Defining Remote Management
Application solution provides security without borders
- By Jumbi Edulbehram
- Feb 01, 2011
In today’s market, both end users and resellers are searching
out new technologies that make security programs more
effective, make businesses and employees more efficient,
and build revenue streams. Remote management services
are gaining significant attention as an emerging solution
to meet these needs. End users are interested in adding
remote management to streamline security operations and
make security systems more of an operational expense.
Resellers are interested in remote services because they
result in recurring revenue.
Overall, these valued-added offerings are creating industry
buzz. But where does the buzz end and the value begin? What
proven capabilities do these services bring to the security community?
It’s time to cut through the hype and define the true value of
remote management services.
Sorting through the Confusion
Many types of hosted or remote service offerings are available in
the market today. Video surveillance providers, for example, offer
hosted video solutions that allow users to access live or recorded
video footage from an off-site location. Access control providers
develop Web-based solutions for remote access. Alarm companies
also use a form of remote management to receive traditional
alarm notifications in a central station.
A remote management system can include these basic services,
but it also reaches far beyond these capabilities. A true remote
management system provides users with a timely and comprehensive
view of their security operations. For this to occur
seamlessly, the security system must be fully integrated so that various subsystems -- video management,
access control, video analytics, intrusion
devices and all IP-based edge devices --
are managed through a single user interface.
This also provides end users with a
comprehensive view of security operations
across multiple subsystems. When
these systems are completely unified, as
opposed to loosely integrated, information
is immediately correlated, enhancing
users’ situational awareness.
Therefore, we define a remote management
system as one that enables users not
only to access and monitor their security
devices but also to interface with the entire
system from anywhere and at any time
through a Web browser. It enables users to
manage multiple sites from any location
on a consolidated interface and to easily
share security data when necessary. A remote
management system enables service
providers to give end users services such as
remote security management, remote audio
access and remote video storage.
Remote Security Management
Remote security management provides a
way to access, configure and monitor an
entire security system across multiple locations
from a Web browser that can easily
run on numerous devices, including
mobile devices. This includes all system
features: camera settings, live surveillance
video, access control events, door controls
and system reporting.
The power of network-based security
devices brings remote security management
to life. In this case, a unified, security
management platform is connected
to IP cameras and access control edge
devices by an IP network, which in turn
connects to the Internet via a router.
The security platform connects to a host
server over the Internet to register itself
and connect through the client’s firewall
to receive software updates, allow VoIP
communications, transmit video data,
perform database backups and provide a
host of other services.
Quite simply, the hosting site provides
customers with a portal to their physical
security systems via the Internet to view
video, monitor alarms and enable access
from any network-enabled location. Each
customer can remotely log in to the host
site to monitor and control his or her sites,
including all cameras and access points.
Furthermore, the host server makes the
connection from a user’s browser to the
appropriate security platform located at
each site to stream video and audio.
RSM Capabilities
Remote security management brings a
new level of situational awareness to an
entire security infrastructure. Users can
seamlessly manage multi-site operations
from a central location on a consolidated
interface. If an alert occurs, operators can
access remote locations to determine if it
was a security event or a false alarm.
Users also can access events and video
on supported mobile devices. This truly
enhances mobility and is useful to determine
in real-time if there is an actual security
event that needs attention or if an
improper procedure caused an alert. SMS
or e-mail messages for user-defined events
and health monitoring alerts can be sent
directly to a user’s preferred mobile device.
Some advanced systems even feature video
transcoding in which video is automatically
optimized for off-site viewing to best
fit the user’s viewing device and the bandwidth
available.
Furthermore, a remote management
system correlates data from the integrated
security system and generates reports on
specified events to help users determine if
they need to modify security best practices
or business policies. This significantly reduces
costs associated with manpower and
travel to remote locations.
Remote Video Storage
Remote video storage automatically stores
video off-site. Given bandwidth limitations
and the costs involved, storing all
video off-site is not practical, cost-effective
or desirable.
Therefore, an intelligent, remote video
storage service backs-up only such critical
data as user-specified alarms, events
and alerts. The local security management
platform pushes critical event information
to remote storage when a specific
incident occurs.
For example, if a “door forced open”
alert occurs, the system automatically
backs up all security data associated with
the event, including a high-quality video
clip. This eliminates the potential loss of
data or video at the local sites in case local
hardware is stolen or damaged.
The backup and recovery capabilities
bring added peace of mind because critical
events, alarms and other important
data will never be lost. Users can adjust
the quality of the video depending on the
bandwidth available and their needs.
Remote Audio Access
The idea of remote mobility is further enhanced
by remote audio access. With this
two-way audio feature via VoIP, operators
can dial directly in to a facility from anywhere
and speak through audio-enabled
cameras that have a microphone and
speaker built in.
This is useful in a variety of applications.
If a crowd is forming at a location in
a high-crime area, for example, it may be a
sign that an incident or crime may be about
to occur. Operators can use remote audio
access to ask the crowd to disperse, while
local personnel are called in for backup.
Multi-site Management
System configurations also are backed up
across multiple locations and replicated
when necessary. Configuration backup
eliminates downtime that leads to vulnerabilities,
and it automatically replicates
configurations to additional devices and
sites. This is an important benefit for entities
that are merging or adding facilities, as
an administrator does not have to manually
configure each local site.
Furthermore, users can manage global
settings from a single interface. This enables
the replication of access control
settings, for example, across all facilities
through the host site. This includes permissions
and rules, badge and cardholder
profiles, and schedules.
The Hosting Platform
User capabilities are only one aspect to
consider when looking at remote management
capabilities. What happens from the
provider’s end is just as critical as what
happens from a user perspective.
The host site needs to be able to handle
thousands of individual users and
communicate with thousands of security
management appliances. The site can also
proxy alarms and event notifications such
as after-hours motion detection to remote
clients via e-mail, SMS, phone connections
or other communication media. This
makes the remote capabilities available to
users when they are not on-site.
The host site needs to be easy to upgrade
and maintain with little to no downtime.
Using cloud computing technology,
the host can be available anywhere in the
world, which is critical for today’s global
corporations. The design uses the latest in server virtualization to allow growth,
expandability, multiple locations and redundancy
for the hosted site. A hosted
service provider will need to meet these
key requirements in addition to providing
cost-competitive pricing and expansion
potential.
Reseller Benefits
Remote management services can increase
service providers’ revenue because it operates
on a monthly, service-based model.
This enables resellers to bring an additional
level of service and value to their customers
while building recurring monthly
revenue. Resellers can broaden their
customer base and offer different levels
of service, depending on customer needs
(enterprise versus SMB), as user-specific
settings are customizable.
Remote management services are scalable
and can manage an enterprise-class
system with thousands of locations and
users, as well as small businesses with one
location. All this is possible while providing
users with secure and dedicated access
to all security data at a moment’s notice.
End User Benefits
From a user perspective, remote services
propel cost savings, along with security
program and business efficiencies. Large
enterprises benefit because they can remotely
manage security platforms at multiple
facilities, reducing the need for an onsite
administrator or for a regional security
manager to travel to manage the security
system on-site. The automated functions,
such as software updates, enable staff to focus
on critical tasks, such as investigations
or policy development, rather than focusing
on addressing technical details.
Small-to-medium-sized business that
do not employ an on-site security staff can
use remote services as a way of enhancing
security without having to allocate dedicated
staff to manage the security system,
which significantly reduces costs.
Overall, remote management of security
at large enterprises, smaller businesses
and even residential homes provides an effective
way to manage security concerns at
all times.
Remote management services offer
added efficiency, mobility and, most importantly,
peace of mind, as they enable
users to manage their security systems at
a single site or across multiple sites from
anywhere in the world. Furthermore, by
using a security management platform
that combines traditionally separate subsystems
in one appliance they can manage
through a single interface, users gain
a holistic view of their security operations.
From a reseller standpoint, remote management
services provide innovative ways
to better service customers and increase
recurring monthly revenue.
All of this is available without the allocation
of additional administrators or
operators. A reduction in cost is realized
because one administrator is empowered
to manage systems in multiple locations
without travel to off-site locations. The
ease of use and cost savings provide a substantial
return-on-investment and futureproofs
integrated networked platforms for
years to come.
This article originally appeared in the February 2011 issue of Network-Centric Security.