In the industrial sector, ensuring robust security and site safety is crucial for protecting buildings, machinery, operations, and staff.
Often relying on guards to review security camera footage and patrol the site, anyone in charge of security should be interested in the benefits of CCTV monitoring for industrial sites.
Why?
CCTV monitoring offers two key benefits:
- Reducing the cost of security compared to employing guards
- Improving threat detection and accuracy
As security threats evolve and the costs of deploying guards rise, the demand for advanced, cost-effective security systems increases.
Table of contents
Before we discuss the benefits of CCTV monitoring how these systems improve security at industrial sites, here’s a quick overview these systems..
How does CCTV monitoring work?
CCTV monitoring systems are a bit like having a team of professionals, watching over your site for a fraction of the cost of employing security guards.
There is more about the cost savings these systems offer later in the article…. So, keep reading.
Surveillance cameras are equipped with sensors and detection devices that, upon activation, notify an offsite team for review.
Should a threat be identified, a swift response to the security incident is initiated.
As a result, CCTV monitoring systems couple threat detection and fast responses to security breaches seamlessly.
Related reading: How does CCTV monitoring work?
What are the benefits?
In this section of today’s guide we focus on why anyone in charge of industrial site security, should consider CCTV monitoring a no-brainer.
They are:
- Protecting assets & machinery
- Fast response to security incidents
- Reducing the reliance on security guards
- Detecting and deterring vandalism
Let’s take a look at each.
Protecting assets & machinery
Within industrial sites, expensive machinery and bulk materials, need protection from thieves.
These assets are important for operations and represent significant financial investments.
CCTV monitoring is key in protecting these assets from theft or damage.
Continuous monitored surveillance ensures all activities within the site are watched over 24/7.
As previously noted, a rapid response is initiated when threats are detected and confirmed.
Fast response to security incidents
CCTV monitoring systems enhance incident response times through immediate alerts and efficient communication with keyholders or the authorities.
This rapid response capability reduces potential damage and ensures incidents are handled efficiently.
Let’s give this some context.
Example 1 – audio intervention
An intruder approaches your site’s perimeter.
A sensor triggers an alert received by your offsite monitoring team.
The footage is reviewed and the threat is confirmed.
An operative communicates with the intruder via a public address system and warns them their presence is known.
The intruder thinks twice, and leaves.
Danger averted…..
Example 2 – contacting the authorities
A gang of criminals smash their way into your site in an attempt to loot your premises
They are spotted attending entry to your building, and an alert is triggered and received at our monitoring station.
It’s after midnight so it’s fortunate you have deployed thermal cameras to detect threats in low light conditions.
The criminals don’t know they have been spotted.
The authorities arrive, and the criminals are apprehended.
All of this, for a fraction of the cost of employing guards.
In the next section of this guide to the benefits of CCTV monitoring for industrial sites, we focus on how these systems will reduce the cost of security.
Reducing the reliance on security guards
Typically, security guards earn between £25,000-£35,000 per year.
Moreover, it’s worth noting over a 10-year period this equates to £250,000 – £300,000.
This is just their salaries and doesn’t account for other associated costs.
Although external threats such as break-ins and intrusion are real, they are not daily occurrences.
As a result, these figures may leave you wondering whether £250,000 – £300,000 represents a worthwhile investment in security and value for money.
On the other hand, CCTV monitoring provides 24/7 surveillance, accurate detection, fast responses to threats, and total site security.
On average, CCTV monitoring costs around 25% of the cost of deploying guards.
Threats are dealt with in real-time.
Sites are secure.
Let’s pose this question.
If offered the same level of security, would you rather pay £300,000 over 10 years to secure your site, or £75,000?
If it’s the latter, call us now on 0800 689 1835 to talk to a CCTV monitoring specialist.
Detecting and deterring vandalism
Vandalism poses a significant threat to industrial operations.
Historically, CCTV cameras are installed to provide a strong visual deterrent to potential vandals.
Surveillance camera monitoring systems go one step further.
If an intruder is detected, your offsite team can warn the intruder their presence is known via public address systems.
As a result, an intruder has two options.
Firstly, if they have any sense, they will leave the site immediately and therefore, the threat dealt with.
Secondly, they can ignore the warning and will get caught when the authorities arrive.
Related reading: The components of an effective CCTV monitoring system
Benefits of CCTV monitoring for industrial sites – summary
CCTV monitoring offers substantial benefits for industrial sites, including asset protection, theft and vandalism deterrence.
Furthermore, reduced security costs, and enhanced incident response capabilities are all key benefits of these solutions.
If you are keen to understand more or would like to talk to a specialist, call us now on 0800 689 1835
Article FAQs
Looking to learn a little more?
Here are a handful of questions you may have after reading this article.
Firstly, two main features of industrial CCTV cameras include thermal imaging for effective low-light threat detection and AI video analytics.
These two solutions improve object recognition and behavioural analysis, allowing for real-time threat detection and reduction of false alarms.
Furthermore, these cameras are weather-resistant, ensuring their durability and effectiveness in harsh conditions.
Lastly, high-resolution imaging provides clear footage and a wide field of view. This feature allows the camera to capture details in both bright and dark areas of the site, allowing for optimal performance in varying light conditions.
These features ensure accurate threat detection and 24/7 monitoring in challenging industrial environments.
Your site should have backup power supplies, such as batteries or generators, and dual network connections to maintain continuous surveillance during outages.
Some sites also use advanced solutions like edge storage to record footage locally until connectivity is restored, ensuring no critical data is lost during power or network failures.
One of the main reasons site operators, IT and security managers at industrial companies choose to work with us is our proactive approach to system design.
We work with all relevant teams to protect your system against outages, giving you peace of mind.
PTZ (pan-tilt-zoom), thermal, and high-resolution bullet cameras are ideal for large perimeter surveillance.
Furthermore, PTZ cameras offer extensive coverage with remote control capabilities. Additionally, thermal cameras excel in low-light and adverse weather conditions.
Lastly, bullet cameras provide long-range visibility and durability, making them suitable for monitoring large industrial perimeters.
To minimise false alarms, our systems are designed to deploy AI-driven analytics that differentiates between actual threats and benign activities (e.g., leaves falling from trees and objects triggering sensors).
Advanced sensors and video analytics help filter out false alarms caused by wildlife, weather, or routine industrial activities.
Furthermore, regular maintenance and checks of your industrial CCTV cameras, sensors and other equipment are crucial in reducing unnecessary alerts.
This includes cleaning lenses, adjusting camera angles, and updating software, all of which contribute to the systems’ accuracy and reliability.
As we are sure you’ll understand, there is no fixed cost – a 20-camera system will cost more than that one requiring 100.
The costs include the initial installation of cameras and sensors, the setup of monitoring infrastructure, and ongoing fees for our remote monitoring services.
Furthermore, maintenance expenses cover regular system checks, software updates, and hardware replacements, if required over time.
Lastly, our flexible leasing options not only spread the costs over time but also make investing in our cost-effective industrial site monitoring systems more manageable for businesses.
