IT resellers well placed to take advantage of growing IP-surveillance market

IT resellers are best placed to take advantage of the increased demand for IP-surveillance systems, according to the majority (51%) of respondents to a new survey by the market leading vendor in IP-surveillance, Axis Communications.

IT resellers have the necessary experience and skills to take advantage of this dynamic marketplace, according to the survey conducted at the first International IP Security Exhibition & Conference (IIPSEC) in January 2003.

For example, 52% of respondents ranked education of end-users as the most important factor when it comes to selling IP surveillance. IT resellers have long performed the role of educating end-users about new technologies and new applications for existing technologies and have a very relevant knowledge base including networking and information security expertise.

Roy Alves of SCS Distribution, local distributor for Axis, commented: "The results of the survey show that there is a need for increased education within the marketplace which IT resellers could easily take on. On the other hand, traditional CCTV installers trading purely on their physical security knowledge, but with no networking knowledge, need to work harder to obtain this knowledge or risk losing out to IT resellers."

Other findings probed the perceived benefits of IP-surveillance over traditional analogue-based CCTV products. The majority of those surveyed (54%) believe remote monitoring via the network is already the biggest driver behind the take-up of IP-based surveillance solutions.

Remote monitoring allows companies to cut their security costs by using an in-house or third-party remote monitoring station for 24-hour security - a more cost-effective security solution than employing on-site security staff around the clock. IP surveillance also enables end-users to access footage from their surveillance system at any time, from any location, using a standard Internet browser via a PC or mobile device.

At the forefront of the adoption of IP-surveillance technology are the public sector (stated by 43%) and retail sector (given by 20%). The survey`s findings will make interesting reading for those selling or planning to sell IP security solutions today. The majority of those surveyed (31%) still believe the security manager is most likely to make the end-user buying decision when purchasing surveillance solutions. But the role of the IT director is not far behind - 24% of surveillance buying decisions are now in their hands. A further 22% of decisions attributed to the finance director.

Other interesting findings:

* 100% of respondents believed IP surveillance represented an opportunity for their organisation.

* 38% of respondents wanted vendors of IP surveillance technology to give them more information about networking technology. Another 30% wanted vendors to concentrate on educating end-users as to the benefits of IP surveillance.

The poll was conducted via a written questionnaire at the IIPSEC Conference & Exhibition, from 28 to 30 January 2003 at Birmingham Motorcycle Museum. More than 50 delegates (including CCTV installers, IT resellers, vendors and consultants) completed the questionnaire.