What Does It Mean to Have Smarter Security Systems?

Written by Pro-Vigil
on December 6, 2022

If your security system isn’t smart, you’ve already fallen behind criminals. Older CCTV security systems are really only useful for responding to burglaries and vandalism after they’ve happened.

As technology evolves, so do the tools we use to keep our businesses safe. This evolution is necessary because criminals also adjust the techniques they use. It’s a never-ending game of cat and mouse. Smarter security tools mean that your company stands a better chance of thwarting a criminal incident. Here’s what it means to have a smarter security system to protect your business.

What is Smart Security for Business?

Smart security systems use the internet for real-time observation of your business. A smart security system connects to your cell phone, so you can monitor your business from afar. But smart security cameras are just the beginning. Wireless sensors and smart locks can be integrated with surveillance cameras so you can monitor the entire security architecture from your phone.

Handling security used to be a hassle. A decade ago, we had CCTV cameras with grainy footage stored on a DVD in an office. It left us vulnerable. The only option was a reactive response after a crime occurred to perhaps (and usually unsuccessfully) help police nab the suspect. Now, smart security cameras have features designed to proactively deter crime while alerting you immediately that there is a problem.

We’ve come a long way in our approach to business security. Smarter security systems even the playing field when it’s you versus a criminal. Here’s how they work.

What Are the Features of a Smart Security Camera?

Security cameras have come a long way. Today, smart security cameras can do the work for you by recording activity in your business and responding appropriately to it. The typical smart security camera can:

Record camera footage in the cloud
Analyze the footage in real-time
Respond to particular stimuli in different ways

For example, smart security systems can detect someone passing by and decide if the person is outside a perimeter or inside where they shouldn’t be. Then the camera can respond in several ways:

Notify your security team
Allow you or your team to control the camera from afar and scan the area
Talk to the trespasser through a camera speaker
In addition, the camera can trigger an audible and visual alarm, such as a flashing light or a siren
During this, the camera footage is recorded into the cloud

What features allow these actions to happen? Smart security systems have:

HD recording features for crystal-clear camera shots in 1080p.
Night vision and infrared to watch dark corners of your property. Some cameras now amplify the ambient light to increase the visual. Alternatively, they use infrared to give you a clear field of vision.
Two-way audio that lets your security team talk to someone standing by the camera—and they can respond. Virtual guards can have a conversation with someone no matter where you’re located.
Motion-triggered activation. When something enters the camera’s field of vision, the motion sensor activates the camera. This means the camera starts where there’s an activity in the surveillance area. The camera only records when it’s activated, preventing it from wasting time recording nothing.
Artificial intelligence, which allows the camera to improve its reactions based on prior activities.
Sophisticated data analytics that spot activity and usage trends. This feature can also help tag video segments, so it’s easy to find what you’ve stored simply by searching a keyword.
Wireless connectivity lets cameras relay video feed via the internet, even without hard wires.
Remote monitoring allows you or someone else to watch the video feed from afar.

How does a smart security system differ from older CCTV cameras?

Smarter Security Systems vs. CCTV—How do They Compare?

Smarter security systems are interactive, fighting crime sometimes by stopping it before it even starts. These tools can alert you that something is amiss 24/7 so that you can respond quickly to protect your business.

If the alarm malfunctions, is vandalized or doesn’t go off, how will you know your business has suffered a break-in? CCTV cameras are static. An old-fashioned security system may record criminal activity. However, if the video is stored on-site, the criminals could steal the DVR or computer drive. A CCTV camera certainly can’t notify you of a break-in.

Smarter security systems are proactive and reactive. They can alert you to a perimeter breach, whether it’s cutting through a fence or going into a restricted area. You can go online to see what the cameras see and respond quickly. It’s a great backup system in case an alarm fails.

Pro-Vigil specializes in designing, installing, and maintaining today’s smart security systems. In addition to all the features we’ve just described, we also offer a virtual guard service. Virtual guards use smart security cameras to watch your property. It’s a less expensive than on-site security guards and just as effective.

Don’t settle for outdated security tools. Talk to us today about modernizing your business security with smart cameras.

FAQ

What is business smart security?

Smart security cameras connect to the internet. Internet connectivity allows you to monitor your business 24/7 in real-time. The benefit is that smart security cameras are proactive, not reactive to crime. These cameras are so intelligent they can learn from their past behavior and improve how they respond.

Smart security cameras let you:

Use your cell phone to look through the camera lens
Receive a text if suspicious activity occurs
Spot patterns of behavior with data analytics
Store all of the data in the cloud (and not on a DVC)

Does your old CCTV camera do any of this?

What can a smart security camera do for my business?

The biggest benefit of a smart security camera is that it gives you peace of mind. These intelligent tools improve your response time to crime. They can deter crime. You can access your smart camera real-time footage from the internet on any digital device. CCTV cameras were simply there to record data, while smart cameras up the ante on criminals to protect your business.