Irrespective of location and the type of business you do, security is paramount. Though cCruder versions of CCTV (Closed Circuit Television) have been around since the 1940s, it became popular during the 1970s and a rough estimate is that there are over a billion CCTV cameras around the world. It has become increasingly common for homes and businesses to have multiple cameras. On average, businesses use between sixteen and sixty-four cameras in one building. At first glance, these numbers are comforting in terms of security, but the question to ask is, who watches all these cameras? It can be expensive to hire reliable security professionals to monitor CCTV feeds. That’s where outsourcing CCTV monitoring services comes in. In this guide, you will understand the benefits of CCTV monitoring outsource services and how to go about it.

Benefits of Outsourcing CCTV Monitoring

Outsourcing CCTV monitoring offers a multitude of benefits, from cost savings to access to specialized expertise and round-the-clock services. With a trusted business partner, you can rest assured that your premises will always be secure.

1. 24/7 Monitoring

Outsourcing your CCTV monitoring allows for a security team to monitor every second of footage in real -time without having to have an in-house team of trained security professionals. In-house teams can be expensive and unreliable.

2. Infrastructure And Technology to Act Quickly

Modern CCTV outsourcing service providers have access to the latest technology and infrastructure, which allows them to act quickly when an unexpected event occurs. Expert CCTV monitors can trigger alarms, switch lights on, use loudspeakers to deter criminal elements, and more. Agents can inform the business owner, and authorities, and even send personnel to the site of the event in just a few minutes. This not only ensures quick response but also discourages potential threats.

3. Marked Footage of Notable Events

Professional CCTV monitoring services will go through every bit of footage surrounding an event and send you marked footage. This means that you don’t have to go through hours or even days of footage to find out when and what happened.

4. Accurate Data and Reports

CCTV is not just a security measure. They are great data collection points. In supermarkets and malls, vast amounts of data can be garnered from CCTV footage, such as walk-ins, conversions, shopping patterns, and even employee behavior. This can help businesses improve their layout, productivity, advertising, and much more.

5. Maintenance Support

More often, businesses only find out that a camera is not working properly when an event occurs and is not captured. CCTV monitoring centers will keep track of maintenance schedules, inform businesses when a camera’s functionality is interrupted, and even offer maintenance services.

6. Cost Savings

For a business to put together the infrastructure and trained personnel required to have effective CCTV monitoring can be extremely costly. Outsourcing these requirements to a professional CCTV monitoring agency can help avoid capital and overhead costs.

7. Scalability

For businesses that experience sudden rushes, host events, or large gatherings, you may want more personnel monitoring your surveillance cameras at certain times and less at other times. Outsourcing service providers can quickly accommodate these demands and scale up or down as per your requirements.

Factors to Consider When Outsourcing CCTV Monitoring

As businesses seek to reinforce their security measures, outsourcing CCTV monitoring emerges as a viable option. If you’re looking for a CCTV monitoring service provider, there are a few things to consider carefully:

Credibility And Experience

Take the time to research the outsourcing service provider, find out what other customers say, and understand what their offerings are. You should also ask them what data security measures they offer and what compliance measures they adhere to.

Technology And Infrastructure

Make sure your CCTV monitoring service provider has the right technology and a robust infrastructure that will ensure they execute their function effectively. Here are a few technologies you should look for:

  • Cybersecurity & IoT integration
  • PTZ and 8K cameras
  • Cloud technology & edge computing
  • Artificial intelligence & deep learning
  • IP surveillance systems
  • 5G Enabled devices
  • Facial recognition technology
  • Integration and interoperability
  • Contact tracing
  • Thermal imaging cameras

Flexibility And Scalability

CCTV monitoring providers should be able to adjust quickly and efficiently to your requirements. Whether that means adding agents to monitor, increasing the service scope, or adapting to new technologies.

Cost of Services

Choosing a service provider that works out of the Philippines is likely to bring more cost benefits to your business. The cost of outsourcing from the Philippines is far lower than many other regions in the West.

Data Security Measures

Knowing what compliance and data security measures they have in place is essential. Customer privacy must always be maintained. You also need to be aware of what security measures they have in place to mitigate threats such as hacking.

Customer Service and Communication

Clear communication and support throughout your engagement with a CCTV monitoring service provider is a must. You should have access to timely reports and be able to get the support you need quickly.

Steps to Outsource CCTV Monitoring

Before you sign any contracts and outsource your CCTV monitoring needs, make sure you run a quick check on the following:

Pinpoint Your Exact Security Needs

Before you sign any contracts and outsource your CCTV monitoring needs, make sure you run a quick check on the following:

Evaluating And Comparing Service Providers

Check if the service provider offers the service and support you need. Take the time to compare multiple service providers.

Check Compatibility & Integration Capabilities

The whole point of outsourcing CCTV monitoring is to keep your costs low. Make sure they have easy integration capabilities and that your cameras are compatible with their technology.

Run A Trial

Take a trial run and make sure they are meeting your expectations.

Summing Up

Go through this guide carefully and get a clear picture of what the benefits of outsourcing are and what value your business will get out of outsourcing CCTV monitoring services. Take the time to vet multiple service providers and do not hesitate to ask for the best possible terms while negotiating. Consider the Philippines to outsource your requirements, ideally, you should look for a service provider that can take on these requirements and provide you a variety of additional services as well.

FAQs

You can expect comprehensive support ranging from initial setup, monitoring, incident response, maintenance, to regular reporting. They also provide round-the-clock support to ensure uninterrupted surveillance.

Yes, many Philippine-based CCTV monitoring providers offer their services globally. Thanks to the internet and advancements in technology that allow remote access and monitoring.

The Philippines has a comprehensive data privacy law, the Data Privacy Act of 2012, which mandates the protection of personal information. CCTV monitoring companies are required to adhere to this law, ensuring all recorded data is securely stored and accessed only by authorized personnel.

CCTV monitoring companies typically have robust security measures such as secure data encryption, firewalls, restricted access, and regular security audits. These measures are in place to protect the data from unauthorized access or breaches.

Yes, even though the service is outsourced, you still maintain control over the process. You can define the terms of service, specify what needs to be monitored, and how incidents should be handled.

The cost can vary depending on the scale and complexity of your security needs. It's best to get a quote from several providers to get a better understanding of the cost. However, outsourcing in the Philippines is generally cost-effective compared to many other countries.

Yes, most CCTV monitoring service providers offer custom solutions to meet your specific business needs. This may include the number of cameras, specific areas to monitor, frequency of monitoring, and other specific requirements.

The process for contract termination will depend on the terms and conditions stated in your agreement with the service provider. Typically, it may involve a notice period and settling any outstanding payments. Always review the termination clause in your contract before signing to