Security guards, obviously, provide an on-site presence that can be the strongest deterrent to would-be criminals while also providing the fastest response to crimes in progress. But, security guards come with human frailties – they get sick, become distracted, take days off, and so on.
And, they can only see as far as their line of sight. So, unless a team of guards is stationed throughout the property (which is often cost prohibitive), there will always be blind spots around corners and behind obstructions. Guards also cost money – from $20/hour to $100/hour and up, depending on the guard’s level of experience.
That’s where modern digital video cameras and video monitoring services shine. Digital video cameras do not have human limitations – they never take a day off and can be deployed virtually anywhere to provide constant 360-degree surveillance of properties.
When equipped with modern artificial intelligence (AI) and other technologies, they can detect and verify intruders in seconds. When paired with a video monitoring service, trained security pros in an operations center can sound alarms and turn on lights to deter crime.
As an added plus, they are way less expensive than guards.
The Hybrid Approach
Some organization take a hybrid approach, where video cameras help guards expand their field of vision and awareness of security events, so they can do what they do best: provide an immediate physical presence to deter crime.
Guards can use video surveillance to detect potential intruders on the premises, either through manual video monitoring or through an RVM that alerts them to events happening on the premises in real time. This becomes a force multiplier, because a single guard can gain visibility that once was only possible with a team of guards.
But RVM offers something live guards don’t – it provides a strong security presence when guards are not on site. By taking this approach, businesses can gain total security coverage with “guard-caliber” deterrence at a more affordable price.
This also provides business owners with the flexibility to develop the optimal security strategy – for example, they might want guards on site during business hours, or they might decide that RVM replaces them all together.
Plus, unlike guards, video provides benefits beyond security. For example, a project manager running multiple sites can check on each with a smart phone to make sure the crew has shown up, or video footage can be an indispensable piece of evidence in insurance claims.
So, the next time you think about the tradeoffs of guards vs. RVM, take a closer look at RVM – chances are, it’s no contest!
