I already assessed the 10 key security industry trends from IFSEC International earlier in the year. Now that we are five months down the line from IFSEC, we have a chance to see which trends are already making an impact.
1. Cost
I should elaborate here: In this sense, we refer to capital cost. We all know cost is becoming increasingly difficult to calculate, due to the complexities of systems today and the time it can take to design and configure projects. However, the trend is that an end user looks for the bottom line cost straight away. The pressure to lower costs has never been greater.
Cost has been driven down for two main reasons. First, production of the components and technologies that go into IP have been falling for the last few years. With lower production costs comes the freedom to reduce prices in the market. Secondly, and perhaps more influentially, cost has been reduced due to a vast increase in competition. More and more manufacturers enter video every year, and they have helped to erode prices.
An intriguing sub-plot on top of this is the buying choices of the customer. People in general have changed their opinion on what is important to them. They are prepared to pay for a less reliable product that will “do the job” instead of being “state of the art” and paying for longevity.
2. Simplicity
In any tech market, users are demanding a quick and easy-to-use interface so they can get the most out of their systems quickly. We can call this the “iPhone approach.”
The security market is awash with new software platforms that, ultimately, all do the same thing — give a user a very simple, easy-to-use way of getting their system to do what they want.
Roughly two-thirds of video systems are now on a software platform, rather than a traditional all-in-one Network Video Recorder. Of the 30 percent of systems that are on an NVR, almost all of these now use some form of PC software to manage the NVRs. Simple to use software is now the norm for video, and it is rapidly moving towards 100 percent of video solutions operating on a software platform. We can see this trend within specifications, you will be hard pressed to find a tender that either doesn’t call for a VMS solution for Video, or an NVR/DVR with some form of PC software for the end user.
3. Vertical solutions v.s. standalone products
We are running out of jargon and acronyms for marketing video products — HD, Full HD, PoE, WDR, and DNR. Until the next ground-breaking technological leap, we are basically re-badging the same features over and over again.
To stand out from one another, manufacturers are targeting verticals in which to sell product. This enables them to market in a different way and also to build some tailored systems towards a specific application.
A lot of marketing noise has been around the Transport, Construction, and Healthcare verticals. In effect, manufacturers create systems to fulfill needs within these environments. More and more investment has gone into these messages as we start to see movement in construction again, some more disposable budget within healthcare, and an ever-increasing need for security within transport.
4. Integration
Certainly within the last 12 months, I do not recall a specification for a medium/large sized project that failed to mention integration. Intruder, CCTV, and Access Control are now expected to interact. The interesting trend is how the integration is achieved. Until very recently, we made use of contact closures (usually via a D-Sub connector) to initiate basic interaction between units from different systems.
Integration is now achieved in a far more intelligent way. Through the adoption of software, manufacturers now have Software Developer Kits (SDKs) that basically contain the data instructions that their products send/receive — basically their dialect of IP for communication.
By implementing an SDK into your system, you are able to share information at a database level. This provides autonomous information sharing and live updating of multiple systems as scenarios can be created whereby when a PIR detects movement, a camera starts recording. This in turn can tell an Access Control system to lock a door unless an extreme level of clearance is presented. All of these processes and rules occur in milliseconds, all without any human input or involvement. The log of these events is stored in the database for each system ensuring they all keep an accurate, up-to-date assessment of the system.
This level of integration is becoming more and more commonplace to the point that consultants now expect this to happen, rather than ask if it is feasible.
5. Mobile Access
It is becoming more and more important for video surveillance systems to be accessible via a mobile device. As we use our mobiles for more tasks (both personal and professional), users are demanding that they can manage their security system without the need for a dedicated workstation. Site managers for example are now issued with smart phones and/or tablets that enable them to carry out their key daily tasks on the move — security now falls into that bracket.
Almost every camera manufacturer has developed its own app (or is compatible with a third party app). All the major operating platforms have camera apps now including: iOS, Android, and Blackberry. We can create a multiscreen view of cameras and even control, via touchscreen, a PTZ camera.
Although not written as a requirement into many specifications, when you speak to an end user directly, this is a feature they are asking for more and more.
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My first job was for a company which just installed state of the art CCTV/control room: all the bells, whistles and flashing bits. A few years later, the same system was outdated as technology moved on so quickly. We also are much more aware of i. what we actually want/ need out of the CCTV system ii. the constraints and what CCTV can actually do for us. When considering this, cheap, cheerful and doing what you need is the way to go.
I believe you article described it several ways but didnt necessarily come out right and say it but compatibility should have made that list. One of the big trends is that you have systems coming out now that can operate with a diversity of equipment cutting back the cost of implementation for the owner and allowing for growth in the future.
You make a good point, Holmesd. When you buy into technology like this, you have to understand that it is constantly evolving. Every few years, there will be a major upgrade and your existing technology will be rendered outdated. I do agree, it’s better to go for more affordable options so you can keep updating as they are rolled out.
Mobile access is a good example. I get more requests for the ability to see video footage from mobile devices than I ever imagined I would. The guys who would normally have access via a desktop or have access to the camera system directly are all about mobile access especially after hours. No one wants to jump through hoops and break out a laptop when they have someone calling them about an alarm in the middle of the night.
SafeNsane is right, with so many clever devices that we use in everyday life, the expectation for increased flexibility and the ability to use tablets etc is commonplace.
Very true. With the emergence of increased mobile usage, it’s expected that requests for mobile access would be on the rise as well. It adds convenience and added accessibility, being able to access these systems on the go.
Do you think we’re better at understanding what we need from a system because end users’ understanding of technology in General has improved?
This is important as you say because it crucially reduces the overall cost of implementing a system that does everything the user wants and reduces the need for compromise.
You’re spot on as always, the benefits of being able to instantly access these images in the event of an incident are huge. As you say, no one wants to get the laptop out but further than that you might not have access to a connection meaning 3G (or 4g of course) becomes the only way to get remote access
Free WiFi is surprisingly available in our area so it’s not just a matter of a 3G connection and I think that’s half the driver here. I know for example that our facilities manager has connected to our camera system from a donut shop in town when someone set off the alarm early one morning. After getting the call it was a matter of moments for him to check cameras and see that it was an employee and not a break in. In the past it wouldn’t have been nearly that easy and at the very least required him to start up a laptop and make… Read more »
interesting, this days security technology changing fast in some cases I see new latest and greatest security get outdated before it hit the retail shelf…
good point, how I see it technology prices go down as it develops and it get reflected in the prices… but like everything else it takes time…
The only caveat I see to mobile access is managing expectations with regard to battery life. People are invariably surprised at how streaming video can chew through a battery.
yes, you are right as this days it important, almost everything becomes mobile…
I could not agree more, both with your list and the order in which you placed the items.
It’s funny, when talking to and end user about their proposed system, they invariably define selection criteria for bidders, and they almost never put price at the top of the list. I’ll hear how important response time is, reputation, experience, and so forth, but at the end of the day, when bids are opened, they look at price first.
yes, Rob this days trends change we are dealing with smart user – who have better understanding and knowledge of technology…
yes, as technology changing and WiFi get more available… but in Canada in my area we still have some areas on dial up… I remember my old days as security officer… trying to get picture from security camera via dial up….
It’s often considered short sighted to go on cost alone, one great thing I’ve found with procurement departments today, is that they are more interested in the overall solution/ support and not just in sourcing based on costs alone, makes my job much easier
Ouch. I have to say that when we were still doing dial up I wasn’t logging in remotely to look at camera systems. I would have to drive in and rewind VHS tapes.
Luckily they aren’t watching it live for very long. Most of them just need to watch for couple minutes or roll back and watch what happened 15 minutes ago.
This doesn’t surprise me. Businesses will often state that the reliability, reputation etc. are more important, but they don’t call it the bottom line for no reason.
Employ a wine-based strategy on this one. Don’t go for the cheapest, and probably not the most expensive either, but for the one that represents the best value (ie. the good one with 50% off…)
Really? Maybe it’s because it’s before my time reporting on the industry, but i’ve never seen remote access of surveillance images via dial-up. That must have taken an age!
VPN, now there’s three letters that makes my old Dell laptop shrivel up and draw to a halt! Pretty incredible story, and funny he was in a Dont shop too. There’s a classic police stereotype joke there somewhere.
yes, it was 2000 I was working as Nigh Security Manager at Canadian Brod. Corp.
as in Canada we are few years behind…
in Canada we still use VHS tapes for security…. we are years behind… plus bad economy… Co. do not want to spend…
I think that all the other factors beyond price have a dollar value as well, and in my experience it is betweeen 5% and 10%. I’ve seen projects go to a bidder that was above a credible low bidder by that amount, but never (in my experience) by more than 10%.
The word “credible” is important, though. If it doesn’t look like they can get the work done, move on to the next bidder. That’s pretty much universally accepted.
I’ve seen numerous vendors pitch mobile access as a suppliment to guard tours, with use cases that go well beyond what cell phone batteries can manage. It’s all a matter of setting realistic and achievable expectations.
That needs to be made clear to the user though, right? I’m thinking of the reality TV show Big Brother when it had 24-hour coverage. No one expected anyone to watch it, but thousands did, fascinated with nothing happening. What’s to say a user might not behave in the same way when looking at surveillance from home.
I don’t think you have to put much emphisis on the battery life of mobile devices. It only takes a couple times for them to figure it out and the people who have the access to view cameras remotely would much rather not be watching them so they aren’t spending hours in spy mode.
I don’t know if you have numbered these trend factors according to their importance of it is just a random numbering, but it seems to me that cost has a lot to do with users’ choice. Times have changed and people are more inclined to buy something not so reliable which costs less. Because of the rapidly changes in technology people are ready to go for disposable devices at low cost rather than going for longevity.
Last point, but not the least, tells a lot about mobility and accessibility which feature today’s mobile world. As already explained by safeNsane, this is one thing that is going to dominate the trends in video surveillance in the future. Mobile access doesn’t only provide ease of access, but also aids in responding ever so quickly.
The conversations I have with people tend to back this up to some degree. People really do care about reliability, because why wouldnt you?, but as you say when the budget is under pressure, you have to surrender some things.
Saying that, I’m not sure security budgets have ever been anything other than under pressure, so in a strange way little has changed.
The only question for users is how mobile do you want your surveillance, because this trend is only going to keep going. I do feel like a note of caution should be in there when making your surveillance access mobile — users need to keep compliance in mind. Not sure exactly the implications, but for instance if you’re watching your surveillance on the train, if someone else sees the screen does that constitute a breach of the observed person’s data protection rights? OK, if they’re a criminal it matters a little less, but if it turns out to be someone… Read more »
I trust you are right, as all technology changing towards mobile one… I think soon we would see it with more and more options for mobile access on the go…