Apr 22, 2015

For any organization or government entity, a wireless video surveillance network can prove to be one of its most prudent investment options. Whether to stop crime or simply provide effective oversight over an area, a video surveillance solution can yield instant dividends – but only if the proper variables are accounted for before such a system is installed and while it is in place. By following these six steps, however, decision-makers can be sure they are getting the most value from wireless video.

1) Make reliability a top priority
For a wireless video surveillance system to be seen as a dependable resource, it needs to be reliable at all times and under any condition. The true test of a solution is not if it works some of time right after it is implemented, but rather if it continues to function well all the time months and years down the line. To that end, there are a number of key steps organizations and agencies can take to make sure their chosen system is reliable:

• Opt to work with a proven installation and implementation vendor with a solid history of success
• Purchase top-of-the-line gear
• Build redundancy into the solution, whether by opting for mesh network or a similar network design
• Have a plan in place for worst-case scenarios, and be sure to test it out on a regular basis

By making system reliability a top priority, communities and organizations that implement a wireless video surveillance network can rest assured knowing that their chosen system is built to last. Without a quality reliable solution, an adopting agency willlikely be faced with public ridicule, fines and maybe even serious legal fallout, according to Global News.

2) Know how to calculate its TCO and ROI
Before even considering wireless video surveillance, an organization or municipal government agency needs to first determine what purpose it will serve. Is it to give the police another eye on a particular area without committing extra personnel to the neighborhood or street corner? Is it to serve as a way to collect evidence on the comings and goings of a particular area?

By taking the time to answer these fundamental foundational questions, an adopting organization will know exactly why it is putting wireless video surveillance in place and what goal it should be accomplishing. From there it will be much easier to determine the expected return on investment, as it will allow them to know what the expected return should look like and what will be needed to get there.

In addition to understanding the end goal, an ROI calculation needs to factor in the solution’s total cost of ownership. TCO is about far more than procurement too, as costs related system upkeep can be high with some installations. Plus, even seemingly minor variables like where a camera is placed can determine if the system is truly effective at oversight and at reducing manual in-person oversight or not.

3) Have quality back-end support in place
When video networks are introduced in many areas, the solution is initially brought out with much fanfare, with the police department or other adopting organization showing off the cameras. This is of course the most ubiquitous part of the equation, but the cameras themselves are not the only major component to consider here. How will the video footage be viewed, by whom and when? How will video files be stored and processed. How will data traverse over the network? These sorts of back-end considerations are absolutely critical to the overall functionality of a wireless video surveillance network.

Stay tuned for part two of this series, where we’ll explore three more critical points organizations should keep top of mind if they want to get the most of wireless video.