From Desktop to Smart Device: The Power of Leveraging the Cloud for Remote Monitoring

Take a moment to think back to the cell phone you had 10 to 15 years ago. At that time, we couldn't possibly imagine the ability to use such a device for anything but simple communication. Whether by way of calling or texting, a mobile phone represented nothing more than a means to easily send a message to someone.

Can you believe where we're at now? Since that time, the Internet has remarkably revolutionized the way technology is used, allowing us to create an extension of systems and processes that once required a plugged-in setup to our mobile devices. Cell phones and tablets can now be used to start cars, control thermostats, turn off lights — and perform just about any other “smart” task that you can imagine.

As the benefits of this level of connectivity became obvious, enhancements in technology started to impact the security industry and continue to do so every day as developments improve. Intelligent technology is profoundly affecting the way organizations protect their premises, with factors such as convenience, accessibility and instantaneity strongly desired.

Advancements in technology have enabled security manufacturers to leverage the cloud and use the Internet of Things (IoT) to move various system capabilities from a stationed PC to a smart device. This then allows the control of a surveillance, access control or intrusion system from any location through remote monitoring, which provides a number of advantages:

• Ease of use. Cloud technology facilitates the elimination of once difficult tasks that are now capable of instant execution through the quick click of a button.
• Efficient response. In the event of a security incident, time is of the essence. Remote monitoring enables operators to leverage instant notifications that give them full insight into the matter and allow them to determine the appropriate action immediately, even when they are not at the scene.
• Centralization. For organizations that consist of numerous branches or facilities, comprehensively keeping track of security operations at each location is made simple through remote monitoring. Users can view all activity in a single pane-of-glass view, delivering ultimate control for efficient site security.

Vanderbilt products carry particular depth when it comes to remote monitoring, as we always look to invest in technology that matches our values of agility, flexibility and dependability. In an effort to save organizations time and money, as well as enable them to enhance their security strategies, Vanderbilt's cloud technology has proven to be beneficial in a variety of applications, such as:

• The municipality of Odense, Denmark. Odense has a number of buildings under its authority, requiring a security solution that can provide remote and instant access to deal with potential alarms from any location at any time. Vanderbilt's SPC Connect provides effective surveillance, management and control across all panels.
• A study abroad university in London. Vanderbilt's ACT365 allows campus security to monitor the safety of students remotely by keeping audit trails of who is in the student accommodation by recording fob activity. If an incident arises, the solution links events at doors through video footage for quick identification and reaction, as well as gives operators the ability to view live and recorded footage remotely.
• The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA). Remote monitoring features are beneficial for more than just security. ACT365 coordinates with a platform that allows courts to be booked and used through a simple process, giving users control of multiple access points from a single unified interface and allowing operators to analyze door status remotely.

An added benefit that these end users get to experience with a cloud-based security solution, that sometimes only becomes clear when it's needed, is the reliability of the Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) model. Cloud-based solutions can be automatically updated with the latest software and patches as needed, reducing the need for a robust IT team to manage the system.

Now, when you think back to your cell phone from what feels like eons ago, you can truly appreciate the influence technology has had on improving both our everyday lives and the use of security systems. The ability to remotely control and monitor these solutions in the palm of our hands is truly instrumental in keeping people and property safe from today's increasingly dangerous threats.