Which Security Systems Are More Proactive Than Reactive?

The advantages of security systems as forensic and investigative tools are well understood and demonstrated in the market. However, the new trend is toward systems that are useful in real-time and that even predict a security event, before it happens. Larry Anderson, editor for Security Informed asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: Which security systems are becoming more proactive than reactive?

Brad McMullen, 3xLOGIC General Manager, weighed in on the discussion with the following.

"Security systems have historically been used to detect suspicious behavior and send alerts, when unauthorized activity occur on-premises. The challenge, however, is that this process is very reactive and alerts are typically triggered, after someone has obtained access to the site. Advanced edge-based analytics can alert in real time, when suspicious activity is detected on or around the protected estate. This provides an opportunity for proactive response and the potential to prevent a malicious event.

The ability to ‘see in the dark’ makes region surveillance much more robust and resilient, thereby enhancing the level of protection that a CCTV system can provide. Today, most advances in security systems are focused on proactive alerts and response, which lead to preventive notifications. Utilizing edge analytics, motion detection, thermal sensors, and comprehensive rules engines, video management systems can also provide alerts and visibility that can help prevent break-ins, and they provide real-time data and visibility."