How to Upgrade Your Security Cameras Without a New Installation

So, you have some security cameras installed, but you’re starting to wonder if you need an upgrade. Perhaps you’re missing critical events, spending too much time and money on IT support, or maybe it seems like your cameras are just kind of sitting there. 

You may be right. It may be time for an upgrade. The good news is that you probably don’t need to buy and install new cameras to do it. There are many options for improving your system without an expensive hardware replacement project. 

WHICH CAMERAS CAN BE UPGRADED?

Almost any camera system can be upgraded, including both analog cameras and newer, IP-based digital cameras. 

Analog cameras can be connected to the solutions below via digital encoders. The existing cameras and coaxial cable can stay in place. The signals are collected from the system and digitized, allowing video to be stored, transmitted, and analyzed just like digital cameras, but without re-cabling an entire site. 

IP-based cameras, which currently make up nearly three-quarters of the security camera market, can be integrated into other systems if they use industry standards. ONVIF is the most common and will provide the most extensibility. 

The primary exceptions for camera upgradability are cameras which are part of proprietary, closed-ecosystem solutions. For these cameras, upgrades will be limited to those available from the propriety vendor. 

If you aren’t sure, if your cameras can be upgraded, contact us for a free site visit.* We’ll review your existing installation and discuss options at no obligation. 

What could those options look like? 

AI-ENABLED MONITORING

Video monitoring and video alarm verification can be important tools for maintaining the integrity of your facilities. AI helps lower the costs of these functions by filtering out static scenes and normal behaviors, bringing anomalies to analysts’ attention. 

These solutions can help augment patrol or onsite guard services or allow for reduced staffing levels by focusing guards’ attention on the areas that need it most. Costs of remote video monitoring have improved dramatically and offer significant cost savings to almost any client struggling with high false alarm fees. 

Two-way hardware, such as microphones and speakers can make for effective interdiction, letting perpetrators know they have been recognized and are actively being watched, often ending in-progress security events and improving apprehension. 

IMPROVED EMERGENCY RESPONSE

Get better integration with emergency and law enforcement services with tools that improve response time and get critical video into the hands of first responders. 

Weapon detection and critical event recognition via monitoring or AI can get help moving minutes faster than waiting for calls. Video feeds can be shared ahead of time. And while that’s useful, even more flexible are new solutions to sent the video feeds closest to a 911 caller directly to dispatch. 

EASIER MANAGEMENT

Integrating existing cameras into existing solutions can have many benefits for business and IT managers tasked with overseeing the system. 

Cloud solutions reduce the need to make site visits for updates or to pull video all while reducing TCO. Eliminate never-ending maintenance, upgrade, and replacement cycles for DVRs and NVRs. Get predictable budgets with hardware leasing programs that keep your equipment current without cost spikes at replacement time. 

Remotely power cycle problematic hardware or search of video from all locations (or just selected locations). Searches can be quickly completed with semantic search tools that cut hours and hours of buffering video. Clips can easily be shared with key stakeholders via links or downloaded files, no need to convert formats or switch permissions to camera feeds on and off. Maintain onsite storage to protect against power/internet outage gaps or for compliance reasons. Reduce notification fatigue and stop wasting time on noisy notifications with smart alerts. 

DRIVE BUSINESS VALUE

Modern security cameras do not have to be passive and reactive. Drive real ROI from your camera installations with business analytics. 

Analyze your video feeds to better understand traffic flows, customer shopping patterns, and process bottlenecks. Send data to custom dashboards and applications via API. 

Object counting can help you understand how effectively your production line is running or how effectively you are converting footfall to revenue. Track dwell time automatically to understand if your new planogram keeping people shopping or how well your warehouse team is getting trucks in and out of loading docks. Additional analytics are available out of the box and customized AI can be configured for unique use cases. 

READY FOR AN UPGRADE? 

If you are interested in adding these capabilities to your existing camera installation, please get in touch with us for a free, no obligation site visit* to review your hardware and discuss your challenges and opportunities.

*within our service area