Glossary
CCTV
Close circuit television
Intruder alarms
Access control
Video surveillance
Door entry systems
Integrated security
Home security
Office security
Home automation
Perimeter detection
Pet proof alarm systems
Burglar alarms
Smoke alarms
Panic alarms
CCTV
The need for some level of surveillance within homes and businesses as a crime deterrent is obvious, and for this reason camera makers have come up with a variety of closed circuit television systems, known by the general term CCTV. Unlike stations which broadcast a general signal for any television to receive, a CCTV system sends its signal only to one monitoring station for observation, or records the scene onto film for later playback.
These systems come with a number of different features. Some are black and white, while others provide full colour. The better CCTV systems also come with complete battery backup power, to prevent them from being rendered inoperative should criminals disconnect power to the building being monitored.
The CCTV monitor may serve just one channel, as in a home doorway enabling the occupant to see who is calling before opening the door to potential trouble. More commonly, CCTV utilizes multiple channels, allowing operators to monitor several locations at the same time.
To catch thieves in the act, a savvy security company will install a camera that looks obvious but is really a decoy. The real camera is camouflaged to look like something harmless, such as a wall clock. Although criminals sometimes spray paint the lens of the decoy camera to prevent it recording evidence against them, they almost always miss the real camera.
A number of high-profile crimes have been investigated and prosecuted thanks to evidence provided by such systems. They recorded the faces of the men responsible for the 7/7 bombings of London, and showed two-year-old James Bulger being led away from a shopping mall by his two killers, the ten-year-olds Jon Venables and Robert Thompson. CCTV cameras also recorded scenes from the Columbine High School massacre perpetrated by Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold.
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Close circuit television
Closed circuit television systems have varying degrees of sophistication and different recording abilities. Some units will record continuously for a week, while others only record when activated by a sensor.
Closed circuit television can be effective in ensuring personal safety by providing other people a much greater field of vision. For example, the tragedy of small children struck and killed by vehicles backing up can be largely avoided by installing such a system to give the driver a better view to the rear, and elderly or special needs family members can be monitored for irregular or unusual behaviour which could be life threatening.
Some companies that employ security guards also mount external closed circuit television cameras to show whether or not the guards are actually making their rounds.
In our increasingly litigious society, video recordings are invaluable in determining the real truth and protecting employees and businesses from frivolous lawsuits. For example, using closed circuit television to monitor the traditional Santa Claus interacting with children in shopping malls during the Christmas season can avoid lawsuits alleging abuse or fondling, filed by unscrupulous parents looking to make a quick buck by using their kids as bait.
In the private home, a babysitter’s actions can be monitored by a relatively simple black-and-white closed circuit television, thus protecting the sitter from false accusations made by the children in their care. Such a protective system works both ways, however, as parents also have a record of any abusive behaviour by the sitter that might otherwise go unreported.
Another recent application with profound legal consequences is the use of closed circuit television by law enforcement officers in patrol units. These dashboard-mounted video cameras record events that are by nature very stressful and therefore protect the officers from frivolous lawsuits filed by unhappy “clients.”
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Intruder alarms
An intruder alarm is a system widely employed to inform the owner, or other responsible person of a certain building or area of activity, that someone has entered the area.
The simplest intruder alarm is a bell over the door to alert the shopkeeper in the backroom that a potential customer has entered. This system can be enhanced by installing angled mirrors that permit monitoring the entryway at all times from any location in the shop. A variation is the one-way office window, an innocent means of observing the visitor’s actions without their knowledge.
More complicated intruder alarms utilize very sophisticated technology. The level of sophistication chosen, of course, strongly influences the cost factor and therefore depends upon the dangers attending an unwanted intrusion. A museum housing priceless Michelangelo art, for example, employs such devices as pressure pads embedded within the flooring materials around the displays, and sensitive microphones that detect specific frequencies, particularly the ones associated with very sharp sounds such as breaking glass.
Other commonly utilized triggers for intruder alarm systems are motion detectors and infra-red beams mounted in inconspicuous locations. The transmitters and receivers are set at random angles and can be moved often as a further barrier to would-be intruders.
Another intruder alarm system trigger is heat sensors set to certain temperature thresholds. These sensors are extremely sensitive and can detect not only the amount of change but also its rate.
The data gathered from all these intruder alarm applications can be automatically entered into a central office database, visually monitored by means of a hidden closed circuit television system, or used to trigger an audible alarm signal within the general premises or offsite at a specific location such as police headquarters or a control room.
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Access control
Access control is a common security enforcement technique and, depending on the degree of protection necessary, methods of application will vary from simple sign-in sheets before a security guard to high-tech systems such as voice print identification.
The first line of access control remains a competent security guard hired from a reputable company, one who has passed a strict criminal background check. This guard maintains a basic sign-in log indicating such data as the visitor’s name, company represented, time and date of arrival, etc.
The security guard will also ask to see each visitor’s photo I.D., specifically asking to see one that includes a signature, which can be compared to that on the sign-in log and evaluated for authenticity. If there’s any doubt the guard should call the visitor’s company for verification. This level of access control is considered adequate for general corporate activities such as warehouses, lumber yards, office spaces, etc, where safety is the main concern rather than theft.
If the area being guarded requires a higher level of security, access control measures will be much more strict. The measures already described remain the first line of control; then as a further check, metal detectors, both the walk-through variety and hand-held wands, are employed with no exceptions allowed. This is often coupled with the use of X-ray machines for carried objects such as purses, backpacks, laptop computer cases, briefcases, etc. This mid-range level of security is often utilized for buildings housing governmental, legal, or financial offices.
The highest level of access control comes from specialised technologies such as computerised retina scans and voice- and fingerprint identification. Research has shown conclusively that the human voiceprint and retina patterns are as individual as the legally-accepted fingerprint. These methods do require specific training for technicians who interpret this data to avoid false positives.
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Video surveillance
Video Surveillance can go a long way in keeping businesses safe from thieves and dishonest employees alike. Imagine a security guard that works 24 hours a day, is always at his post with no required breaks and has a photographic memory. That is what a video surveillance system equates to. A surveillance system can keep shoplifters from stealing, but also provide proof of events in the case of an insurance claim. Imagine if a scam artist targets a business with a phony slip and fall scam. If that business has a surveillance system, the chance of that scam succeeding is slim and the likelihood is that the scammer will be prosecuted for fraud.
There are lots of different systems out there and lots of different video surveillance specialists to advise a business owner exactly which one would be ideal for their company and any legal requirements. A business owner can expect to spend a minimum or $3000 dollars on a basic surveillance system and the cost can go up from there. Some things that can affect the price is how many cameras are used, whether or not they are wireless, and the quality of the video produced. Most experts recommend a completely digital system. VCRs are being phased out as technology progresses and the quality of the video is not as good with a VCR as it is with a digital recorder.
There is another option and that is the subscription type service. These types of programs work in a way that is similar to most intruder alarm systems that require a monthly monitoring fee. However the subscription service takes care of the entire surveillance system for the business owner, freeing them up to deal with other business issues. These subscription services allow owners to watch video feed even when they aren’t at their business location along with many other useful tools as well.
No matter with video surveillance system you decide to purchase, it will be well worth the money spent.
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Door entry systems
There are several different kinds of door entry systems on the market, designed for all different kinds of applications. These systems come in a couple different forms, there are those that are hard wired to the land based phone line and there are those that aren’t, they are wireless. The differences between these two types are discussed below.
The wireless door entry systems are typically used in residential applications, for things like garage doors and front doors. If buying these systems for garage doors it’s important to get the wireless keypad to work on the same frequency as the garage door openers. The good news is that these wireless devices are relatively in expensive, less than a 50 dollar add on to the existing garage door opener. Wireless door entry systems can also be purchased for the entry doors of a home, and work in a similar fashion to a wireless door bell. There are also different systems that can be purchased for homes that are wired to the telephone line and can also be wired to the home’s security system.
For commercial applications there are a few different kinds to choose from. Most of these systems require a land based telephone line or a hardwired intercom system. Several of these can be seen in apartment buildings. When someone pushes the button on the outside of the building or gate, it will activate a speaker in the chosen apartment either by intercom line or, as is common in less expensive apartment buildings, the land based telephone line. Several other types of companies such as banks and other financial institutions, and hotels also use these type of systems for access control. Banks and other financial institutions use a system that features both keypads and intercoms for those who are trying to access controlled areas. Hotels feature systems that require keycards to be used to access the doors, as do several large companies for their employees, such as credit card or telephone call centers. These different access control systems can vary widely on price and are usually installed by security or telecommunications specialists.
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Integrated security
Integrated security refers to security in its entirety. It includes everything from building modifications, door entry systems, video surveillance systems, GPS tracking for company vehicles, and information system security. Examples of this type of security can be seen all over, from airports to government offices to banks to hospitals to laboratories.
There are companies out there that make integrated security there specialty. These companies bid on contracts with other large companies, hospitals and government buildings to install, maintain and monitor these highly advanced security systems. These companies are often times operated by people who are former military members or police officers, who know the importance of having an all encompass system in place. These security companies employ engineering specialists and telecommunications specialists who use the latest technology to protect the highly sensitive information or products at the locations where these systems are used.
Integrated security systems often have several of the company’s employees working with them at the same time. For instance there will be security guards in front of a bank of closed circuit TV monitors, while people in the IT department will be monitoring the company’s information security for any attempted breaches, and at the same time logistics managers will monitor the locations of company’s vehicles with the GPS system. All of these systems work together to provide a high level of security for those companies that need it.
These types of systems should be built into the design of the building when it’s constructed, however often times companies take over other buildings that don’t have the features they need. Companies that are considering installing this type of system approach as a retrofit to their building should consult with experts in the field. There may be permits required based on local areas for the electrical and telecommunications work required to set up these types of security systems, as well as alarm permits which may be required by the police department.
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Home security
Your family is your most precious possession. Home security should be at the top of your must do list to ensure the safety of your loved ones. Knowing your home is protected gives you peace of mind when you aren’t there and even when you are.
Installing a home alarm is a good first step towards securing your home. Most companies will give you a small sign to place by your front door, or stickers to put on your windows, that inform potential burglars that your home is protected by a security alarm. Most people look at those little signs and stickers and move on to try and burglarize someone else’s home. Many home alarms systems are set up to send a signal directly to your local police force should it ever go off, giving burglars little to no time to take anything of value.
Lighting is also important for your home security plan. Motion sensor lights are inexpensive and should be installed on all corners of your house and garage. Thieves like to work in the dark, if they suddenly find themselves bathed in light, they will quickly move on.
Home video surveillance is an option to consider for your security needs. You could have a camera placed outside, attached to your garage. You could have a video camera trained on your back door or you could have video cameras installed inside your home. Having a video camera would be an extreme benefit should your house or garage ever be broken into. No only would you have something to give to the police to help them catch the criminals but you would also have a video for your insurance company to help with any claims.
We all want to feel safe at home and an as if our house is protected should we go out of town for a few days. Good home security is important to protect your assets, your family and your personal sensitive information.
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Office security
Everyone wants to feel secure where they work. Employers want to know that their place of business is not only a safety zone for their employees but also that their information, products and equipment that they have invested time and money into is safe from potential criminals. Sometimes the employee is the potential criminal, looking for an easy way to steal from your company. Here are some tips to ensure that your office has the best security possible.
Install secure access control to all areas of your office. Keys and key cards can be transferred from person to person, or even stolen, but biometric readers allow only explicitly authorized personnel access to secured areas and are the safest and most secure form of access control if you have a particularly high level of office security needed. If you have keyless entry, have the codes for each person changed once a month and inform your employees that they are not to write their code down for any purpose. This ensures that if a code is stolen, it won’t be able to be utilized.
Surveillance video cameras are also a great investment for office security. Studies have shown that the chance of theft goes down when a company has video cameras installed. Cameras also boost employee production because they now know that their boss is watching! Surveillance cameras can also be used as concrete proof to the police and help in insurance claims should the need arise.
Office security is paramount for your business. Your employees depend on you to keep them safe in their workplace, your clients entrust their sensitive information with your company and it is your responsibility to keep that trust by doing all you can to ensure that your office security is the best that it can be.
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Home automation
The growing market for automated home security has made available a wide range of devices and systems. Security is uppermost in the minds of many homeowners, and often their first purchase is a simple plug-in timer that turns lights on and off at pre-determined intervals. These can also be used with radios, televisions, and other small appliance to give the impression of the home being occupied at hours when it is not.
Further up the scale of home automation sophistication are devices such as recorders that can play back selected sounds through speakers judiciously placed in strategic locations throughout the home. These sounds may include barking dogs and the playback can be triggered by a microphone tuned to respond to a knock at the door or ring of the bell.
Since the advent of home computers there has been a significant increase in the abilities of home automation systems to automatically perform various tasks such as locking entry doors that have been inactive for a pre-set interval and closing window blinds at programmed times. Automatic garage doors can be lowered in a similar fashion, showing that a well-designed home automation system can provide peace of mind unattainable even a few years ago.
Other computerised aspects of home automation include such security monitors as motion detectors, closed circuit television systems, magnetic contacts to detect opening of doors or windows, and glass breakage sensors. Such systems can also monitor interior atmospherics for smoke, fire, and gas leaks.
There can also be a cost-saving aspect when a home automation system is programmed to change the heating or cooling level during the occupant’s absence and then returning it to the normal comfort level prior to their return. This cost saving can make the purchase and installation of such a system worthwhile.
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Perimeter detection
When an area must be kept secure and intrusion is intolerable, multiple advanced technologies can be integrated to create a field of detection around the area’s perimeter. This is particularly applicable for airports, research and development facilities, nuclear power stations, and the like, where successful penetration by terrorists or other criminals could be disastrous.
A perimeter detection system consists of four parts: sensors, video cameras, control and management software, and an alarm system, all interlinked wirelessly through secured channels.
Different sorts of sensors are combined to create the most impenetrable perimeter detection barrier possible. Examples include vibration sensors, motion detectors, and heat detectors set to respond to the temperature of a human body. Taut-wire sensors are triggered when the lines of a fence are relaxed or cut through, while fence-mounted vibration sensors detect when someone attempts to scale the barrier.
Radar and microwave systems not only respond to a breach of the perimeter, they also track the intruder inside the compound, while a closed circuit television system, linked to these sensors plus a motion detector, records the scene as a permanent record. The cameras also allow for detection of static and anomalous objects, such as a package bomb dropped by the intruder.
All of these data streams are fed to the perimeter detection control and management software, which analyses the input to determine if a breach of the compound has actually occurred, as opposed to wildlife or stray animals wandering into the area and setting off a false alarm. Should the system be satisfied, then the alarm sounds and human intervention is summoned.
A perimeter detection system requires a dedicated power generation system plus its own secured wireless communication system to ensure reliability.
The concept of perimeter detection can also be adapted to protect private residences, with glass breakage sensors, motion detectors, and magnetic contact entry protectors integrated into an automated alarm system.
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Pet-proof alarm systems
Designing an effective home security system is difficult, but when pets are involved it becomes even more complicated. A cat jumping onto the furniture can set off motion detectors, while the shrill barking of a small dog or the chatter of a bird can trigger sensors designed to detect the sharp sound of glass breakage. Security systems must be designed from the first with the small and furry members of the family in mind to achieve an effective pet-proof alarm system.
Many pet-proof alarm systems incorporate passive infrared sensors (PIR), which are the sensory part of the motion detector. The PIR measures the temperature of an object passing before its lens and compares it to the temperature of the stationary objects it viewed previously. If the PIR detects a mobile hot spot, such as a human or animal body, the sensor is triggered and an alarm initiated; however, PIR sensors for a pet-proof alarm system are triggered only when the body detected is over a certain size, for example 45kg.
Better quality motion detectors for pet-proof alarm systems include both PIR and microwave sensors, and the alarm is not activated until both sensors are satisfied that motion has been detected. Because the microwave system is not fooled by pets, false alarms are decreased.
Pet-proof alarm systems also utilize perimeter protection rather than interior motion detection. Such a system includes magnetic contact switches for entry points, which trigger the alarm when the door or window is opened and the contact is broken. By not depending upon motion detection technology, these perimeter detection systems protect the residence without running the risk of false alarms.
Many pet-friendly homes have a dog or cat flap set within the backdoor. These are available with a locking mechanism that only opens for the pet wearing the radio tag on its collar, to prevent a child from crawling through the flap and opening the door for an adult burglar.
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Burglar alarms
Burglar alarms range from simple home systems to complex ones for high-rise buildings or industrial complexes. Most home systems employ some variety of motion detectors, which can be tuned to record the movement of bodies above a certain size, eliminating false alarms triggered by pets roaming about the house. Entry points can be fitted with small, almost invisible magnetic contact switches, which are triggered when the door or window is opened. At this point, the burglar alarm control panel sets off a klaxon or alarm, and alerts the monitoring service.
Commercial properties may employ all of these methods or some variation. Interior triggers often utilized for commercial burglar alarms include detectors that recognize the sharp sound of breaking glass, or heat-sensitive monitors that detect the entry of a warm body into an otherwise neutral environment. Exterior triggers include sensors mounted on fencelines to detect vibration should an intruder climb it or which recognise when wires are cut. Sensors buried either in the ground or within the top of a wall detect changes in the area’s magnetic or electromagnetic field.
False alarms can be reduced by cross-zoning sensors, so that more than one trigger must be tripped before the burglar alarm will sound. Such a system also tracks the intruder’s movement throughout the area, providing a record of activities for future legal proceedings.
Unmonitored burglar alarms depend upon sound systems and technology rather than sending for professional human intervention. When such an alarm is triggered, the alarm sounds, which can be the usual siren or a recording of a barking dog, which is often coupled with turning on a light. Even if the intruders don’t truly believe there’s anyone home, they’re likely to move on to easier prey.
All such units should include a battery back-up power system to ensure the security units remains functional during electrical outages, either accidental, weather-induced, or deliberately orchestrated by intruders.
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Smoke alarms
Smoke alarms are true lifesavers. However, there are some very important rules, and the primary one is to ensure they are working. Test each alarm at least monthly. Batteries should be replaced every year, or when the alarm makes a chirping sound which is a low battery warning. Ensure that the smoke alarms are properly installed, one in every room and level if you live in a two story house. Also check local fire codes as improper location or installation could cause problems with insurance agencies in the event of fire or smoke damage.
Connect every alarm together either by hard wiring or a wireless network. This allows occupants more time to get out should the fire begin in another part of the building, where closed doors may block the sound of the alarm. By integrating smoke alarms into an automated home security system, the devices alert occupants to escape the building and also alert emergency personnel to respond and render assistance.
Fires usually start in two ways. One example is cooking oil or an electrical fire, which explodes into flames immediately without generating much smoke. The other would be a cigarette dropped into a stuffed chair, resulting in smoldering and a great deal of smoke without actual flames.
This characteristic of fires has resulted in two main types of sensors. Ionization sensors are most useful in the case of instant fires where flames give no warning. Where there is a long period of smoldering and smoke, the photo-electric sensors are more responsive. The best prepared household has both types of smoke alarms installed, as research evidence shows that both types can allow time for safe exit.
One caveat: smoke alarms installed directly over a stove in kitchen or cooking areas can give false alarms due to odors and invisible particulates in the air.
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Panic alarms
A panic alarm is a small device carried by many people which, when triggered, alerts emergency response personnel to come and render assistance. The emergency can be of any variety, including security threats, the onset of a sudden health condition such as a heart attack, or an accident within one’s home such as a slip in the bathtub. Such devices are particularly useful for elderly or infirm people, either those living alone or when caregivers must be absent for any extended time during the day. Some panic alarms are designed as attractive jewelry pieces and can be worn as bracelets or necklaces, while others are included within the control panel of an automated home security system.
A variation on the panic alarm is the red button integrated into automotive key fobs, which activate a vehicle’s alarm system should the owner require emergency assistance while away from home.
In certain retail establishments, particularly those that operate for extended hours or in crime-prone areas, such as 24-hour convenience stores, panic alarms are hidden beneath the counter near the cash register, either as a discrete button or as a foot pedal the clerk can reach even if ordered to keep still. Should a situation arise, such as a late-night robbery, the clerk can touch the button or pedal and trigger the alarm.
Some panic alarms immediately set off a klaxon or siren, alerting bystanders and neighbours that assistance is required; others initiate silent contact with emergency personnel, often via a 24-hour monitoring service. This latter sort often are integrated with closed circuit television camera systems. When the panic button has been hit, the CCTV system is activated, giving the monitoring service instant information regarding the developing scenario and providing evidence for future legal actions.
As an additional security element, these devices generally lock on and require a key to be reset.
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