Video Monitoring | Intrusion Detection System for Warehouse

Rounak Dhillon
5 min readJan 7, 2021

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Posted On: January 7, 2021

Owners of large businesses or warehouses spread across multiple facilities and locations know the worries of unwanted intrusions firsthand. The threat of intrusions gets magnified when there are multiple access points through which miscreants can enter your premises. One solution warehouse owners have relied on is to increase the patrolling of premises with security guards. In recent years, video monitoring through CCTVs has also been utilized, to aid security personnel in discharging their responsibilities. Today, it is very rare that a business relies solely on man guarding.

Video monitoring based Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) takes CCTVs a big step further. Where CCTVs were typically analog cameras connected to a DVR or other storage device on-premises, IDS typically capture videos via IP (Internet Protocol) cameras and store the digital feeds in the cloud.

Through the use of sensors, IDS ensures that the video capture needs to be triggered only when a threatening activity is detected. IDS also combines smart analytics with artificial intelligence and real-time alerts and thus transforms video surveillance from a passive activity done by bored or distracted guards in your warehouse’s control room — to active threat detection and prevention.

7 major advantages of an intrusion detection system based on video monitoring

Continuous Monitoring & Reliability

Video-based intrusion detection systems are true workhorses. They provide 24x7x365 coverage of your warehouse premises, including during curfews, lockdowns, forced city closures (bandhs), holidays, or weekends when your regular crew may not be available. They are reliable so long as you have stable connections to the internet.

Flexibility

Businesses tend to focus on perimeters and access points, and rightfully so. You can include other areas such as alleys and corridors where there is known foot traffic. Similarly, you can decide if you want the ability to zoom in to get details about the intruder, or if it is enough to get a general image. There is tremendous flexibility in the technology, and it can be tailored to your specific needs.

Alerts & Notifications

The Intrusion Detection System (IDS) provides real-time alerts and can be set up to send escalation notifications about intrusions at any sensitive access points. By notifying multiple personnel up the chain of command of intrusions as they occur, you can empower your security team to take action in a timely manner and prevent the loss of valuable goods.

Prevention of Unauthorized Access

Even employees shouldn’t be loitering in their place of business on a holiday or after work hours without proper authorization, and only if their work demands it of them. A video monitoring-based intrusion detection system can identify if unauthorized access was attempted and if it was successful. The technology does not discriminate — whether intrusions are by outsiders or unauthorized employees, you have the evidence at hand.

IFTTT rules, Artificial intelligence (AI) & Machine Learning (ML)

Intrusion detection systems can be configured with IFTTT (IF This Then That) rules of escalation that respond to events by taking specific courses of action. These rules can be set up for security devices and systems to ensure they are aligned with your business’ standard operating procedure in the event of an intrusion.

Intrusion detection systems also have the built in intelligence to differentiate between genuine security events and known false triggers such as wind, moving trees, rain, etc.

Machine learning can help your security crew review video, then identify and log any persons, objects, or events of interest. These user-identified entities of interest can further train the video-based intrusion detection system and make it smarter as time goes on.

Two-way Communication

When an intruder is detected, two-way communication can occur from the control room to the specific area of interest, thus warning the intruder to leave before the crime is committed. Unusual patterns of activity can similarly trigger notifications to security staff or local authorities.

Tamper Detection

Cutting cables, destroying cameras, covering the view — criminals have many tricks up their sleeve to prevent detection. If a device goes unexpectedly offline or has been tampered, notifications can be sent so remedial action is taken at once.

Challenges to using a video monitoring-based intrusion detection system

Despite these major benefits, using a video monitoring-based intrusion detection system is not without its challenges. The biggest challenge is setting up the infrastructure and operationalizing it. If you plan to undertake this project, you must devote time to consider your options, and allocate time, personnel, and budget to implement it. If you decide to go the Do-It-Yourself route instead of the Done-For-You, this project can be a large CAPEX project.

Good quality video footage takes up storage and bandwidth. For everything from video transmission to alerts to reviewing video footage, the system needs a good network to avoid problems with lag and latency.

Not only do you need to think of your security needs and budget, but you also need to consider if you can implement the system in-house or partner with a vendor who can address your unique situation, and provide a customized solution.

IGZY — Delivering eSurveillance Security Solutions across India

Luckily for warehouse owners, a reliable solution partner like IGZY has video monitoring based intrusion detection systems suited to small and large warehouses. IGZY provides Video Surveillance-as-a-Service (VSaaS), which helps to bring down the costs of implementing warehouse security, by spreading it over the lifetime of the contract, versus a large upfront CAPEX investment.

IGZY has several well-known clients from the warehouse and logistics sector i.e. Myntra.com, MJ Logistics, etc., in addition to other verticals such as BFSI, Retail, QSRand so on.

Backed by well-known KocharTech group, IGZY also understands the negative optics, financial loss, and erosion of goodwill that results from major thefts or intrusion events. IGZY’s perimeter intrusion detection system has been well tested in warehouses as attested to by the case studies published on our website.

Get in touch with an IGZY representative today to see how we can help you overcome your warehouse security and safety challenges.

Originally published at https://igzy.com on January 7, 2021.

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