Today’s physical security market is constantly evolving as homeowners and corporate executives both demand advanced surveillance cameras and other intrusion detection systems to keep valuable and confidential assets safe. Decision-makers in both the consumer and business landscape are realizing the importance of leveraging advanced alarm systems as criminals become increasingly desperate in today’s ongoing economic crisis.
These demands have played a significant role in manufacturer efforts to develop more advanced intrusion detection systems, according to a report by A&S Magazine.
“The intruder market is growing as an increasing number of people demand more reliable security,” intrusion detection expert Michael Reimer said, according to A&S Magazine. “Customers also recognize the need for improved false alarm immunity and accordingly are converting to more advanced sensors that rely upon multiple technologies and advanced intelligence in alarm decision making.”
In most cases, the physical security and intrusion detection markets expand proportionately with gross national product growth, the news source said. The macroeconomic crisis, however, is throwing this traditional metric out of whack and many countries around the world are investing heavily in advanced security systems, regardless of the economy.
Despite this potential, there are still some problems associated with many of today’s offerings. In most cases, these issues revolve around inefficient solutions that jeopardize an organization’s physical defenses because of false alarms.
False alarm impact on the overall market
A&S Magazine said false alarms are the single most disruptive issue slowing the intrusion detection market. As a result, security manufacturers need to develop new ways to minimize false alarm rates if they want to remain competitive in the growing industry.
Although there are often a host of reasons why a false alarm may occur, one of the most common is simple poor installation by service providers.
“Incorrectly installed sensors are at the heart of many problems experienced by intruder systems,” intrusion detection expert Leon Langlais said, according to A&S Magazine. “Door contacts must be well-aligned to send the proper signal to the panel and motion sensors need to be both adequate in power and sensing technology as well as installed correctly to ward off false detection or even misdetection.”
Resolving false alarms
Reducing false alarms will help a number of industries experience lower theft and intrusions without investing too much. If vendors neglect to fix problems causing false alarms, they will not be able to remain competitive with rival security manufacturers.
“Errors in installation and programming, such as the incorrect placement of a motion sensor, can cause repeated false alarms if the sensor’s beam is misaligned even a few degrees,” Langlais said, according to A&S Magazine.
False alarms are especially problematic for retailers, as these situations force decision-makers to cough up money to fix problems that shouldn’t have existed in the first place, which is troubling in today’s ongoing economic malaise.
A separate report by Frost & Sullivan said retailers, in particular, are forecast to adopt more intuitive physical security solutions, such as access control systems, to reduce fraud and enhance overall revenue. Since shoplifting is a problem that every retailer needs to become familiar with and eradicate, implementing advanced surveillance cameras and remote monitoring applications will enable decision-makers to prevent crimes from taking place.
As the private sector continues to demand advanced physical security systems that work properly to deter crime, manufacturers need to address any lingering problems if their offerings are to be adopted.