducing the risk of accidents.
- Boosted revenue
When you invest in advanced security measures, the risk of incidents such as theft, vandalism, and property damage is mitigated, potentially saving your business lots of money.
Moreover, because remote video monitoring is recognized as one of the best security solutions, many insurance companies may lower the premiums for businesses using it.
- Marketing improvement
By utilizing remote video monitoring with crowd detection and traffic flow analysis capabilities, businesses can gather valuable insights into customer behavior and preferences.
The system can identify peak times and areas with high foot traffic, helping retailers optimize product placements, promotional displays, and staffing levels for enhanced customer engagement.
Key differences between alarm video verification and remote video monitoring:
Remote video monitoring also gives you access to live video feeds. With your mobile device, you can view live video feeds at any time and from any location. With alarm video verification, you only get live video feed but no footage related to the triggered alarm.
Both alarm video verification and remote video monitoring are offered by a remote operations center. The remote operator will receive the alerts for both security services.
However, the main distinction between the two security systems is that alarm video verification is a reactive security approach, whereas remote video monitoring is a proactive approach.
Let’s have a look at some more differences between alarm video verification and remote video monitoring
Primary function:
Businesses seeking visual confirmation of sensor-triggered alarms may consider alarm video verification as a practical choice to avoid false alarm penalties. Conversely, for continuous monitoring, CCTV remote monitoring offers rapid detection and response to security breaches.
Proactive vs reactive:
Using advanced AI technology solutions, remote video monitoring proactively oversees potential issues, including intruders, smoke, or slips and falls.
On the other hand, alarm video verification constitutes a reactive approach, responding to triggered alarms.
This means that upon detection of a security breach by a sensor, the remote operator gains access to live video feeds after the alarm is triggered to assess the scene.
Real-time assessment:
Remote video monitoring provides a real-time assessment of ongoing situations by showing both what triggered the alarm and the video feed, enabling immediate response to unfolding events.
In contrast, alarm video verification focuses on verifying incidents after the alarm is triggered, operating with no prior information about the scene.
In other words, remote video monitoring goes beyond offering live video footage of the triggered alarm; it provides access to recorded footage before the alarm activation.
This comprehensive view empowers the remote operator with exact details of the situation, addressing questions about what, why, where, and how the incident occurred.
On the other hand, alarm video verification solely offers live footage, lacking access to footage showing what triggered the sensor, limiting the ability to review the complete scene.
Response time:
Remote video monitoring ensures an immediate response to suspicious activities, supported by comprehensive video evidence.
This response may be in the form of direct audio intervention or contacting the authorities as per SOPs. In contrast, the response time for alarm video verification may be dependent on the time taken for the verification process.
Prevention vs verification:
Remote video monitoring emphasizes preventing incidents through advanced AI technologies to identify potential threats and take preemptive measures to mitigate risks.
On the other hand, alarm video verification shifts its focus to validating the legitimacy of alarms after a breach has occurred.
This reactive strategy involves scrutinizing alarm triggers through video footage to confirm whether a genuine security incident has taken place.
Real life example: comparison of alarm video verification vs remote video monitoring .
| Alarm Video Verification | Remote Video Monitoring |
|---|---|
| Ex.: Small retail store | Ex.: Large parking lot |
| – Suitable for small retail stores with high-value products in a limited space. | – Ideal for large businesses requiring comprehensive surveillance. |
| – Remote operators can access live video feeds in the event of an activated alarm | – Remote access to live and recorded video feeds at any time and from anywhere. |
| – Enables visual confirmation of alarm triggers, reducing false alarms. | – Uses advanced video analytics to detect loitering and suspicious activity. |
| – Informed decisions on contacting law enforcement or taking appropriate action. | – Audio interventions are possible for immediate response when alarms are triggered. |
| – Reduces the risk of unnecessary disturbances and fines. | – Effective in preventing losses by intervening during suspicious activities. |
Conclusion:
In the quest for an ideal security solution, recognizing the distinctions between alarm video verification and remote video monitoring is pivotal.
Whether your priority is targeted response, proactive threat prevention, or efficient resource utilization, this comparison equips you to adopt a customized security strategy that aligns with your unique needs.
Contact us to stay ahead in the security landscape by making informed decisions and implementing cutting-edge technologies that provide complete security.
