Remote Video Monitoring

Yesterday, I met with a few great guys and it got me thinking. Why isn't every CCTV System monitored in real time? Why is remote video monitoring not something that everyone has? What's holding us back?

In the past, there were reasons, solid and valid reasons. It was hard!

• Internet was expensive (T1-T3 ETC...) and Dial Up wasn't good enough (well maybe it was!!!)
• Analytics required an expensive Digital Recorder and used a ton of resources.
• Bandwidth wasn't available the way it is today, which made streaming difficult and far from "real time"
• Every location did not have or use the internet.
• Most Central Alarm Monitoring Stations, had no interest in incurring the cost, training, liability and headaches of trying to monitor video. They were happy monitoring alarm signals from thousands of accounts and generating significant revenue with little activity.
• And Finally, there were no experts. Very few people knew how to get programming accomplished and even less people knew how to model a sales strategy around this.

I'm not including the various opinions that people in every company had. (They need an alarm, no, they need cameras, look how cool and expensive they are! How does this cockamamie thing work, who is going to program it! What's the interweb? Is that the Netscape Navigator thing....etc. etc. etc....

As an industry we have grown up, like all other industries and our products and tech continue to now move at the speed of light. The impediments listed above that existed from 2000-2015 or so, are now ALL gone. So what's the excuse? Why isn't every camera at the exterior of a building monitored in real time.

If the issue is economics, let's talk. If it's a lack of trust of the efficiency of remote guarding, let's talk, In general, let's talk. One of the biggest reasons for the slow adoption of remote video monitoring is the lack of ongoing dialogue with clients about the topic. If you are a vendor in the security space, how are you not discussing remote video monitoring. Aside from the recurring monthly revenue (RMR) it generates, its like selling someone a car equipped with OnStar? but not talking to them about how it works, what it costs, or its benefits.

Maybe you employ physical Security Officers, they're a great deterrent and an effective measure to secure a facility. But with rising minimum wage, the monthly cost of having that guard is astronomical. That last shift of the night is burning a hole in your pocket. 8 hours at a minimum of $15 per hour is roughly $3,600/month. Are you getting what you pay for? And for the companies that provide manpower, how much profit are you forecasting for 2022 and beyond. What does forecasted attrition look like and what are you doing to make sure that your business continues to thrive?

My recommendation is to find a partner like EyeQ, who specializes in remote video monitoring. Don't always trust companies that monitor millions of alarm systems and say they also monitor video. Security is important, you need a partner like us that is not afraid to teach you the ins and outs of the interactive sales process and is willing to support you and your efforts in building a portfolio of monitored accounts.

If you're an integrator or and end user and have a camera system(s) that it isn't monitored, please let me know why....and if it is, how's it going? What benefits are you experiencing?

Here's to a safer tomorrow!

Seth Barcus

Director of Regional Sales- Northeast

www.EyeQMonitoring.com