On-site Guards with Remote Monitoring - Security Technology of South Texas, Inc.

Hiring a company to place and manage a human guard post(s) tends to be compared as the alternative to remotely managed surveillance systems. They are generally more expensive, and also add the element of risk associated with using man instead of machine.

“According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual wage for security guards is around $28,000 a year.” A brief perusing of the internet shows an apparent overall industry preference emerging for remote security. The most often cited reasons are cost, human failure (a camera can record a license plate, but a guard might forget etc.), and a market that is increasingly seeing the value of technology over man power.

However, the value of either system can be enhanced by the other, and in situations where a complex of particularly high value requires surveillance, integrated systems utilizing both physical security (guards) and electronic security (smart video systems) all controlled and dispatched from a remote command center, can be a good option. The method of using both remote video monitoring and private first response services can lower the overall cost to the end user of traditional guarding services

One prominent security guard company suggests the following three strategies for integrating these systems:

“Assign ‘roles’ to your security officer and video surveillance system.”
Guards should have a solid understanding of the systems on site. Guards, as a general rule, are used to prevent or stop crime, whereas surveillance is meant to help solve crimes in criminal proceedings after the fact.
“Create a communication framework for your two ‘systems.’”
“Train your officers and your staff on the whole process.”

These steps seem obvious, but in order to make a team of remote monitors and on-site guards work in tandem, requires that everyone involved have open lines of communication with each other, and understand the network as a whole. Properly utilizing remote monitoring and on-site physical security officers can create not only a more enhanced security solution, but also a safer environment for responding officers. Knowing the threat level of the situation on-site prior to deploying the officer(s) is paramount in providing the safest approach.

Security Technology of South Texas, Inc. is currently partnering with Smith Protective Services to provide this unique combination of remote monitored video and on-site response. To learn more about how remote video monitoring and guard response can save you money and better protect your business, contact us at (855) 688-2718 or online at www.gostst.com .

Sources:

US Bureau of Labor Statistics