Okay, we know – this is what every camera installer says.
Unfortunately, there is far more to cutting costs and boosting security than installing some cameras. And even that option is no guarantee of achieving either goal.
Site Security By The Numbers
As they used to say in the old car commercials, “Your mileage may vary.” In this case, it’s your overall contract costs that may vary. This is because there are several factors that determine an actual cost for on-site security services.
According to Thumbtack.com,
“Typically, security companies charge based on the hourly rate of the personnel dispatched to a site or event. In the case of vehicle patrols — such as patrols for event parking lots or housing communities — there may be additional fees to account for fuel and business overhead. Rates vary based on whether the security guards are armed, how risky the particular job is, and what type of field experience the security guard has. Nationwide, the average hourly rate for a security guard is $15-$25 per hour, but costs can be much higher based on a variety of factors.”
That part about “whether the security guards are armed” is important since armed security officers can cost upwards of $3 to $5 more per hour per guard than having unarmed guards. Prices can go much higher, too, depending on the location.
To give you a better idea of the range, the cost for one guard to stand near a door or in the lobby area of a store or bank averages between $15 to $45 per hour nationally, depending on whether the guard is armed.
A typical scenario for a small industrial park or business might entail the services of one unarmed guard for 12-hour shifts on weeknights, and 24 hour patrols for both weekend days. At a fee of $20 dollars an hour this may cost as much as $2,160 per week, or an average of just over $9,360 per month.
And this doesn’t include liability insurance and other possible costs.
In comparison, having a video surveillance system installed can cost between $30,000 to $50,000, depending on the size of the property. In addition, there is the cost of hardware which can range from $1,000 to $10,000 or more.
Bottom line? Video surveillance is almost always less costly than on-site security guards.
About That “Improved Security”
Too often, businesses and other facilities find that the sure-fire security solution they purchased in the form of a video surveillance system fails to deliver.
True, the video provided is crisp, high-definition, and in full color. But many business owners and facility managers become frustrated once they realize that the video surveillance system they purchased does not prevent crimes, but merely records them.
“What was the point of spending all that money only to get HD video of people stealing our property?”
While the presence of multiple video cameras have been shown to deter some crime, there are many instances when this is not the case. And if an individual breaks into a property during the middle of the night without setting off an alarm, the camera can do nothing more than record the act.
The resulting footage may or may not help and, in many cases, overworked law enforcement will simply recommend that the evidence be given to the business’s insurance company along with a claim.
But what if it were possible to cut costs and provide substantially enhanced security using an existing video surveillance system?
Improved Security With Proprietary Blackbox Technology
It’s been established that simply watching a crime or security breach on a monitor after the fact provides little in the way of improved security. What is needed is the ability to both monitor video feeds live and in real-time, and to respond to events as they occur.
At Blue Eye, we have made this a reality with our proprietary Blackbox technology that transforms existing security camera networks into active security systems. A client’s cameras function as sensors for the Blackbox containing our AI software that “watches” the property for threats.
Once a threat is detected, an alarm is immediately sent to our command center and our Video Surveillance Technicians (VSTs) monitor the video feed. Viewing the property in real time, the VST can assess the situation and take appropriate action.
Most often, the only action needed is a verbal warning given over a loudspeaker. Using 120db speakers, we can address the perpetrators directly and this has been shown to end 99 percent of incidents. If this fails to deter the threat, however, the local police or private security is called.
In addition, the cost of a video surveillance system enhanced with our “stealth” Blackbox technology is still only about a third of the cost of hiring a security guard service.
Our proprietary approach of using both artificial intelligence and human interaction allows for a safe and comfortable security solution that is all done utilizing the cameras that have already been installed.
At Blue Eye, we use our proprietary AI software to detect potential threats to your property in seconds, alerting our highly trained Video Surveillance Technicians who react in real-time to deter potential crimes.
Ready to learn more?
Give us a call at 855.258.3662 or email us at [email protected]. Let us design an effective solution for your business!