Work together

Organisations are demanding more for their money and installers are certainly feeling the pressure. Customers not only require significant cost reductions from their security installations, they also insist that this traditionally 'edge' application is integrated with their core IT network to save money. Conventionally, installers have not had to provide a converged security solution and lack the experience to provide applications over the corporate network. Network integrators can help installers address the growing demands of today's companies by allowing them to target their customers' core business needs.

Installers must be flexible
Changes in the corporate attitude to IT spending are well known. Senior executives now have to justify every penny they spend on IT and provide evidence of return on investment. This has placed a greater need on security installers to show greater flexibility in their approach to their users. Business issues are imperative for the end user. Security installers should address their customers' core business problems by integrating security applications into the IT network.

In this context, and with the increasing complexity of technology, the need for experienced and knowledgeable network integrators becomes apparent. Business is now almost totally dependent on its supporting data infrastructure being available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. This requires a degree of expertise that is simply not available to security installers. For example, digital video surveillance is an area of great interest in markets such as transport infrastructure, local government and education sites or for multi-site company building surveillance. Integrators allow applications to be networked, capturing, transmitting and storing video and audio signals to central operator stations over the available IP or ATM network infrastructure. Many multi-site organisations also require digitally networked CCTV systems where cameras can be viewed anywhere there is a network presence. Security installers and network integrators need to work closely to supply workable solutions to this increasingly demanding market.

Integrators and CCTV
Why should installers work with a network integrator for CCTV deployment?

The answer is that whenever a company chooses to implement a security system, one of the key factors to ensure the project's success is good installation and maintenance of the underlying network infrastructure that enables, optimises and supports the initial investment. Choosing and integrating the products that can allow the most effective deployment of, for example, CCTV is the role of the network integrator. It is the role of the security installer to provide the best, or most appropriate, hardware that makes up the solution to meet the specific budgets of the project sponsor.

Networking integrators can provide the right underlying infrastructure to optimise a customers' investment in security. If the network that transmits and supports the solution is not right, it is a fact that it will not achieve the best possible performance and therefore not deliver true return on investment. All organisations have a network, but is this network – which in all probability was designed for data and perhaps voice – the correct design to support video? It is unlikely that any existing infrastructure can effectively support a new medium without some form of modification.

System could fail to deliver
Without network expertise, there is a very real danger that the customer will end up with an inventory of equipment that does not deliver the 'security solution' they were anticipating. Without a properly designed network infrastructure that takes into consideration factors such as traffic flows, how a customer wants to use the system, whether legacy equipment should be integrated and the likely future expansion or changes to the organisation, there is a distinct possibility that the customer is left with a system that does not meet expectations. Instead of the end result being a strategic cohesive solution that delivers genuine benefit to the organisation, the customer is left with a 'white elephant.'

Many companies in the market today are great 'general practitioners' in the field of security, but how many of us would trust a GP to perform major surgery? We go to our GP to discuss and investigate general symptoms but are invariably referred to a specialist consultant for further examination and diagnosis. We trust these experts to be a safe pair of hands. They know what the treatment involves, have a proven successful track record in their field, are aware of the potential complications and can offer sound advice based on experience. These help to speed up recuperation and gain the maximum benefit from the treatment. Moreover, they can put you in touch with other patients who have shared your experience and survived!

Multi-skills hard to find
Although digitally networked CCTV products have existed for some years, it is still a relatively new market. Successful installation relies on the convergence of digital network integrators and security installers, where expertise and experience has a low cross-fertilisation between the two sectors.

It is almost impossible to find a single company with the networking skills to manage the traffic on the network, deliver the right service levels and have the understanding and capability to provide the complete security installation.

The surveillance industry has been sceptical of the benefits of digitally networked solutions … but after much trial and debate, IP seems to be winning.

Video images exhibit high demands on digital networks; when designing a security solution, the installer must make provision for the quality of service required. Considerations such as ensuring that the images are received as quickly as possible, so that the latency is reduced and dexterity and responsiveness of PTZ control is maintained.

The benefits of IP
The benefits of digitally networked security over analogue systems have created increased demand for IP technology. Installers need to be aware of the key differences that a digital network offers when selecting products to create a security solution.

The surveillance industry has been sceptical of the technical benefits of using a digitally networked solution over an analogue system, but after much trial and debate, in specific areas IP seems to be winning.

Conventional analogue transmission systems are based around point-to-point transmission with central points of control, whereas a digital network allows for point to multi-point, or even multi-point to multi-point, image presentation where numerous cameras can transmit independently to multiple control centres. For example, an airport using several agencies such as transport, police, immigration and customs, may often need to view the same image simultaneously.

IP also allows for greater flexibility because the network is scalable. In other words, cameras and viewing stations can be added and removed from the network quickly and easily causing less disruption than installing dedicated cables. This is particularly advantageous to organisations that may need to change IP surveillance requirements on a regular basis such as town centres.

As well as added flexibility, a good IP surveil-lance solution fulfils network requirements by reducing technical complexity, leaving organisa-tions free to concentrate on what they actually want the surveillance system to achieve. When an analogue system has more than one control system, as well as multiple cameras, it becomes complex and cumbersome to cable, manage and operate.

  A digital network allows for simplified cabling and easier connectivity. This reduced complexity can be compounded by the duplicity of the network, which makes it capable of carry-ing various systems such as telephone and data.

It is time for security installers and network integrators to come together for a common purpose, providing security solutions that run on companies’ core IT networks ... CCTV, access control and even intruder alarms now have the capability to use the co

CCTV just another application Wide area networks enable business applications to communicate across the organisation. CCTV can be seen as just another application that uses the common ICT infrastructure. Security is vital to any business; implementing it over an IP network makes it easier to run and more effective.

And finally, IP makes the ideal surveillance solution because of its increased resilience. Digital networks offer the added capability of multiple routes, ensuring that data reaches its destination, as opposed to the point-to-point analogue systems that have little or no resistance to failure. This is because analogue systems can fail from a single point for reasons as simple as a fuse blowing on the matrix. Digital networks use hot-backups, helping to ensure surveillance images are available even if multiple failures occur.

Quality of service worries
Despite the success of using IP for surveillance networks, there were worries over quality of service because its architecture is not designed to prioritise the delivery of multiple services. IP can now deliver multiple services through carrier networks. The nature of the technology means that these networks have the ability to transmit almost every type of data for numerous systems.

From the original data for computer systems and printers, to telephony, access control, public address, the internet and CCTV. MPLS results in lower installation and on-going costs.

Network designers and integrators should provide the technical expertise for a successful IP surveillance solution, leaving organisations free to think about the end result.

Whether you need high quality images, low cost or maximum flexibility, the best IP network will be one that achieves your overall objective. IP has proven itself as an effective technology in terms of integration, centralisation of control, ease of management and cost reduction, but this means nothing if it does not provide the exact requirements for a company's surveillance needs.

Common purpose
Choosing the right network integrator is vital. Digitally networked CCTV products have existed for some years but the convergence of IP and surveillance equipment has been slow. This has made it difficult to find experts with the networking skills to manage the traffic on an IP surveillance network, deliver the service levels and properly understand the capability of a true CCTV security solution.