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With sequences of events/stories about data breaches, assault and theft, it is vital for security staffs to go on the offensive and take a more practical approach to prevent crime. Many companies have begun to do this by improving and investing in their surveillance technologies. CSOs have made the switch from analog to IP cameras that have analytic capability. Now, it’s time to take surveillance a step further and incorporate audio.
Integrating audio monitoring into an existing security system is helpful for many reasons, the first being that it delivers extra evidence. Video alone provides just one part of the story. By adding audio, security directors get more facts about circumstances such as names, language spoken and commands given. These additional details help staff more efficiently respond to an instance.
By Audio monitoring also allows for alarm verification, a fundamental and cost-saving benefit. If a central station officer gets an alert from a video system and has access to live audio from the property, the officer can determine whether it’s a false alarm and avoid police from showing up to the area unnecessarily. On the other hand, if an alert is valid, the guard can use the audio to collect vital information. For example, if the guard hears multiple voices and shattered glass, he could confirm with police that there’s a group of people at the crime scene that have loaded firearms. All of these clues better equip first responders to deal with the threat at hand.
