April 15, 2019 Remote Guarding Industrial Sites

A critical risk management tool for industrial properties:how reducing live guards and adopting remote guarding improves security.

April 11, 2019

By Mike Ginty, Chief Technology Advisor, Digital Guard Force

Today’s ever-increasing focus on safety means there is an exponentially higher need for effective and efficient security systems for industrial sites. Cost, however, is always a factor for industrial sites. Billions are spent on surveillance cameras and security guards to protect businesses and properties. What’s more, there are $350 million security cameras in use worldwide, with one million being added each month and 810,000 security guards. Yet, security systems today are not working effectively. In fact, 92% of property managers are dissatisfied with their results. Why? Leveraging video analytics and cameras to bolster a security system is not a “set and forget” program.

Security is a complex and expensive issue for industrial complexes. Factory campuses, utilities and other industrial sites typically need to secure perimeters at all hours, and manage access to the site and monitor a wide range of zones.

Remote Guarding is one of the most powerful solutions today to provide cost-effective on-site security for industrial sites. It leverages the power of technology, human capital, and a reduced guard force, to deliver a better on-site security system which is billed as a monthly operating expense. This article provides a quick overview of how to leverage Remote Guarding to garner increased analysis, better security, including forensic search management, with significant operating cost savings.

1. Planning
   The first step is to develop a plan to protect the people, property, and information to have a clear understanding of your specific situation, needs and the resources available. Assess the security situation by considering the following:
2. Understand the Gaps
   What are the gaps in your current security strategy? If you were planning on breaking into your building, which access points would you consider? Where are the blind spots?
3. What Kind of Crime Occurs in the Area?
   What are the most common types of crime that occur? What is the frequency of crime? When is it most likely to happen? During the day? At night? On weekends?
4. Calculate the Risks
   What type of crime is your business most vulnerable to? What do you have to lose?
5. Consider Your Budget
   Consider what your company can afford. Hiring security guards is usually the quickest solution, but man-hours add up. There is a wide range of high tech alarms, surveillance and access control technology available, but full out, top of the line gear is costly. Technology expenditures can represent a significant capital expenditure.
6. Leveraging the Remote Guarding Solution
   Remote Guarding systems provide powerful security coverage, while reducing your costs immediately. The traditional security system relies heavily on live guards – in addition to being a costly expense – have limitations. Guards can get distracted, they take breaks, they need to eat, but most of all, they have limitations. Humans cannot monitor every element of your system.

How Remote Guarding Works

Remote Guarding creates a transparent security surveillance zone that is proactively continually monitored by live guards and/or a Remote Guarding Center.

• Advanced technology distinguishes threats and suspicious activities
• Live, highly trained agents intervene to take action when necessary
• Comprehensive turn-key approach
• The service takes care of everything – managing the end-to-end system
• Reduces operating expenses, measurably improves security

In essence, Remote Guarding transforms your security system into a pro-active, rather than reactive, security powerhouse.

The Remote Guard Center

The key to 24/7 security is the Remote Guard Center, which functions as a command control to support the on-site security team and extend their reach. Staffed by trained security experts, agents follow specific, customized procedures. Video analytics and AI are primed to spot patterns, detect anomalies and register red flags.

Remote guarding agents respond to these incidents in real time and have the ability to intervene in a number of ways:

1-Communicating via two-way radio to most areas of the site
2-Directing a live guard to the area
3-Immediately deploying emergency/police/911 services

Remote Guarding leverages best-in-class video analytics, artificial intelligence, a Remote Guard Center, and live guards to deliver a vast array of technology-powered service.

Here are the services Remote Guard companies provide:

• Video surveillance equipment
• Program Analytics/AI technology
• Provide remote guarding at Remote Guarding Center
• Manage remaining live guards
• Create operation procedures & security plan
• Maintain everything to a service level

The beauty of working with a Remote Guarding partner is that you can immediately reduce and during some shifts, eliminate, your live guard force. This produces immediate cost savings, since salaries for guards are costly.

Technology never sleeps, never misses a trick and transforms your security from reactive to proactive. The system is constantly monitoring and alerting – suspicious activity, malfunctioning cameras, irregularities, and so on. What’s more, the remaining live on-site guards are much more effective – responding only to real threats.

Mitigating risk, and reducing overhead will help improve the efficiency, efficacy and economics of your operation. Even if your facility is vacant, or remote from the rest of your operations, the Remote Guarding Center’s agents can perform almost any task that can be given to a human security guard. With a Remote Guarding solution, you’ll have a more secure facility that is more responsive and proactive, with less risk and exposure from a liability point of view. In short, it’s security 24/7 that doesn’t blink.

For more information call 646-583-7008 or email contact@digitalguardforce.com.

ABOUT MIKE GINTY
Mike Ginty, a former US Air Force Special Agent, has dedicated his career to safety and security. He possesses a keen ability to evaluate risk and implement right-sized security solutions, and prides himself on a technology-forward approach to security. Ginty is Chief Technology Advisor for Digital Guard Force, a leading Remote Guarding service provider.

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