16 Dec 2008
 Carl Hayesmore, CCTV Center
 Security buyers increasingly turning to cost effective IP-surveillance solutions

A growing number of security buyers are turning to all-inclusive remote IP-surveillance solutions as a way of reducing long term security costs and improving efficiency, reports CCTV Center, the Accredited Panasonic Systems Distributor for the UK and Ireland.

In a new report focusing on the financial benefits of remote monitoring, the company says that cost of ownership can now be recouped in as little as a year, instead of the five years which was previously typical.

"In the current economic climate this is an important consideration, alongside the determination of system planners to ensure the long term viability of their investments," says Carl Hayesmore, Technical Manager of CCTV Center.

More customers are choosing this option - specifying the Panasonic iPro 24/7 solution - including council vehicle depots, car dealerships, petrol stations, schools and retailers.

The report argues that cost efficiencies are a big factor. Many ‘typical' end-user organisations can save £100,000 a year by reducing dependence on on-site guarding and making use of the latest remote CCTV systems, says the report. It also estimates that users save around 70% when they switch from dedicated ISDN lines to IP.

The take up of these systems is also growing because of their attractiveness to installers. "For installers, there is the exciting prospect of being able to offer end users an investment they can recoup in the first year - there's no need to wait until year five before clawing back the cost of ownership."

iPro 24/7 is a ‘one-box' solution that includes all of the elements required to achieve these savings - including not just the surveillance kit involved (eg cameras and digital recording), but the broadband transmission link and the third party products such as alarm sensors and interfaces, microphones, lighting, brackets and housings, cables etc. It also incorporates the alarm receiving centre (ARC) monitoring operation, provided by Panasonic's approved partner, Europe's leading monitoring centre iWatch UK.