Cutting the Wires, Connecting the Dots: How to Get the Most Out of Security and Safety Systems

With each passing year, advancements in video surveillance put exciting new tools in the hands of security teams. Modern video analytics continue to revolutionize the way organizations approach security, improving the accuracy and reliability of video surveillance and allowing them to automate a significant portion of the incident detection and response process. Those solutions are already impressive, and new applications powered by advanced analytics capabilities continue to emerge regularly.

But perhaps the most interesting and important developments in the world of intelligence video surveillance don’t have to do with video at all, at least not directly. Instead, they have to do with integration. While it’s true that modern video surveillance capabilities continue to evolve at an accelerating rate, the ability to integrate these solutions with other security tools has fundamentally changed the way organizations approach security. Today’s businesses no longer need to manage their audio solutions, access control, intercom, public address, and other security resources separately; instead, they can bring them together, integrating them under a single platform and streamlining their approach to safety and security.

IP Video Laid the Groundwork for Today’s Integrated Security Solutions

The ability to integrate different security solutions isn’t necessarily new, but several factors have held back widespread adoption of other IP solutions. After all, there is little incentive for organizations to spend the time and resources needed to replace their existing infrastructure when their current solutions continue to function effectively. In truth, this parallels the adoption of IP cameras. While the benefits of network cameras are clear today, that wasn’t always the case. When they first reached the market nearly 30 years ago, their features and capabilities weren’t dramatically different from the analog cameras organizations had been using for decades. Why, many asked, should they bother with this new technology when their locations were already wired for analog cameras that worked perfectly fine?

It didn’t take long to answer that question. While the earliest IP cameras could capture just one frame every 17 seconds, newer, more advanced chipsets quickly enabled video to be captured at 30 frames per second. However, new, purpose-built chips and the ability to leverage Internet of Things (IoT) advancements, such as Power over Ethernet (PoE), made it possible to run a surveillance system with just one wire per camera, allowing organizations to cut the number of cables almost entirely. Better still, the introduction of embedded Linux made it easier for developers to work with IP devices (freeing them from the burden of proprietary operating systems), which enabled the first edge-based analytics.

While early analytics, such as video motion detection, might seem modest by today’s standards, they represented a significant selling point for IP cameras. With each new chipset, processing speeds improved, and developers were able to create newer, more advanced analytics. At the same time, the built-in chipsets could provide previously unachievable video resolution, low-light sensitivity, and image quality. Eventually, the benefits of IP video were simply too great to ignore, and adoption surged.

Today, we are seeing signs that a similar shift is underway in other areas of the security market. Like analog cameras, access control stations, speakers, microphones, display boards, and other security devices generally require hundreds (if not thousands) of feet of wires and cables threaded through the walls, which represents a considerable investment. Organizations are understandably reluctant to switch to IP devices, especially when they don’t see a compelling reason to do so, but that’s beginning to change. The growing benefits of integrating IP audio, access control, and other solutions with existing IP video capabilities are making a compelling case for many organizations to cut the wires, connect the dots, and adopt a more integrated approach to security.

Video Integration Enables Access Control Upgrades

For organizations in banking, healthcare, critical infrastructure, and other high-security industries, access control systems are likely already in place to protect sensitive areas. That means there are already wires pulled to each door to power locking mechanisms, card readers, sensors to determine whether the door is open or closed, and numerous other features. Those wires are threaded to a central panel with controls and sensors for each door on the premises. From there, additional wires extend to a server located on-site, which serves as the actual access control system. Understandably, organizations seeking to upgrade their access control systems may not want to replace all the existing wiring. It can be an expensive and time-consuming process, so if you already have wires in place, it’s easier to keep using them.

Now, when new buildings are constructed today, that type of wiring is no longer necessary. Modern infrastructure prioritizes agility, which means streamlined, edge-based solutions are becoming the norm. Modern access control solutions no longer require wiring to a central decision-making server, allowing organizations to scale according to their needs without tearing out walls to run new cables throughout the building. That flexibility enables organizations of all sizes to leverage access control capabilities (whether they need to secure two doors or two hundred), and modern, open-platform solutions ensure that they have a broad range of applications to choose from when meeting their specific needs. IP technology also enables convenient features like remote monitoring and access, allowing security teams to set rules to grant access to certain areas even during off-hours.

However, video integration is where modern access control solutions truly excel. The ability to integrate surveillance devices with access control stations enables organizations to leverage video analytics, significantly enhancing their security capabilities. Video devices can record everything happening outside the door, allowing operators to monitor and control door access. Additionally, they can search and filter control logs linked to video recordings for easy forensic evidence gathering. They can also trigger video recordings, alerts, and other actions when a visitor is approaching or if suspicious behavior is detected. This also makes it easier than ever to generate security reports with corresponding video evidence. Additionally, solutions like facial recognition can be used to grant automatic access to known persons, reducing friction while also enhancing overall security.

Integrating Audio and Video Is an Effective Force Multiplier

Organizations that rely on audio solutions find themselves in a similar position. Older, analog audio solutions often feature very simple speakers with limited functionality, but they are sufficient for traditional use cases. These speakers are hard-wired into the wall, and when they need to be replaced, it’s easier to plug in another inexpensive analog speaker without modern intelligence capabilities. But as with access control solutions, that’s beginning to change. When new buildings are constructed, it’s significantly cheaper to implement IP infrastructure than it is to string wires to potential speaker or microphone locations. As a result, many organizations are finding that IP audio doesn’t just feature advanced capabilities; it can also be a more affordable option.

This is particularly true for organizations in industries like transportation. Large airports, for example, may have 20,000 to 30,000 speakers wired into numerous zones and subsystems. Traditionally, those speakers would be hard-wired into a centralized system, with settings established at installation. While these devices function effectively as speakers, they cannot change volume, configure variable messages and announcements, or change locations. They are still helpful for airport-wide announcements or emergency messages, but they lack the specific functionality of IP devices. Modern IP audio solutions can be configured to play different messages in specific zones and at specific times, allowing airports to direct passengers to their gates and make boarding announcements where they are most relevant. These devices can also be continuously tested automatically to ensure they are working as intended—a significant improvement over analog speakers, which require time-consuming manual testing.

When used together, audio and video solutions complement each other to bring out the best in both. Audio adds essential context to surveillance video that might otherwise be difficult to analyze. Is a fight about to break out, or is it just two friends joking with one another? Audio solutions can use context clues like raised voices, cries of pain, laughter and other indicators to determine whether a situation needs to be escalated to the security team. After hours, audio solutions can automatically trigger floodlights, warning messages, and video recording if they detect breaking glass, gunshots, or other suspicious sounds, alerting security personnel or even local authorities if evidence of illegal activity is present. Mass notification systems can also be tailored to locations and circumstances, providing specific evacuation or shelter-in-place instructions to different areas in an emergency, depending on observed conditions. These enhanced capabilities are only made possible by today’s integrated IP video and audio solutions.

Additional Integrations Enhance Modern Video Capabilities

While access control and audio are among the most common solutions to be augmented with video capabilities, they are far from alone. A wide range of other IP solutions is currently being deployed in ways that enhance the overall operations of various businesses. For example, integrated digital display boards are a critical element for many companies. These display boards can be used to display maps and signposts. They can also augment audio solutions by displaying text alongside emergency audio messages, ensuring that the hearing-impaired can also be notified in an emergency situation. They can assist first responders by alerting them to the location of an intruder, a fire, or an injured person. They may even be able to display images or video of the subject in question, allowing emergency personnel to proceed with a more accurate understanding of the situation on the ground, eliminating the uncertainty surrounding tense situations.

In specific situations, such as manufacturing or chemical processing, air quality sensors and other equipment can provide critical health and safety insights that video surveillance alone cannot. By integrating these solutions, security teams can identify and respond to chemical leaks, faulty equipment, and other potential hazards before they have the chance to escalate into full-fledged emergencies. Such devices can also monitor CO2 levels to improve indoor air quality, as well as detect smoking or vaping, which is particularly helpful in many schools. No single solution can provide this functionality alone. Still, the growing ability to integrate video surveillance with other solutions is enabling today’s organizations to approach security more comprehensively and holistically than ever before.

Getting the Most Out of Integrated Security

While many organizations continue to rely on analog access control solutions, audio solutions, and other traditional security tools, we are nearing a tipping point. The benefits of IP solutions can no longer be denied, and as modern facilities move away from our wired past, many businesses are seizing the opportunity to embrace the future. By leveraging IP audio and access control and integrating them with video surveillance capabilities under a single platform, organizations can improve the accuracy and reliability of their security solutions while ensuring they can upgrade, scale, and redeploy their devices as needed.

The video surveillance market operates in conjunction with other security components, forming a critical part of a broader, more integrated security approach. By enhancing audio, access control, and other security features with video surveillance capabilities, organizations can ensure they are maximizing the benefits of every element of their security deployment.  Today, a growing number of organizations are cutting the wires, connecting the dots, and moving forward with an integrated approach to security designed to keep them safer and more secure than ever.