IP Video Is on the Rise, But How Fast?

Video Analytics Offers Ability to Perform Surveillance Forensics
Another key benefit of IP surveillance is the ability to perform sophisticated video analytics. With the right analytics software loaded on a NVR — essentially a computer with recording capabilities — users can program the system to alert them when certain security parameters are violated. 

 

 

For example, IP systems can be programmed to alert security personnel when an object under surveillance goes missing. If a high-ticket item — such as a piece of jewelry or a work of art — is taken, the system will recognize the absence of the object in the video field and send an alarm. Systems also can be programmed to detect motion where there shouldn’t be, count the number of people or objects passing by the camera and even alert security personnel if someone covers up a camera.

An equally intriguing analytics capability involves video forensics after a security breach is discovered. Security personnel can use software tools to draw a box around a specific location where an object used to be. The system will then automatically search the video archive to find footage of the last point in time the object was spotted and potentially identify a theft culprit. Analytics capabilities like these help automate security and greatly enhance detection.

Cost, Lack of Installation Expertise Among Adoption Hurdles
Despite its advantages, IP surveillance does face adoption hurdles and challenges that just might lead some organizations to stick with analog.

For starters, IP-based surveillance could be a hard sell if an organization lacks an existing data infrastructure robust enough to handle high capacity video without slowing down other network applications.

IP cameras are also up to two to four times more expensive than traditional analog cameras. Until IP adoption gains critical mass, prices are likely to remain higher.

A lack of security industry expertise in IP installation and maintenance is another big impediment to widespread adoption. IP surveillance, after all, represents a merger of two formerly separate worlds: physical security systems and data networking. The IT staffs in most companies do not know much about facility security. The security staffs, meanwhile, aren’t used to assigning IP addresses and managing other networking technologies. 

“The knowledge base is still not there in most companies,” says Harris, who nevertheless sees the networking and security spec
ialties moving closer together. “We are starting to see partnerships between IT integrators and security-systems companies.”

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