Dummy Cameras – To Use or Not

Recently one of my customers invited me to look at adding cameras to their existing video surveillance system, a system that we installed about a year ago. The surveillance system monitors key areas of a newly constructed building on their campus. This particular customer has been experiencing problems with thieves breaking into vehicles in their parking lot.

After reviewing the cost to add an additional camera to their system my customer asked if we provided dummy cameras. A dummy camera is a fake camera that looks like a real camera but does not contain any of the electronics and is not connected to the video surveillance system.

My response was this is something we don’t install and I sent the customer a link to an article about dummy cameras. This article highlighted the advantages of such cameras; cost and the deterrent effect of having these units in place. It also revealed the disadvantage; false sense of security and no video images that can be used as evidence.

I echoed the reasoning in the article and advised they consult their attorney before deploying such a system. To my surprise my customer responded that it was the local police department that recommended the deployment of the dummy cameras.

This got me to thinking what is the real issue here? If the police department is recommending the use of these units, perhaps the deterrent value outweighs the possibility of a lawsuit.

I spent several hours researching this topic looking for articles in which lawsuits related to a false sense of security due to a camera (real or fake) being installed. I could not find anything. I reviewed a number of forums asking the same question; site the cases where this has been an issue?

I reviewed the website of a well known attorney specializing in the security systems industry, Ken Kirschenbaum. I could not find an article or case that directly relates to this issue. Almost every article I read says the same thing; don’t install them for fear of the liability associated with this “false sense of security”.

Yet if this fear is so prevalent why are there so many companies selling these cameras? A quick Google search reveals numerous companies willing to sell you a dummy security camera. These devices are really inexpensive. If there were so many suits taking place one would think there wouldn’t be any demand for these types of devices.

My conclusions:

Dummy cameras may be an effective tool for deterring an unsophisticated thief. Most professionals can easily identify a real camera from a fake one. The blinking LED is a sure give away.

Don’t post signage that states for your security, or for your safety, or some other phrasing that may give people the belief the cameras (real or fake) are being constantly monitored.

Consult your attorney for their opinion.

Integrating Your Access Control System with Your Intrusion Alarm System

I often get asked to integrate the alarm system with the access control system such that employees don’t have to arm and disarm the alarm system. They want this to be automated and they want their employees to be able enter and exit the facility as needed with their access control card.

This request can be driven by a number of factors. Sometimes it is the shear size and layout of the facility. If the facility is large or the layout is complex they find their employees unwilling to walk the facility prior to arming the alarm system, thus the employees either don’t activate the alarm system or they activate the alarm system with employees still in the facility.

Sometimes this is driven by the number of employees. The more employees the less likely the alarm system will be activated, unless you task this to a specific group of employees. If your policy is the last one out arm the alarm system; then the larger the organization the less likely this will get done. If your policy is the facilities (security, custodial, etc.) department to arm the alarm system then it is more likely to be accomplished.

The integration of these two systems starts with the system design. Depending on the products we are using we can accomplish this in two different ways.

Perimeter Alarm with Local Door Alarms

This method will work with any access control system. It requires an intrusion alarm system that can be programmed to automatically arm and disarm.

The alarm system is designed with perimeter protection only. All the perimeter doors are contacted and all the perimeter glass is monitored. The system is programmed to automatically arm and disarm based on a provided schedule.

At each of the perimeter access controlled doors we install a local door alarm. This local door alarm ties into the access control system and the intrusion alarm system. This unit allows employees to enter and to exit without triggering the alarm system. After-hours when the alarm system is active your employees can enter with their access control card and freely exit the building even when the alarm system is active.

The local door alarm serves a secondary purpose as well. It alerts employees of door prop open conditions prior to alarm activation. If the access control door is left in an open position the local door alarm will sound a pre-alarm warning. If the door is shut during this pre-alarm then no alarm is generated. However, if the door remains open for an extended period of time then an alarm will be generated at the local door alarm and if the building intrusion alarm system is active this same alarm will be transmitted to the monitoring station.

This is a great solution for companies that may have personnel working all hours of the day or night. We find this solution works well with our high tech customers that may have engineers or software development personnel that tend to work long hours or off hours.

The downside to this type of system is that it is providing only building perimeter protection. If an intruder can get inside your facility without forcing a door open or breaking the glass then they will be undetected.

S2 Security Access Control + Intrusion Alarm System

S2 Security has an innovative interface for integrating the intrusion alarm system with their access control system.

With the S2 Security system the access control system monitors the status of the intrusion alarm system and based on a schedule and the alarm system in a normal condition will activate the alarm system.

This allows for an intrusion alarm system that includes not only door contacts and glassbreak detectors but also interior motion detectors. Providing a greater level of security to the facility; the motion detectors are designed to detect the interior presence of an intruder.

This system does not require the local door alarms, because it is never active when employees are inside the facility, unlike the perimeter alarm system. Based on a schedule and when there a no faults on the alarm system the S2 Security system will arm the intrusion alarm system. Once armed the first authorized employee to present their access control card will disarm the system prior to gaining entry into the facility.

exacqVision Network Video Recorders

Protection Plus Security Services, Inc. is proud to offer the exacq Technologies exacqVision Network Video Recording systems. exacqVision offers a versatile lineup of IP based recording software and servers. The exacqVision system integrates with a number of access control systems to include PCSC and S2 Security.

The product matrix consists of the VMS (video management software), the exacqVision EL entry level hybrid network video recorder, the exacqVision Hybrid NVR servers, and the exacqVision IP Camera servers.

VMS Software

The exacqVision video management software (VMS) allows for viewing and recording of the network based IP cameras on the system. This software is designed to run on a Windows or Linux server with the clients running on Windows, Linux, or Mac. Multiple exacqVision servers can be managed and viewed from the VMS platform.

This system supports up to 255 network based IP cameras. It supports standard CIF, 2CIF, 4CIF recordings as well as megapixel recordings and it supports MJPEG, MPEG-4, and H.264 compression formats. The software is easy to use and easy to configure. User permissions and privileges can be configured allowing the administrator to restrict individual user rights.

The VMS software is licensed by camera at a cost of $150 per camera.

exacqVision EL

The exacqVision EL is exacq Technologies entry level hybrid network video recorder. This system allows for up to 16 analog cameras and up to 24 IP cameras to be connected to the server. It is available with storage capacities ranging from 160GB to 2TB and recording speeds of 120 images per second (IPS) or 480 IPS. The system runs on a Linux operating system. It is equipped with a DVD/CR-RW and USB for archiving images. This system is designed to be exacqVision’s entry level network video recorder and is ideal for customers with an existing 16 camera analog recording system (DVR or VCR) that want to transition into the higher quality megapixel cameras.

The exacqVision EL cost ranges from $3,890-$6,500 with each IP camera license costing an additional $150 per camera.

This unit comes with a 3 year manufacturer warranty.


exacqVision Hybrid NVR Servers

The exacqVision Hybrid NVR server comes in three different models; the desktop, the 2U Rackmount, and the 4U Rackmount. This system allows for connection of 4 to 64 analog cameras (model dependant) and up to 64 IP cameras.

Desktop

The desktop model allows for either 4 or 16 analog camera inputs and includes 8 IP camera licenses (expandable to 64 IP cameras). It is available with storage capacities ranging from 160GB to 2TB with system recording speeds of 120 IPS or 480 IPS.

The Desktop Hybrid NVR server cost ranges from $3,700-$7,505 with each IP camera, beyond the first eight, costing an additional $150 per camera.

This unit comes with a 3 year manufacturer warranty.

2U Rackmount

The 2U Rackmount model allows for either 16 or 32 analog camera inputs and includes 8 IP camera licenses (expandable to 64 IP cameras). It is available with storage capacities ranging from 320GB to 6TB with system recording speeds of 120, 240, 480, or 960 IPS.

The 2U Rackmount Hybrid NVR server cost ranges from $5,770 -$15,265 with each IP camera, beyond the first eight, costing an additional $150 per camera.

This unit comes with a 3 year manufacturer warranty.

4U Rackmount

The 4U Rackmount model allows for 16, 32, 48, or 64 analog camera inputs and includes 8 IP camera licenses (expandable to 64 IP cameras). It is available with storage capacities ranging from 1.5TB to 16TB and with system recording speeds of 240, 480, 960, 1440, or 1920 IPS. This unit is also available in a Raid 5 configuration.

The 4U Rackmount Hybrid NVR server cost ranges from $10,125-$34,800 with each IP camera, beyond the first eight, costing an additional $150 per camera.

This unit comes with a 3 year manufacturer warranty.


exacqVision IP Servers

The exacqVision IP server comes in three different models; the desktop, the 2U Rackmount, and the 4U Rackmount. This system allows for connection of up to 64 IP cameras.

Desktop

The desktop model is available with storage capacities ranging from 160GB to 2TB.

The Desktop IP server cost ranges from $2,190- $4,030 with each IP camera license costing an additional $150 per camera.

This unit comes with a 3 year manufacturer warranty.

2U Rackmount

The 2U Rackmount model is available with storage capacities ranging from 320GB to 6TB.

The 2U Rackmount IP server cost ranges from $2,660-$8,340 with each IP camera license costing an additional $150 per camera.

This unit comes with a 3 year manufacturer warranty.

4U Rackmount

The 4U Rackmount model is available with storage capacities ranging from 1.5TB to 16TB. This unit is also available in a Raid 5 configuration.

The 4U Rackmount IP server cost ranges from $4,995-$19,995 with each IP camera costing an additional $150 per camera.

This unit comes with a 3 year manufacturer warranty.

Selecting the model that is right for you

There are several factors that will affect your selection of the correct network recording system; quantity of analog cameras, quantity of IP cameras, future expansion needs, archive time (30, 60, 90, 180 days), image recording rate, image recorded (CIF, 2CIF, 4CIF, D1, megapixel), and anticipated activity level in the field of the cameras to name a few variables. Calculations need to be done to make sure the NVR selected will meet your needs.

We at Protection Plus Security Services are experts in video surveillance systems and would welcome the opportunity to specify the video system that is right for you.

Please visit our website for product datasheets and links to the manufacturer’s website. www.protectionplussecurity.com

The pricing and model information are based on the latest information available at the time of this blog.

S2 Security Releases 4.0 Software

S2 Security recently released the 4.0 software. The 4.0 software offers some real nice enhancements to the existing platform. The major enhancements include Layouts, Partitions, and new Network Video Recording integration.

With Layouts the user can now customize the look and feel of the software, allowing you to create a custom page for viewing the system events, cameras, and even other web pages.

Partitions allow for the creation of a subsystem within the larger system. This subsystem has independent control of its readers and doors. Ideal for multi-tenant buildings or for organizations in which each department or division needs independent control.

The exacqVision Network Video Recorders can now integrate with the S2 Security system. This integration allows for linking of video clips with card activities as well as viewing the cameras from the S2 software.

For current Netbox system users S2 will not be making any further advances in the 3.x software. The Netbox system software will not be developed beyond the 3.3 version. S2 will continue to offer patches for known issues, however, no new features will be added to this software.

Current users will need to upgrade their Netbox Controller to the Netbox Extreme, Enterprise, or Enterprise Ultra Controller in order to operate the 4.0 software. S2 offers a 50% credit for the existing Netbox software and Netbox Controller to be applied toward the purchase of the Netbox Extreme, Enterprise, or Enterprise Ultra Controller and 4.0 software.

The Netbox Extreme allows for 64 Network Nodes and up to 256 Portals (Readers) with up to 10 concurrent users. The Extreme Controller is eight times faster than the Netbox controller. This system can process 10 Events per Second

The Enterprise system allows for 64 Network Nodes and up to 896 Portals (Readers) with up to 25 concurrent users. This system can process 20 Events per Second.

The Enterprise Ultra system allows for up to 256 Network Nodes and up to 3,584 Portals (Readers) with up to 35 concurrent users. This system can process 30 Events per Second.