Issue link: https://securitytechnologyexecutive.epubxp.com/i/530736
34 SECURITY TECHNOLOGY EXECUTIVE • May/June 2015 www.SecurityInfoWatch.com W TECHNOLOGY FOCUS: SECURITY AUDIO ith reoccurring stories of data breaches, theft and assault, it is imperative for security staffs to go on the offensive and take a more proactive approach to deter crime. Many companies have begun to do this by investing in and upgrading their sur- veillance technologies. CSOs have made the leap from analog to IP cameras that have analytic capability. Now, it's time to take surveillance a step further and integrate audio. Integrating audio monitoring into an existing security system is advantageous for many reasons, the first being that it deliv- ers additional evidence. Video alone provides just one part of the story. By adding audio, security direc- tors get more facts about a situ- ation such as names, language spoken and commands given. These additional details help staff more effectively respond to an incident. Audio monitoring also allows for alarm verification, a crucial and cost-saving benefit. If a central sta- tion officer receives 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 prevent police from showing up to the area unnecessarily. On the other hand, if an alert is valid, the guard can use the audio to gather important 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. Another key benefit of audio monitoring is real-time crime deterrence. One of the differences between audio and video solutions is that audio offers the opportunity to be proactive and take preventative actions while video provides data that security personnel can typically only react to. Imagine that a trespasser walks onto a car dealer- ship's parking lot. If the dealership had a video system, a central station guard could see the sus- pect, but could only dispatch an officer to head to the scene– by which time the individual could have stolen a car. However, if the dealership had a two-way audio system integrated with video, the officer could speak to the suspect in real time say- ing something like, "Hey! You in the red shirt, we see you and the police will be here 60 seconds." This simple dialogue can often be enough to scare the suspect and deter the person from commit- ting the crime. Audio monitoring is not only a valuable securi- ty tool, but also a great resource to improve busi- ness operations and quality assurance, particu- larly in retail. One of the common issues retailers encounter is customer complaints, but audio pro- vides a way to mitigate these conflicts. By install- ing a microphone above a checkout counter area, there will be a record of all verbal interactions that can be accessed by store managers to resolve disputes and prevent them from escalating into a lawsuit. Managers can also use the audio moni- toring system to assess whether an employee is providing good customer service or if that staff member should undergo additional training. There have been excellent technological inno- vations in the audio security sector, most notably, the use of sound detection and audio analytics. Various software companies have created pro- grams that analyze sounds and identify them in categories such as aggression, gunshot or glass break. In other words, the analytic software that can detect rising human voices and send an alert to security staff so that further aggression can be avoided. In the case of aggression, where 90 per- cent of physical altercations are preceded by ver- bal hostility, this technology is a game-changer for crime deterrence. There are many compelling reasons for why audio monitoring should be part of the security surveillance solution, however many companies are only just beginning to discover and install audio. This is largely because there is a miscon- ception about the legality of monitoring through- out the industry. Many believe it is illegal to record while others shy away from it because they are unsure of what the law states. The truth is when there is no expectation of privacy it is legal to monitor. Parks, sports arenas and other public places are prime examples. Another way to properly remove the expectation of privacy is to post Using Audio to Increase Security's Footprint Integrating audio monitoring into an existing security system is advantageous for many reasons Integrating audio monitoring into an existing security system is advantageous for many reasons, the first being that it delivers additional evidence. Image Courtesy of BigStock.com About the Author: Richard Brent is the CEO of Louroe Electronics and SIA Board Member