External security specialists accelerate video analytics enhancements

Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) is already deployed in nearly two-thirds (62%) of existing CCTV systems across the country where security systems management is outsourced to an external security company or managed with the help of an independent security systems installer or integrator. Where CCTV systems are managed entirely in-house, ANPR is fully deployed in less than half of systems (ie 48%).

Video Motion Detection (VMD) is available and already deployed in well over half (57%) of existing CCTV systems across the country where security systems management is outsourced to an external security company or managed with the help of an independent security systems installer or integrator. Where CCTV systems are managed entirely in-house, VMD is fully deployed in less than half of systems (49%).

Optical Character Recognition (OCR) analysis, sometimes used to improve the accuracy of ANPR or track deliveries of parcels, pallets or containers of goods, is also deployed in 62% of the systems run with the help of external experts. However, where CCTV systems are managed entirely in-house, only 41% of those professional surveyed said they had deployed OCR analytics.

People counting, which has been widely employed in the retail sector, for example, has been deployed in 52% of CCTV systems which are run with the help of external security specialists. However, where CCTV systems are managed entirely in-house, only 38% of system users confirmed that they had already deployed people counting analytics.

Nearly half (48%) of CCTV system owners have already deployed objection detection and classification analytics to improve the effectiveness of their systems. In this rare incidence, the same level of deployment was recorded regardless of whether the system is run entirely in-house or with the help of external parties.

More widespread deployment

Frank Crouwel, managing director of NW Security, commented: “Where external security system installers or integrators are involved in supporting medium and large-sized firms running video monitoring systems, there’s more widespread deployment of major video analytics including VMD, ANPR, OCR and people counting. It’s odd, then, that only one fifth (21%) of firms running camera systems are currently outsourcing any work to third party specialists, particularly so when you consider that video analytics deployments offer so much potential for improving CCTV system efficacy and delivering a faster return on investment.”

On that note, Crouwel continued: “What this shows is that an increasing number of third party experts are recommending the wider deployment of video analytics and doing so safe in the knowledge that they have the skills and capabilities to configure the right video analytics solutions to assure the increased accuracy of CCTV systems in line with their customers’ ongoing operational needs.”

Where CCTV system improvements include more Board-level regulatory or legal compliance, risk management or cyber security systems hardening, third party experts are much more likely to be supporting in-house CCTV systems’ management teams.

Nearly half (43%) of all companies supported by external security specialists have a live project in play designed to improve their ‘system’s hardening to combat cyber security threats’ as a ‘top priority’ by the end of 2021. For those firms running their CCTV systems in-house, just 35% of them are focused on hardening physical security systems against cyber attacks.

Over half (52%) of all firms supported by external security specialists have a top priority project running to improve ‘General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) compliance and data protection procedures surrounding CCTV systems’. For firms running their CCTV systems entirely in-house, 45% of them are focused on improving their GDPR compliance capabilities associated with their physical security system by the end of this year.

Resilience enhancements

‘Improvement on the CCTV system’s resilience and back-up systems and procedures’ is a top priority in 2021 for over half (52%) of firms where third party security installers, integrators or Alarm Receiving Centre service providers are involved. For those firms running their CCTV systems entirely in-house, 48% are focused on system resilience, back-up systems and procedures.

Over two-thirds (70%) of CEOs responsible for their physical security systems and who took part in the survey put ‘Improvement on the system’s resilience and back-up systems and procedures’ as a top priority for 2021, while 62% of proprietors and business owners placed ‘Improvement of GDPR compliance/data protection procedures surrounding CCTV systems’ as a ‘top priority’ for this calendar year.

Frank Crouwel observed: “It’s interesting to note that, where senior management issues such as cyber security protection and GDPR compliance are a top priority for firms right now, external security specialists are much more likely to be working alongside in-house security, FM and IT teams. The more strategic the issue and the larger potential threat it poses to business continuity, the more likely that system improvement budgets will receive the green light and an outsourced specialist pulled in to help out.”

Crouwel concluded: “Overall, what the research shows is that, where external security systems specialists are involved, a more holistic discussion is enabled which can go beyond the optimisation of existing security systems to deliver an array of strategically important business and operational benefits.”

*Read the NW Security survey report in full: https://www.nwsystemsgroup.com/blog/2021/08/why-should-you-draft-in-an-external-security-specialist-and-what-should-you-expect-them-to-bring-if-you-do