As a business owner, you understand the importance of ensuring the physical safety and security of employees, customers, and property. Doing so begins with a comprehensive plan that addresses the many facets of security risk and how you can appropriately address each of them with educational training, written procedures, and the utilization of technology to proactively monitor and alert in the cases of potential threats. By providing real-time monitoring, alerts, and comprehensive analytics on the data captured, VMS solutions can help businesses increase safety and security while reducing liability concerns. Selecting a VMS partner can be daunting, as manufacturers can offer various solutions.
This blog focuses on the video technology component of security plans, so we will discuss best practices for selecting the right VMS partner to meet your business requirements. Choosing the right one for your business is key to accomplishing these goals, so let’s get started.
Identify Your Business Needs
Before you start your search for the right VMS partner, you must identify your business needs and build a plan. Consider the size of your organization, the location of your business, and the various risks to your business. This will help determine the type of surveillance you’ll require and aid your search for the right VMS.
Research Multiple VMS Vendors
It’s important to find the right “partner” in this effort; a company that can understand your needs and who will walk this process with you. Conduct thorough research on multiple VMS manufacturers to evaluate not only technical capability but also reputation, industry expertise, and years of experience. Reach out to other businesses for referrals and research online reviews to hear firsthand experiences in working with those companies. It’s important to identify vendors whose technical solutions and support philosophies align with your business requirements.
Consider Scalability and Integration
Choosing a VMS partner that can integrate smoothly with existing security applications is important, as you’ve already invested in certain technologies. Avoiding unnecessary replacements can help ease the financial burden in your transition.
Find a partner whose VMS will integrate with existing security solutions, such as access control systems, intrusion detection systems, AI analytics and cloud capabilities. Cloud services provide flexible and scalable solutions for storing and accessing data, while video management systems allow for efficient organization and analysis of video content. Together, these technologies enhance the capabilities of businesses and individuals, enabling seamless integration of video data into various applications and workflows.
Furthermore, this integration will help to provide a comprehensive security solution for your organization. Finally, as your company expands, you will want your VMS capability to support its growth. Find a solution that offers scalable solutions that will adapt to your business needs.
Look for Comprehensive Analytics
VMS solutions should offer comprehensive analytics for the data captured. Appearance search, LPR, gun detection, and even facial recognition can be helpful tools to proactively identify potential threats. These analytics provide vital information such as the number of visitors to your business, their demographic information, and their behavior patterns. It can also help you to identify potential security risks and ensure that you can address those concerns before they become a problem.
Check Data Security and Privacy
When selecting a VMS vendor, data security and privacy are vital considerations. Your vendor should provide strong security protocols for data encryption, backup, and disaster recovery to prevent data breaches. Additionally, ensure that the vendor’s privacy policy aligns with your business requirements and policies.
Try Before You Buy
Finally, if possible, try out a demo version of the system before committing to a purchase – this way you can get an idea of how user-friendly it is as well as any potential concerns/bugs that may exist in order to make a more informed decision.
In conclusion, choosing the right VMS vendor for your business is critical to ensuring the safety and security of your customers, employees and property. Following the best practices outlined above will help make the selection process less daunting and ensure that you make an informed decision. Remember to identify your business needs, check the vendor’s reputation, consider comprehensive analytics, evaluate scalability and integration, and keep the cost in mind. By doing so, you’ll be able to find a VMS vendor that meets your business requirements and provides a secure and safe environment.
