Johannesburg, 14 Aug 2015
With the move to IP-based security systems well under way across all market segments, small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are particularly benefiting from the modular, cost-effective and easy-to-deploy solutions available, says Jason McGregor, Sales Manager, Axis Communications.
And more efficient networking and storage approaches are lowering the total cost of ownership for increasingly sophisticated security systems. In fact, market forecasters see the market for network video in the SMB sector growing at a faster rate than the overall security market. For the small system segment it is estimated to be over 30% until 2018 (small is typically defined as systems less than 10 cameras, and medium less than a 100).
Whether it's for a shop, hotel, office, school or other small business, a security system for this segment must meet a critical balance of cost and quality requirements for the owner. More and more SMBs see the investment required in a quality, fully integrated (hardware and software) IP-based solution as a valuable and worthwhile long-term investment that will ultimately cost them less in the long run than trying to extend an outdated system, or relying on lesser quality products.
Of course, moving to a networked video approach is usually something of a new area for smaller sized companies. So these customers want a one-stop solution where everything works together and is easy to install and maintain. They are also concerned with future-proofing their systems to ensure compatibility with new cameras and software, as well as to be able to scale with their needs. IP-based solutions are much better suited to this type of dynamic market than analogue.
Small business customers need the confidence in their supplier that products will last and perform as they are promoted. Whereas larger companies have support staff and IT personnel or even dedicated security teams, SMBs need to be assured that the systems won't require much support and maintenance.
Getting started
One of the key advantages of IP-based security systems is that they can easily connect with existing IT equipment. They're flexible and scalable, and will work out of the box with already installed networks, routers, screens, computers, tablets and smartphones. Essentially IP cameras today are small PCs with built-in intelligence and high capacity SD cards offering local storage. With optimised software, users can view and manage recordings on smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices. Super-fast broadband and 4G networks will help to accelerate uptake.
A typical baseline system for a small business should consist of cameras, SD cards, video management software (VMS) and mobile viewing applications. From a maintenance and storage standpoint, one option is to maintain all the technology and data locally and manage it through increasingly intuitive VMS available for existing PCs and/or mobile devices. More and more, however, businesses are looking to "security as a service," which is a remotely hosted approach that provides the same VMS functionality as a client-based system but storage and maintenance is handled by a service provider. In addition to video surveillance the service provider, such as an alarm centre, may offer other managed services.
An example of a system optimised for small businesses is AXIS Camera Companion. The latest release of the product allows small businesses to manage their video surveillance system conveniently from a smartphone or tablet. Full HDTV image quality is supported with mobile apps available for Android and iOS, and up to 16 network cameras can be easily added to a system. Features such as instant switching in live views and enhanced 360 degree de-warping for sharper images give the system a high-end feel.
Start small, but upgrading is easy
Once the baseline security and viewing functions have been addressed, business owners can look to upgrade with extra elements to integrate existing cameras, increase storage capacity, add access control, and other functionality.
To integrate existing analog cameras, video encoders can digitise analog video and work as a bridge between an analog CCTV system and a network video system. This provides the flexibility, scalability and smart functionalities of network video without sacrificing a company's analog investment and makes the transition quicker, easier and more cost-effective.
Increasing storage capacity to allow more video to be recorded can be achieved through the use of a network attached storage (NAS) device. The NAS attaches directly to a local area network and offers shared storage to all cameras on the network. It's easy to install and operate, and provides a flexible solution for increased storage requirements.
Remote entry control is another capability that is easy to add and increases security. With a network video door station, personnel can communicate with and identify people with high-quality video at secured entry points before letting them in. Similarly, an IP-based access management system can manage access credentials and schedules to control who has access to the premises.
Although basic security needs may be similar regardless of the size of the business, scaling a system to a solution with more than 50 cameras has some different considerations. For example, the VMS at the core of the system may offer more options. The AXIS Camera Station S10 Recorder is an out-of-the-box ready solution aimed at medium-sized businesses. The intuitive user interface offers all the necessary features for effective surveillance such as flexible live-view layout, site maps, powerful event configuration, efficient alarm management and responsive pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) control. It delivers high image quality at exceptionally low bandwidth and images that can be accessed from wherever is required. Combined with network cameras, it is a robust system capable of monitoring a larger scale business, and also a flexible platform on which to expand.
Reliability is the key to a long-term investment
While a system's features and functionality will be the most eye-catching element for a buyer, the real long term ROI is proven out in the quality of the product. A proven, tested security system will cost less in the long run than buying a cheaper product. All buyers should consider the quality and reputation of their vendor carefully before making a final decision, as well as their commitment for providing long-term service and support. While enterprises and other big organisations have their IT department to handle the initial installations, SMBs are relying on the installers to start with the technical process so good service packages are essential. For a small or medium-sized business doing business with a single supplier is often the simplest and most reliable approach.
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