Questions & Answers

A.  “AI is dramatically improving the value and cost effectiveness of video monitoring, encouraging broad adoption of surveillance technology and additional camera installations. Deep-learning AI filters out and reduces false positives over time, significantly reducing the labor to monitor intrusion while turning video systems into intelligent deterrence solutions. Proper application of deep-learning AI has proven to successfully automate immediate deterrence of unwanted intrusions with 98+% effectiveness and focus operators on real threats and safety concerns that require intervention and possible PSAP dispatch. AI improves the efficiency of human labor required to monitor video, providing a faster, targeted reaction to intrusion, driving down monitoring costs. AI technology is also being trained to characterize successful, automated deterrence, freeing monitoring personnel to focus on pertinent threats.  Proper application of AI is and will continue to offer property owners a substantial reduction in monitoring labor cost and thus broader adoption of monitored security systems.”

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This article appeared in Security Informed, June 2023

A.  “Traditional on-premises security systems certainly face increased cybersecurity risk from unauthorized access and direct attack. The first step in securing cameras is a strong account password, which prevents unauthorized access to your cameras. We purpose-design cybersecurity safeguards in our cameras, using reverse SSH encryption connected to a secure cloud environment with strict controls and access granted by invitation only. When RTSP video stream requests come in from outside this secure cloud environment, connections are fully supported by strong password and digest authorization with SSL encryption. We regularly monitor cyberspace, continually enhancing and updating firmware to foil new hacking trends – automatically updating deterrence cameras to keep them impenetrable. Video surveillance cameras are indispensable in home and business security and safety, but they must be cyber-secure and continually updated to prevent outside threats.”

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This article appeared in Security Informed, April 6, 2023

A.  “Broad application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in camera-based security is leading a revolution in automation of intrusion detection and deterrence – elevating the effectiveness of video monitoring. Today, surveillance cameras have become active sensors, equipped with automated controls and AI algorithms that accurately detect intruders and alert monitoring before an actual theft occurs and without the delays of human intervention. Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) algorithms within the AI application recognize intrusion and take immediate and fully automated deterrence actions that surprise intruders and defy predictability – yielding nearly 100% success rate in deterring unwanted intrusion. Proper application of CNN also determines the success of the automated deterrence, thus focusing human operators on real threats and safety concerns that require intervention and possibly 911 dispatch. The result of this technology evolution is lower costs for both the service provider and property owner - driving higher market adoption and declines in burglary trends.” 

This article appeared in Security Informed, January 2023

A. “The benefits of security systems based on an IoT architecture are low install costs, easy commissioning, and a broad range of functionality. The systems typically start with smart 4K camera-based devices with onboard analytics, artificial intelligence, SD card video storage, and immediate deterrence functionality.  These smart devices network directly to cloud applications, bypassing the absolute requirement for on-premises NVRs. Once in the cloud, visibility, monitoring, and control are in the palm of your hand via mobile apps. Smart IoT manufacturers have focused on designs to reduce installation costs by supporting both PoE where CAT5/6 can be pulled and 120-277 VAC for direct mounting on commercial light poles, eliminating step-down transformers. These devices yield immediate deterrence by integrating flood lighting, red/blue strobes, and 120dB speakers. System configuration, detection, and scheduling of deterrence behaviors are accomplished through mobile devices and browsers. Transparent security results also equate to RMR opportunities for dealers.”

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This article appeared in the Security Informed Roundtable, July 25, 2023

A. “Video surveillance with analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) has evolved into automated and proactive deterrence systems. Intruders are detected and classified within seconds followed by immediate and unpredictable deterrence reactions resulting in most intruders (98%+) choosing to swiftly exit. Those who continue to breach are met with escalating actions, including blinding strobes of red and blue LEDs; piercing 120 dB sirens; situation-appropriate voice-down messages; and intimidating sound effects. Immediate deterrence has also been proven to significantly reduce the frequency of intrusions on a property. The use of AI to classify the success of an automated deterrence sequence allows monitoring personnel to narrow their focus on events that matter, reducing labor costs and the overuse of PSAP response. AI has changed the formula of video surveillance from labor-intensive monitoring to a proactive and strategic solution that can prevent crime and significantly lower the total cost of ownership to the user.”

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This article appeared in the Security Informed Roundtable, August 10, 2023

A. “VSaaS business models represent the future of video surveillance. The benefits of cloud-based security solutions are undeniable with advancements in AI, immediate deterrence, event notifications and mobile support. VMS systems are accretive to VSaaS migration. Many clients use on-premises VMS to cost-effectively feed continuous live video streams to their work desktops. Hosting this volume of live video from dozens of cameras in the cloud is not free. VSaaS models are judicious about what is hosted in the cloud, e.g., live video feeds on demand, AI-determined event recordings and timelapse indexes.  Clients with existing VMS can retrofit new, smart IP cameras with powerful VSaaS applications by feeding live video streams to the existing VMS as a hybrid solution. Leveraging an existing VMS in combination with new VSaaS smart cameras creates an open pathway to take advantage of more effective security solutions as the budget allows.”

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This article appeared in the Security Informed Roundtable, November 1, 2023

A. “The combination of cloud computing and storage technology with intelligent AI cameras, commonly referred to as VSaaS (Video Surveillance as a Service), has created a breakthrough in physical security performance and results. Smart cameras have evolved to active sensors, equipped with automated controls and AI algorithms that accurately detect intruders within seconds, leading to the execution of immediate deterrence actions without the inherent delays of human interaction. Cloud hosting and AI-based image characterization have elevated the effectiveness of video monitoring by focusing human operators on real threats and safety concerns that require intervention and possibly 911 dispatch. Cloud hosting of video-verified events is immediately sent as push notifications to stakeholders on mobile devices, thus allowing transparency to the effectiveness of the security solution. The result of this technological evolution? Dramatically improved security results and lower costs for both the service provider and property owner – driving higher market adoption and declines in burglary.”

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This article appeared in the Security Informed Roundtable, December 11, 2023

A. “With distributed Artificial Intelligence (AI), the effectiveness of video surveillance will make a giant leap by distributing AI tasks between smart devices and VSaaS cloud servers. Smart video cameras with embedded AI enable fast and accurate assessment of visual events to fully automate deterrence reactions to trespassing and loitering. The characteristics of these intrusions and the corresponding deterrence events are shaping our understanding of when it is important to engage humans and when it is needless. An 80% reduction (or more) in the labor cost to monitor cameras is achievable when we train AI to automate a significant portion of the monitoring. Proper distribution of AI tasks between smart cameras and VSaaS servers automates the deterrence of unwanted intrusions and focuses operators on threats and safety concerns that require immediate intervention and possibly police dispatch. The results are lower monitoring costs for the service provider and property owner, driving higher market adoption.”

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This article appeared in the Security Informed Roundtable, December 26, 2023