Well perhaps that's a wee-bit of a dramatic title...it almost sounds like a fight. While I admit to being biased based on the fact that I am the Vice President of Atlas Security Services, a security guard provider...I will try to be objective.
It is entirely understandable that with today's economic times, organizations would look to save money any way possible. The new camera technology combined with cheaper high speed internet makes camera coverage better and more affordable technology than ever before. While wages and bill rates for guard services have remained fairly consistent over the past few years, a camera is still cheaper... especially when run 24/7 as opposed to round-the-clock' security staffing. With the new artificial intelligence, the surveillance camera system software can even effectively interpret motion, sound alarms, alert remote monitoring stations, play messages over a loud speaker, turn on lights, etc. This makes them a real alternative in many ways.
So those are the pluses, what about the down side? While it may be true that "CCTV" has come a long way, it still has its limitations. Can it hear glass breaking, can it smell smoke from a fire, can it get that "feeling" a good guard gets when someone or something "just isn't right", can it tell a slow driver from one who's "casing the joint"? No of course not. Can it help a customer, answer a phone, wave (or not wave as the case may be) to the passing police vehicle to signal everything is OK, or not OK... as the case may be? No certainly not. Can it be the visual deterrent that a guard in a sharp looking military style uniform is? No, not at all.
Well where doe that leave us? Personally, I love the new camera technology, I'm a gadget guy at heart! The new technology built into the current CCTV systems is amazing, and I think they are incredibly useful...in the right mix with PROFESSIONAL SECURITY PERSONNEL. Just as you can't win a war with air power alone, and eventually you need "boots on the ground", the same is true in security. While a state of the art camera setup with remote monitoring can perhaps reduce the number of guards slightly, the best deterrent and presence is a well trained human-being in the form of a Security Officer. THEN when you combine that same security professional with the new CCTV technology, you get a synergistic effect, where the camera serves as a force multiplier...not just a person replacer' :)
As security professionals, what we should not be doing, is suggesting that cameras negate the need for guards...or vice-verse. As security guard providers, or CCTV vendors when we do either of those two things, we do a disservice to our clients. The client should always come first, and would should make honest assessments and recommendations, based on more than sales numbers. A client with the right mix of technology and personnel, is the one most often best served in my opinion. If you short change the client in either area, trouble is likely to ensue!
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Scott Perry, VP
Atlas Security Services Inc.
Sunday, September 2, 2012
Monday, May 7, 2012
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Monday, April 23, 2012
From the www.PartyPlaceUSA.com
Club Details
Security:
NexGen Dance Club and Party Place USA has employed a fully NYS licensed security team and have partnered with the local, County, and State law enforcement agencies to provide a safe and protective environment for our guest and members. Along with state of the art camera and surveillance systems, we are able to control and parole all areas of the venue at all times. These systems will work directly with the management team of Party Place USA to ensure a supervised, safe and fun environment. Security provided by an industry leader Atlas Security Services.
Retail Security Trends
Retail Trends in the U.S.
What is in store for security
Retail is without a doubt one of the most challenging environments for security and safety. Large numbers of people, employees and merchandise with continuous motion – often both day and night -- make for a lot of moving pieces to track and protect. It is difficult in even the best of times, but it takes on a whole new meaning in an economic downturn when people and employees are under greater stress and crime tends to naturally increase.
In an effort to meet security challenges, retail loss prevention professionals have increasingly turned to new tools and technologies. Alarm systems, surveillance cameras and access control cards have become an expected part of the landscape. A recent survey conducted by National Analyst for ADT Security Services showed that more that 93 percent of the surveyed top 250 global retailers operating in the United States have monitored security systems and among all U.S. retailers 83 percent have monitored systems.
The results of recessionary times, including layoffs and store closings, go hand-in-hand with budget cuts. Surprisingly enough, despite one of the most severe recessions since the depression in the first half of the last century, the ADT retail survey of 334 U.S. retailers showed that more than 93 percent expect their security spending to remain the same or increase over the next three years. Almost 50 percent of U.S. department stores expect to increase their security budgets and more than 39 percent of food and discount retailers anticipate an increase.
U.S. retailers anticipating spending to remain the same or increase
| Total | 93% |
| Specialty hard goods | 97% |
| DIY/Hardware | 94% |
| Food | 91% |
| Department | 90% |
| Discount | 89% |
Saturday, January 28, 2012
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