The Mammoth Security Thought Center
The Basics of Audio Recorded With CCTV Security Cameras
When an employee spots a camera in the workplace, or even when a shopper spots a camera in a retail store, the first thing they want to know is if it can record sound. In short, the answer is yes, CCTV camera systems are designed to record audio in conjunction with images. However, whether or not an employer or a retail location is allowed to record audio is another matter entirely. Additionally, the type of cameras doing the recording – whether IP or Analog – dictates how the audio is captured. This post gives a brief overview of how audio is captured by CCTV security cameras, as well as a run down of the basic privacy rights that employers and retail locations alike must abide by when using surveillance systems to monitor employees. Security Cameras in the Workplace Many employers will have security cameras installed to prevent theft and to ensure that employees are making good use of their paid-for time. This is perfectly acceptable so long as the employer informs employees that they are being recorded. However, there are some instances in which it is illegal for employers to record their workers. For instance, union workers may never be monitored by a camera system. States laws vary on where and how employees can be recorded, but all agree that private settings, such as restrooms, the break room and other areas where there is a reasonable expectation of privacy, are off limits. And Federal law dictates that the recording of oral communication in the workplace is strictly prohibited. How Employers Can Use Video Surveillance Lawfully First and foremost,... read more
Bank Robberies Happen More Often Than You Think… Is Your Money Safe?
There are several action movies each year whose main premise is bank robbery, and in each movie, the first thing the bad guys do is take out the security cameras. While movies almost always stray from real life, it’s safe to say that not that long ago, security surveillance systems were underwhelming in their capabilities compared to today’s technology, and that if someone could get past a bank’s security guards, it wouldn’t be difficult to take out the security system and ensure that no one ever saw their face. Today, however, that is not the case.
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Facial Recognition Technology is Changing the Face of Video Surveillance
Imagine being able to identify a shoplifter or criminal as soon as they walk onto your premises. Imagine an era in which criminals cannot run and cannot hide, but are spotted and their plans thwarted before they can even think twice about doing something illegal. That era is upon us now.
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Danbury Schools Spend Millions of Dollars on Increased Security After Sandy Hook
Danbury Schools Spend Nearly $1,100,000 on Security Upgrades
Danbury is a fairly large school district, with 17 schools in total. Though upgrades were costly—totaling more than $450,000—the upgrades were well worth it and a significant improvement on the district’s existing safety measures. Some upgrades implemented by the district include tighter door locks, additional security cameras, panic buttons throughout the classrooms and tougher-to-access external entrances.
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Stamford Takes Additional Measures to Boost Security in Public Parks
Crime rates in city parks have soared in recent decades, and range in seriousness from theft to assault to murder. Most people seek out the sanctuary of public parks to exercise, spend time with their families, be one with nature and simply relax. However, with crime rates on a seemingly endless incline, more and more people are shying away from the beauty of nature and opting to socialize in coffee shops, at friends’ homes and in other safe, indoor spaces. While this is great for the economy, it is not so great for consumer peace of mind or well-being. People need nature and fresh air, and in a world where sky rises and condominiums are being built left and right, public parks are some of the last spaces where people can get back to their roots and enjoy all that Mother Nature has to offer. Stamford city officials have realized the negative impact that soaring crime rates is having on the emotional and physical health of Stamford residents, not to mention their peace of mind. Because of this, they are taking additional measures to ensure the safety of park visitors and city residents alike. One of those measures is installing Blue Light Emergency Phones and Cameras throughout public parks. Emergency Phones and Additional Cameras Aim to Keep Residents Safe Last April, Stamford’s Public Safety Camera Review Committee voted to install Blue Light Emergency Phones and Cameras throughout Hatch Field Park and seven other public parks, including Lione, Cummings, Mill River, Scalzi, Veterans and Cove Island parks. This was a huge step for the residents of the community,... read more
Stamford PD Teams Up With CCTV Surveillance Companies to Fight Crime
Stamford Expands its Private Security Camera System
So, what is this, “linking up with the local PD system” all about? It’s brilliant, actually.
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Request For Proposal (RFP): Your Mistakes And How To Fix Them
Many are familiar with the Request for Proposal or RFP. This involves a client that publicly seeks for a solution and makes everyone know their request. It includes the creation of a document that enumerates what they are trying to obtain, the management of the response, and the determination of the best solution. Individuals who work in a government agency or a technical product are familiar with RFP. In addition to that, other industries and products also utilize RFP. Major purchases must adhere to a set of checks and balances. Thus, it is required to have an RFP process. However, there are cases when the whole process defeats its purpose as being meticulous might result to missing the main goal. Creating an RFP has its own set of obstacles. The question is if a group can conquer these problems and obtain the best solution for a specific situation. Here are the problems. Proposal Versus Quote RFP, as the name implies, means proposal. It asks on what can an institution or individual help to solve a problem. One of the main challenges of an RFP is that they are utilized to purchase something instead of asking for solutions. It is a common mistake for companies to use an RFP when they already know what to buy and just need a quote. It is a senseless practice to use an RFP when what you really need is a Request for Quote (RFQ). An RFP’s purpose is to verbalize one’s needs and to obtain proposals from the target market on how one can solve it the best way. It is... read more
Leveraging Automation to Improve Your Security System
According to research firm HIS Markit, it is estimated that around one third of the 62 million cameras installed in North America are network surveillance cameras. The firm further posits that majority of new security devices manufactured and sold these days are IP-based, including access control readers, panels, door locks, and even fire detectors. The IP-based devices are popular because they do bring significant benefits compared to legacy hardware. However, they do have a downside – they are also vulnerable to an increasing number of threats. Being Internet-capable gives malicious individuals a vector for attack, as opposed to traditional devices that are inaccessible except for people who are on-site. The Wall street Journal and some mainstream news outlets have caught wind of massive DDoS attacks that strangely use hijacked cameras and recorders as part of botnets, and there are also cases of hackers taking control of internet-capable nanny cams and using it to spy on people’s private lives. These breaches serve as a wake up call to the industry, and should never be taken for granted. If you or your internal staff are determined to secure your video surveillance system against security breaches, here are some vulnerabilities that you should watch out for: Inherent Vulnerabilities Most IP-based security systems have vulnerabilities that stem not from mistakes, but are inherent in the structure of the systems. These include: Physical Exposure of Access Ports – installation of these devices should be done with awareness that they need to be positioned in such a way that physical network ports are inaccessible or would require effort to... read more
5 Ways to Address Crime and Violence in Retail
Over the past few years, there has been an alarming increase in the number of violent crimes occurring in large retail store networks, with very recognizable names such as Costco, Walmart, and Target being among them. The rising number of crimes occurring has put a lot of pressure on Corporate Security Directors (CSD) to think of new ways to prevent shoplifting, robberies, carpark accidents, and other incidents that harm stores’ reputation as a safe place to shop. Thankfully, there are a lot of tactics and hardware that CSDs can employ in keeping retail shops safe. Here are five that are worth checking out: Adopt High Quality Video Feeds One problem with CCTV cameras is that sometimes the videos are very poor in quality, making identification of criminals (or even just outright recognition of whether there’s an incident happing) difficult. With the rise of 4K video, this is no longer a problem. A 4K video offers roughly 4 times the resolution of a 1080P video stream, which means more detail can be captured and allowing security personnel to better identify perpetrators or incidents as they occur. The one challenge to 4K video is that it needs a lot of storage space. Therefore, before security systems can have such high quality video, they also need to upgrade their infrastructure to better accommodate the increased requirements for storage and processing. Remote Monitoring Many surveillance cameras these days are now capable of remote monitoring over the Internet, so security personnel don’t always have to be stationed in front of the monitor room just to watch over the feeds.... read more
IP vs Analog Video Security
Choosing between IP and Analog Video Security Systems? A few tips for your consideration inside the article.
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