Remote monitoring has become a vital thread of the redundancy cycle in some security businesses. Gone are the days where one would fuss through complicated rituals to ascertain whether a home or business has been compromised or not by verifying the site once security reinforcements have arrived on the location. At most, the frustration of having a rogue cat or misguided dog setting off the alarm has come to an abrupt end.
Off course this is dependent on the monitoring company and on whether or not it can see the value of technology at its fingertips. Not to state the obvious, it would be vital to discuss the positive effect remote monitoring has for a security monitoring company and security response company.
The most popular reasoning is that false alarms are treated more effectively with visual verification. This in turn means that the businesses precious resource of vehicle and response officer is utilised for response of real and active threats. The counter argument is that your response officer is going to fall asleep at his/her standoff point because there is nothing to do.
The feel-safe factor is probably one of the overwhelming reasons one would want to have remote monitoring. The moment your gate opens at night and you have arrived from a gala evening with your family a call from your monitoring company ascertains whether you are safe or not.
On a technical level, remote monitoring integrated with intrusion panels has become vital and though very few manufacturers can offer this alternative, it has become a need security companies should look at. Gone are the days where one had a conglomerate of systems to try and coordinate the security effort, for example, a panel for the electric fence, an intrusion panel and a DVR system.
We are all aware of the offering a remote management system provides and it is in this sphere that one should try and realise the benefits and work toward a sustainable and good product offering that does not require masses of cable and installation time. Even more importantly the end user of late is demanding simplicity with ever increasing functionality. Home users and businesses alike are being made aware of the capabilities of technology nowadays and more so are prone to actually trying the technology out.
Perhaps, the realisation is that one’s home or business is vulnerable to ill intent. To grasp the concept of this we have to recognise that as a basis and therefore act appropriately. This ushers a time of remote management and wireless management becoming the norm and not only a standard that people try to adhere to.
Powerlink
By Johan Crause
As Visonic has progressed through the years with durable, high grade wired detectors, a decision was made nearly 10 years ago to approach the market differently. Wireless was introduced and as we typically say, 'the rest is history'.
Visonic has developed Powerlink that is built into the Powermax Pro Panel (available at ADI) or attached via the RS232 port on the PowerMax+ (available at Inhep Electronics and QD Group). The pre-requisites for the layman are as follows: an ADSL connection with a wireless router, a PowerMax Pro or PowerMax+ Panel, a Powerlink Module and the Visonic wireless cameras (maximum of four at the moment). This configured, with an easy-to-use compact disk, gives you an intrusion system that can notify you via e-mail or MMS of alarms and emergencies with actual video verification.
On top of all of this, there is no software to download as the viewing software is on your Web browser and a nominal fee will allow you access to your own specific Web address.
In a nutshell, this means that you can be in London, New York, Kuala Lumpur or in your office and you can control your panel via the browser, switch lights on and off and view movement around your home.
For more information feel free to contact Visonic South Africa at 0861 VISONIC or e-mail jcrause@visonic.com.
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