Tuesday, 30th July 2024

Trident Manor was selected to undertake a detailed review of a client’s VSS (Video Surveillance System)/CCTV system to evaluate its effectiveness, operability, and whether it remained fit for purpose.

During June 2024 Trident Manor personnel attended several sites of a certain client to evaluate the existing VSS/CCTV system and identify solutions to increase effectiveness and operational capabilities. This involved visiting the venue used as a hub and where video feeds came back to before then going to each of the sites that fed back into the hub.

Several issues were identified during this review, some of which were significant, others not so much where effective ‘housekeeping’ was needed to ensure the cleanliness of domes, the cutting back of vegetation, and reporting of issues with the system.

It was also identified that installers/maintenance contractors had in some cases over-specified the number of cameras needed, failed to ensure updates were undertaken and failed to undertake basic day/night reviews where light pollution and IR glare affected the operational effectiveness of the system.

Following the reviews which lasted 5 days a report was started and finished after a presentation of the findings had been given to the stakeholders. The report allows the client to make informed decisions about the next steps they wish to take in providing VSS coverage.

Andy Davis outlined that irrespective of the size of the VSS system being installed or maintained the following 10 points should always be considered:

1. Does the installation of the VSS system fall within the organisation’s strategic direction?
2. Does the VSS system support the principle of ‘security-in-depth’ or is it being used in isolation?
3. Has a risk assessment been undertaken that justifies the cost (financial and operational) of installation?
4. If operating across multiple sites is there a direction as to equipment types and specifications needed?
5. Has a full OR (Operational Requirement) been undertaken to identify what is needed, where, and what any camera is supposed to do?
6. Has any VMS (Video Management System) been fully evaluated and is it fit for current and future use?
7. Is there sufficient bandwidth to upload and download images and notifications?
8. Are the installers qualified/approved to install the selected equipment?
9. Is there a project management function from the client team or independent verification that what was required has been delivered?
10. Has a maintenance and servicing contract been established that supports the client and is not just an income generator for the service provider?

While this list is not exhaustive it will help a client avoid many of the pitfalls that organisations seem to be experiencing at the hands of unscrupulous technical security service providers. Andy commented: “An installation team should know and understand what is being sought and if they know that there is insufficient bandwidth to EVER achieve what is required they should inform the client before proceeding. To do anything other than that is unprofessional and in my opinion unethical.”

To find out more about the technical security review services offered by Trident Manor please feel free to contact us.