Smart buildings aren’t exactly new. Using technology in building systems in order to make user lives easier has been around for over a hundred years, though that may sound strange. Much like smart phones, though, smart buildings have grown more user-friendly and smarter over the years as the growth of technology has skyrocketed since the turn of the 21st century.
From HVACs to cyber security, the demands for smart buildings only continues to grow and refine itself. This continued evolution of smart buildings is exciting for building owners, as it indicates that there will be countless opportunities for meeting future needs of building users. However, it does mean that owners are often faced with tricky decisions about upgrades and retrofits in the present.
A 2015 Honeywell survey indicated that "51 percent of building operators valued safety and security over any other advantage offered by smart buildings" (Source). Smart buildings can be designed to feature a robust fire system and emergency communication control, while also offering health and life safety systems, along with the essential ability to monitor them. Surveillance and intrusion detection can also help building operators to detect unusual activity that could indicate a threat to personnel or information.
When commercial facilities are retrofitted to become smart buildings, the result is a building that can not only respond to, but actually anticipate its occupants' needs and activities. As a result, smart buildings have been increasingly cropping up around the world as companies consider not only the possible cost savings, but also enhanced security. Providing security in commercial buildings involves more than selecting the right products and features.This post examines three ways that smart buildings can improve commercial property security.
Improving Video Surveillance Systems
Video surveillance is one of the quickest growing segments of security today, with commercial facilities being the largest acquirers. Surveillance systems that were once considered complex and obscure are now created to be simple and user friendly, offering HD quality surveillance, video search, and remote monitoring access from anywhere, anytime, even your iPad. Not only does enhanced video surveillance offer the tools for improved security but also for operational management.
Integration of Security Systems Connects Buildings
This is perhaps one of the most impressive benefits of integrating security systems with a smart building. Users are given one credential, which provides access into the parking garage, the building, and certain level-based access for rooms. Buildings that are connected like this improve security while making the lives of people working there easier. Ultimately, your building space will be more responsive, if it'ts integrated with access control systems.
Security Information On-the-Go
Phones have become an increasingly useful tool for people across all industries, as they use phones as personal computers with the ability to access key information on the go. Mobile remote monitoring leads to better security, productivity and awareness. Consider this real-world example of how mobile alerts would impact the security of a smart office building: a property owner locks down his building from across town after receiving an alert to a protest outside the property. From home, while sitting on the couch, a tenant uses her phone to unlock a door (after verification) to allow a visiting executive to enter her building.
Final Thoughts
Today's video surveillance and access control systems can work in tandem in an integrated system to provide security solutions for commercial buildings. Using an integrated system provides a wide variety of benefits: keeping would-be intruders away from the property, limiting access to facilities that store expensive equipment, and remotely monitoring secluded areas to reduce the risk of crime.
With an integrated approach, when an employee contacts security, lights and surveillance cameras can be activated to monitor the scene to observe the emergency, and officers can pinpoint where to intervene to thwart an attack.
United Security Incorporated | Smart Building Security Integration
At USI Integrated Solutions, we bring together a highly experienced team, keen strategic planning and in-depth understanding of the leading technologies in the field. For 25 years we have brought peace of mind to our clients through the careful application of investigative talent and technology implementation.
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