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Video Surveillance Systems: Reality TV

The reasons to invest in new video surveillance systems are everywhere. Zoom in on these six insights to help you focus on what's important and what's just hype.

Phase 3: Fully digital, networked IP-based surveillance. Here, video surveillance is just another node on the IT network. Cameras have IP addresses, controlled centrally with any number of software applications on top of the raw visual data.

Freeman's market research shows CSOs are certain that they want to move off standalone closed circuit TV but unsure they're ready to move on to what they're being told is the more powerful, more dynamic future of video surveillancefully digital systems. So they network their DVRs to get a few benefits of the new technology without a real commitment. They add some digital systems, while keeping CCTV with DVR. They're milking their old investments.

Sheila Bramlitt, director of corporate security for First Horizon National, reflects the overall ambivalence of many CSOs toward uprooting their CCTV entirely for IP-video surveillance. Banks such as Bramlitt'swhich has hundreds of locations in 30 states, including small branches and ATM vestibulescan demonstrate dramatic savings by going digital and centrally controlling and monitoring surveillance. Yet Bramlitt hasn't entirely abandoned her old CCTV systems as she inserts new digital surveillance systems, conducting full risk assessments along the way. "The digital surveillance is very appealing, and we've bought into some of thatwithout being paralyzed by the hype," she says. "We want to let someone else be the guinea pig. We're in a transition."2 Newer Systems CanPack Some Punch Usually, deep in the core of any technology's hype, there exists some legitimate generative spark. For example: Done right, it really can improve business. With IP digital video surveillance, the potential is undeniable.

Here are two simple examples.

Pedro Ramos, director of loss prevention for Pathmark Stores, identified a problem universal to grocery stores and for which he had statistics: Most inventory shrinkshoplifting, employee theft and damaged goodsoccurs at the point of sale. So he installed digital video that links to the cash registers at all of his stores. "I can look at the [the digital archive of the] register tape, pick out any item on that tape and be taken to the archived video of that moment in that transaction." This allows quicker response to incidents and deters theft. Recurring problems (such as a cashier who repeatedly mishandles egg cartons during scanning) can be identified and ameliorated quickly. "Almost immediately," says Ramos, "we've seen a significant decline in shrink."

Sheng Guo's story is even more dramatic. Guo is CTO of the New York State Unified Court Systemmore than 200 courthouses wherein lawyers, litigants, criminal defendants and ordinary citizens intermingle every day. Public safety is, understandably, a huge concern. But Guo's facilities each had their own CCTV systems, rules and procedures.