June, 2010 WWW.SECURITYMAGAZINE.COM —
High Tech Guarding: Is Security the Steamroller or the Road?
Video plays a guarding role at isolated, remote sites where sometimes officers may conduct a visit once a week or never patrol because of the distant location.
Images now can more
easily move right into the hands of officers today. G4S’s Levine says he sees a lot of investment going toward video. Now, video analytics can move away from passive recording to actionable video.
Walter Griesseier of American Iron & Metal, one of North America’s largest scrap metal operations, constantly fights theft and vandalism at isolated, remote sites, including facilities in northern Quebec, Canada. "Beyond guards, at some sites, we have security video with remote monitoring from UCIT Online Security which acts as an officer to capture license plate information and with truckers assigned their own passwords,’ says Griesseier.
"For businesses which invest in video but do not have the critical mass to spend for their own command and control center, a remote command and control center is a smart option," he says.
June 3, 2010 PROFIT100.COM —
UCIT Online Security has made the list in the 22nd annual PROFIT 100 ranking of Canada’s Fastest-Growing Companies by PROFIT Magazine.
Ranking Canada’s Fastest-Growing Companies by five-year revenue growth, the PROFIT 100 profiles the country’s most successful growth companies. Published in the June issue of PROFIT and online at PROFIT100.com, the PROFIT 100 is Canada’s largest annual celebration of entrepreneurial achievement.
"Canada’s Fastest-Growing Companies are the poster children for entrepreneurship, innovation and pure tenacity," says Ian Portsmouth, editor of PROFIT. "They demonstrate what it takes to succeed in today’s highly competitive, technology-driven global economy."
Canada’s Fastest-Growing Companies entered the recession with two things hugely in their favour: well-differentiated products and services that customers want in good times and bad, and the ability to develop and execute effective management tactics and strategies.
UCIT Online Security, the company whose security solution has been approved by most major insurance companies as a valid replacement for a security guard has made the list in the 22nd annual PROFIT 100 ranking of Canada’s Fastest-Growing Companies by PROFIT Magazine.
Sidney Sommer, owner and managing director of the company is not worried about the deepening economic crisis because his firm — UCIT Online Security — helps companies reduce security costs. "It is a little unique," he said. "We are able to watch sites from our monitoring centre instead of putting a guard out on a construction site."
From the viewpoint of security, facility and building management, there are a variety of ways to control access of visitors and contractors.
Kindle Management’s Semlyen was looking for spit-and-polish for tenant-residents at two smaller condos in Toronto. "Each has different location challenges and we could not afford a 24-hour concierge for security and services," she comments.
With cameras in and around the condo, an off-site monitoring center can patrol the area but also offer many levels of virtual concierge services. "
The remotely monitored camera from Axis Communications sees a courier, who gets buzzed in and is instructed to place a parcel in, say, slot number one while a resident is alerted to the delivery," says Semlyen, who uses technology from UCIT Online Security. Outdoor cameras can control visitor parking spaces while also providing a strong level of security.
There is almost no end to the types of services this approach can supply, according to Semlyen. "It really boils down to a business decision as to where we go with it. A future step may be to include remote monitoring into building automation and maintenance."
"We used to have serious problems with kids partying down at the beach."
But after hearing constant concerns from residents and business owners around Millennium Square, Ward 2 Regional Councillor Bill McLean put his foot down. The City, upon his suggestion, installed surveillance cameras at the local draw in July and the vandalism has stopped for the most part.
One of UCIT Online Security latest installations —
Mario Giorgio, owner of the Waterfront Bistro at the foot of Liverpool Road, is happy with a decrease in vandalism and after hours partying and littering now that surveillance cameras have been mounted in Millenium Sqaure. "It has changed immensely," Mr. Giorgio said.
The City hired a private company for the trial project. Pickering also installed signs in the area to let people know they’re being watched, which in itself has probably cut the amount of vandalism and partying, Coun. McLean said. Word of mouth is another factor.
Some of the youths who still commit acts of vandalism have been caught in the act.
"This experiment has proven very well," he said. "It’s paid for itself."
Because not all builders can afford to hire security guards, installing surveillance cameras can be an economical and effective way to keep building project secure.
Although suspicious fires hit several GTA construction sites after dark in February, builders shouldn’t let their guard down in broad daylight either, the head of a Toronto security company says.
According to Sidney Sommer, owner of UCIT Online Security, construction sites can be "easy prey" for vandals after hours, but are equally vulnerable to theft when crews are on the job during the day.
The rise of entrepreneurs such as Sidney Sommer can spark new ideas, hiring and economic activity.
As for Mr. Sommer, he’s not worried about the deepening economic crisis because his firm — Ucit Online Security — helps companies reduce security costs. As for transition from employee to employer, "I love it. I don’t think I could ever work for someone again."
The transition from wage earner to entrepreneur wasn’t easy. In the beginning, the 33-year-old worked around the clock. It required self-motivation, business planning and the knowledge that he wouldn’t earn much money for several years.
Security guards around the GTA are making their last rounds, thanks to an innovative company that is simply doing a better job.
UCIT Online Security is the brainchild of entrepreneur Sidney Sommer, owner and managing director of the company. "It is a little unique," he said. "We are able to watch sites from our monitoring centre instead of putting a guard out on a construction site."
Everyone has seen security cameras before, however, UCIT Online Security uses top of the line Axis IP Cameras together with its DETEXI Video Management Software which allows for remote viewing and recording from anywhere in the world. What this means is from a central monitoring station,
UCIT Online Security employees are able to watch sites and catch thieves red-handed.
June 24, 2008 BUSINESS WIRE — Canadian Transportation Solutions Provider Deploys Axis Network Cameras to Keep Its Customer Goods Secure
UCIT Online Security, the Axis Canadian System Integrator of the Year (2007), was chosen by ATS, the leading single source, full-service transportation solutions firm, to design, configure and install the complete IP Video Security System at all future locations across Canada. ATS has deployed the network surveillance system at five sites, is in the process of adding three more this year and will roll out the systems to all 24 sites across Canada within the next five years.
The 175 Axis network cameras include the AXIS 216FD, AXIS 213 PTZ, AXIS 214 PTZ, AXIS 211, AXIS 223M as well as Axis 241Q video encoders.
Technological advances offer a reliable license plate capturing system that can operate effectively in nearly any condition. Sidney Sommer, managing director of UCIT Online Security in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, installs license plate capture technology for construction site security.
"We currently use this technology on every one of our sites," Sommer says. "It is a big reason why we average over one arrest a week". These tips and tricks will help you understand the opportunities your company can gain from offering this technology to new and existing customers.
Effective video security is not about a cheap camera; it is about the 24-hour monitoring of what that camera is seeing. Someone needs to be viewing those images, and you might need multiple cameras to cover a jobsite properly. Also, the cameras must provide very high-quality images if they are going to actually help the police catch a jobsite theif (most webcams don’t). And finally, the cameras must be specially designed if they are going to work in the extremes of a Canadian winter.
One company that is providing such a video surveillance service to builders in the Southern Ontario market is Mississauga, Ont.-based UCITonline.
2010
As for Mr. Sommer, he’s not worried about the deepening economic crisis because his firm — Ucit Online Security — helps companies reduce security costs. As for transition from employee to employer, "I love it. I don’t think I could ever work for someone again."
UCIT Online Security, the Axis Canadian System Integrator of the Year (2007), was chosen by ATS, the leading single source, full-service transportation solutions firm, to design, configure and install the complete IP Video Security System at all future locations across Canada. ATS has deployed the network surveillance system at five sites, is in the process of adding three more this year and will roll out the systems to all 24 sites across Canada within the next five years.
Technological advances offer a reliable license plate capturing system that can operate effectively in nearly any condition. Sidney Sommer, managing director of UCIT Online Security in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, installs license plate capture technology for construction site security.
"We currently use this technology on every one of our sites," Sommer says. "It is a big reason why we average over one arrest a week".
Effective video security is not about a cheap camera; it is about the 24-hour monitoring of what that camera is seeing. Someone needs to be viewing those images, and you might need multiple cameras to cover a jobsite properly. Also, the cameras must provide very high-quality images if they are going to actually help the police catch a jobsite theif (most webcams don’t). And finally, the cameras must be specially designed if they are going to work in the extremes of a Canadian winter.
One company that is providing such a video surveillance service to builders in the Southern Ontario market is Mississauga, Ont.-based UCITonline.