IoT Video Surveillance: Let’s Burst those Myths

In today’s date, with the crime rate at an all-time high, there is absolutely no place that is completely safe from harm. So, when it comes to securing our premises from these possible threats, it is absolutely necessary to employ the right security system for the right purpose.

However, the idea of an e-surveillance security system is warded off by a multitude of people simply owing to their incomplete or inaccurate knowledge. When it comes to IoT video surveillance security systems, there are a lot of misconceptions in the air about what it truly does for you. From underestimating its capabilities to overestimating its costs; there are a multitude of myths and misguided information all around us. Whether you’re new to the field, unable to find any reliable and simplified source of information, or just confused, here are some common misconceptions that people usually attach with e-surveillance, clarified for you.

IoT Video Surveillance Misconceptions

1. It is all about the cameras and sensors

The idea goes like this: Cameras and sensors are the main part of an e-surveillance security system. While the importance of these smart devices cannot be overlooked, these are simply the only devices people come in direct contact with on a daily basis and thus believe that what is right in front of them is all there is to security solutions.

Have you ever had your team leader take credit for an amazingly successful project while the hard work of you and your teammates is overlooked? Well, it’s basically the same concept. We tend to place more value to what we can see, often not realizing what goes into making the system so inherently valuable. The smart devices, if left to function on their own, would be nothing more than traditional recording devices. However, when ornamented with over cloud storage, analytical abilities, and a unified dashboard to monitor these devices; the true value is added to the system. With the IoT video e-surveillance system, you can view and monitor the devices and their footage in real-time, receive notifications in case of any deviation, analyse the data captured and also add value to the data with the insights deduced.

2. Limited to protection from intrusion

When it comes to security systems, one often underestimates its range of benefits, limiting it to the detection of intruders and nothing more. A number of people believe this to be true of e-surveillance security solutions to this day. However, this is merely a small fraction of the true capabilities of these security solutions.

The smart devices that come equipped with the system not only record and detect changes around them but also respond to these changes whenever required. While the cameras and sensors sense the undesired conditions in the environment, actuators are responsible for carrying out the actions to bring back the equilibrium. This not only ensures safety from intrusion but a number of other hazards that can possibly happen in that area. The devices can be trained to detect motion, light, objects, vibrations, change in temperature and moisture levels, smoke and fire, excessive carbon particles in the air, and so on, to ensure the security of the premise in every thinkable way. Not only do these systems provide security, which is the most obvious part of its operations, it gives you workable insights by analysing data gathered so far, assisting in improving the overall performance of the enterprise.

3. Small enterprises do not need e-surveillance

Another extremely common misconception is that small enterprise are safe from any harm of intrusion or theft and thus does not need an e-surveillance security solution. However, most of employers, big or small, realize today, just how important the security of their assets is. Small enterprises, too, own assets that might be valuable to others. Even when located in a ‘secure’ area that might reduce the chances of an intruder trying to break in, that is not the end of security threats for an enterprise. It is especially necessary to secure your premise from internal harm as well. Very often, theft in enterprises is an insider’s job, implemented by an employee who knows the nooks and corners of the premise. While the employer maintains a position of trust towards his employees, the same cannot be promised in return.

It is also necessary to keep a check on the activities of the employees, how well they carry out their tasks while following their operational protocols.

An e-surveillance security solution becomes a necessity for enterprises that have perishables, reactive or volatile components stored in their premise, that require a specific set of environmental conditions; particular temperature, moisture level while being stored. The smart devices not only detect the change in the environment but simultaneously make adjustments to restore the previously specified standard.

4. IoT video surveillance is complicated

From a consumer point of view, I partially agree with this statement.

Hear me out: It’s not the system that is complicated but the absence of simple to understand instructions that make it sound more complex than it needs to be. While the mechanism of making the system is definitely not easy, it is exactly for this reason that it is handled by professionals. However, for someone getting it installed on their premises, the system is rather simplified according to your own preference of usage. The installation of the complete system is done by proficient personnel and a proactive command centre is at your beck and call whenever needed. You get to customize the sensors you want, the range and resolution of the camera, the areas you want your cameras and sensors most at, how often to get a notification, so on and so forth; and then monitor all of it remotely on your smart devices.

5. These are cameras with internet

You’re not entirely wrong if you put it that way, however, you are still far from the truth. While traditional CCTV cameras capture and record footage locally which is available to be viewed and retrieved later, e-surveillance video recorders or CMVRs capture and record footage over the cloud which can be viewed, retrieved, and monitored in real-time. You can not only choose to view the live feed of a particular camera but also change its focal points according to your preference, as long as you’re authorized to do so.

While being connected to the internet is crucial, just connection is not enough. All the information that is sent to the cloud storage via the network needs to be analysed for it to be more than just big data. The data is analysed, based on which certain useful insights can be deduced for the improved functioning of the enterprise. All of this is made available to the user directly on their smart devices as well as the command centre who is responsible for keeping your enterprise secure.

Can your security cameras really provide all of this if connected to the internet?

Maybe. To some extent. But not really.

Your existing hardware can be turned smart; however, it needs more than just an internet connection. IoT video surveillance solution providers can easily equip these conventional devices to perform in a smarter manner, saving you hundreds of bucks on getting a completely new system installed.