Both video surveillance and access control integration are crucial to providing businesses with a high level of security. While video surveillance allows real-time visibility of an area, access control limits or authorizes entry into designated places. Combining the two involves integrating software and hardware products into a single system, which enhances visibility and control and provides in-depth system analytics.
Working with a security integrator is essential to securely and reliably combine your video surveillance and access control system. However, not just any security integrator can create a cohesive system that improves security and convenience for your business.
When trying to find the right security integrator for your business, you should determine whether they meet a few specific criteria so you can ensure effective integration and satisfactory service delivery. Explore five things to look for in a security integration partner below.
1. Company Reputation and History
An established, well-known integrator with a history of partnering with businesses in your industry can provide you with the ultimate value for your investment. This integrator will take the time to understand your business and its needs and can devise the most comprehensive security approach that suits your goals.
Consider if that’s the type of integrator you’re engaging by:
- Reading online reviews from independent websites.
- Reviewing testimonials and case studies on the company’s website.
- Speaking to former clients to learn more about their experiences with the integrator.
- Checking their engagement on their social media platforms.
Overall, you want to work with a security integrator that has successfully completed numerous projects and provides excellent customer service and continued support.
2. Comprehensive Expertise
It’s important to partner with an integrator that has the expertise to work with software and hardware products from different manufacturers and still provide dependable results without any issues and vulnerabilities. For example, they should understand all of your video surveillance devices, including cameras, monitors and DVRs.
The right integrator will possess a wide range of skills in information systems, associated networks and project management. As the security space is always changing, you need a security integrator that’s also focused on maintaining industry knowledge to deliver you the most updated and current security strategies. Additionally, they should stay updated on the latest security issues and prioritize solutions to help you avoid and overcome them.
Verify their commitment to continuous learning and providing the most up-to-date solutions by checking for certifications and compliance certificates from organizations like:
- Electronics Technicians Association
- Center for Development of Security Excellence
- Security Industry Association
3. Innovative Product Quality and Technology
The video surveillance and access control industry is constantly evolving to adapt to the latest technologies. So, you want to work with a security integrator that uses the latest technology and embraces new developments. For example, most security integrators can work with your existing hardware, but they may need to upgrade software or hardware video surveillance elements to ensure they’re fully up to date.
It’s also crucial to learn about the video surveillance appliance manufacturer your integrator sources security equipment from to verify that you’re getting superior devices that suit your needs. As a bonus, an integrator with a good relationship with reliable manufacturers may leverage that connection to provide you with discounted product prices.
BCD is a trusted supplier of video management systems and appliances that partners with leading security integrators to provide you with the most comprehensive software and hardware solutions. Some of our valued security integrator partners include:
- Security 101: We partner with Security 101 to offer organizations first-class, custom solutions that ensure safer environments. Security 101 implements holistic video surveillance and access control systems that mitigate vulnerabilities and maximize performance efficiency.
- Convergint: We are proud to partner with one of the nation’s leading service-based systems integrators, Convergint, to provide cost-effective and scalable solutions for businesses in a wide variety of industries. Convergint solutions leverage an outcome-based approach to minimize risks and maximize budgets.
- Siemens: We work closely with Siemens to provide them with high-quality hardware products. The Siemens security integration service delivers centralized risk management by combining video surveillance, access control, intrusion detection and network video recording.
4. Invaluable Support and Service
Ultimately, the best security integrator will provide a suite of services in the security systems lifecycle. This way, you can rely on a single integrator to provide everything you need to keep your business premises secure. These services may include:
- Assessing risks
- Integrating systems
- Designing custom solutions
Beyond great service, you only want to work with a security integrator that provides reliable ongoing support and maintenance services. When part of your system goes down due to a malfunction, or you have a software issue, you should be able to quickly consult your security integrator for assistance. Any time you have a question or concern, your security integrator should be ready to help you along the way.
It’s also important to choose a security integrator that aligns with your business’s values and culture. This aspect helps to ensure cohesion in your approach to security. Ideally, the integrator should also be personable and offer knowledge transfer and training to keep your internal team informed. Choosing the right security integrator is a process that involves your employees and stakeholders, so you want to ensure a good fit.
5. Integration Stability and Scalability
Every business aims for growth. While it’s not the most predictable metric, you should still factor it in when integrating your security systems. Therefore, choosing a security integration partner that can accommodate and provide solutions that handle your business’s developing needs is important. In other words, your partner should be willing to take the time to understand your industry and your business to provide the ideal solutions for scalability.
The best security integration partner will also provide robust solutions that are stable in any business size or setting. The integrated system must be designed to handle any additional features, upgrades and enhancements you may need as your business grows. Using a modern network security architecture makes it possible to expand to more locations, add cameras or increase storage in the future.
Partner With BCD Partners for Reliable Security Integration Services
BCD is a trusted video, security and analytics appliance distributor that develops innovative and performance-built solutions. Our products are tested and validated to integrate with leading video management systems, backed and guaranteed with lifetime technical support.
We partner with leading security integrators to reduce the complexities and high costs of video service infrastructure. If you’re in need of a security integrator to help you optimize your business’s approach to security, choosing one of our partners gives you access to premier service and support, all while you benefit from an array of powerful BCD systems solutions.
Are you ready to build a more secure workplace? Contact us today to learn more about our products. You can also explore our partners to discover one that can integrate the most innovative security integration solutions for your unique needs.
