17

Jan
2023

Video Surveillance FAQs

January 17th, 2023 | by admin admin | in Security Advice |    1   

Installing security cameras and subscribing to a remote video monitoring service can be a big step for any business, especially a company with outdoor assets like cars or construction equipment. Who’s responsible for what? Why don’t I just get a web cam from Costco? Video surveillance arrangements can be confusing.

Here are some frequently asked questions (FAQs) we’ve come across:

1. What happens when an alarm goes off?

Each site has its own protocol for responding to an alarm. Your monitoring contract will have “Radius Site Instructions,” i.e. what you’ve told us about when to arm or disarm the system, your hours of operations, emergency contacts, etc. You’ll need to ask yourself, what do you want us to do when the system issues an alert? What is the proper response?

2. Do I need to install my own PA system?

No, each system includes its own speaker. This allows us to communicate with anyone found on site during armed hours, a process we call “talk down.” Doing so is essential in two scenarios:

a) The person looks suspicious and police are dispatched, but a unit won’t be available in time to prevent damage or injury. Talking down can scare away the trespasser.

b) The “trespasser” does not look suspicious and may be an employee or contractor working after hours. Talking down allows us to confirm that person is authorized to be on site.

3. How are police notified?

If we can confirm suspicious behaviour, our system will go silent and we’ll notify police. Occasionally, we may need to trigger an alarm to flush out an intruder from hiding. Depending on your instructions, we may need to contact your representative at this point, or just report to you after we take care of the incident.

If a non-suspicious person does not respond to our “talk down” request to confirm authorization, we will dispatch an on-site guard service.

4. Do I need an on-site guard service?

We prefer to work with a client’s preferred guard service, but can assign one if requested. We will dispatch a guard according to your protocol, as set out in the site instructions.

5. What happens in case of internet failure?

Radius systems have built-in Ecare Failure Notification, which monitors your connection and sends an alarm if the Internet goes offline or is interrupted. Most of our clients require us to dispatch a guard service to investigate, at their expense, and to contact them as detailed in their site protocol.

Do you have a question about how a remote video monitoring service would work? Contact us today.

Note: This blog discusses general safety and security topics. It is not intended to provide comprehensive advice or guidance. In all matters of personal safety and security, we encourage readers to research topics in depth and consult a security professional about specific concerns.

Radius Security Vancouver, West Vancouver, North Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster, Richmond, Surrey, Langley, Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Ladner, Delta, Tsawwassen