Security Systems in a Strata Environment – what to consider and what to look out for

An effective security system can deter people from exhibiting undesirable behaviour on your site simply by being present and visible. For example, people are less likely to behave in an unacceptable manner when they are aware of CCTV recording them. It is also well documented that people will be less likely to attempt unauthorised entry to a property when they are aware of an alarm system and/or access control system onsite. The reality is, however, often just having the system is not enough. Incidents occur on strata properties every day, and while we can do our best to minimise them, it is almost inevitable that at some point the security system will be tested as an investigative tool. It is therefore critical that Investigation and response procedures are implemented when managing security in a multi-tenant building. In the event of an incident, it is important to have a plan in place for how to deal with it, as well as the tools needed to ensure you can carry out your plan efficiently and effectively. This information should be regularly updated in consultation with your security provider and shared with anyone who needs it. Your plan may include working with the police or other emergency services such as fire, rescue or medical. Investigations can be a major challenge for owners of corporations. If there is a security incident, it is essential to conduct a thorough investigation to identify the cause and respond effectively.

Effective footage search and review are absolutely indispensable when it comes to CCTV. Valuable hours can be lost when trying to find footage of an event if your system is not set up to efficiently search and provide video. Many strata properties opt for entry-level or low-end CCTV Systems to save money initially but end up paying significantly more with large amounts in the end. This comes via hourly costs to onsite staff who need to look through sometimes days’ worth of footage to find who stole that bike, fees from security providers to find the footage of yesterday’s break-in or assault or simply higher insurance costs because it is simply too expensive to investigate. Delays in responding also provide time and opportunity for perpetrators to maximise their chances of avoiding repercussions and reduce the likelihood of recovering stolen goods and/or obtaining recourse. Ensuring that you invest in a CCTV system that is set up correctly right from the beginning will ensure that you maximise return on investment; but more importantly, it will optimise your ability to respond to an incident as quickly and efficiently as possible. For more information, see our blog on NVRs vs VMS here.

It is also important to set up your access control and alarm systems to ensure that records of all alarms and access events are recorded, stored and managed properly. For example, reading the event “door 1 accessed by user 32” does not mean much and is not particularly useful in an investigation. However careful data planning and management means that that same event is read as “Foyer Entry Door accessed by John Smith”. Adding to the complexity of this task, what happens when John moves out? This is a data change that needs to be managed effectively. This is where working with a provider that has strong knowledge of not only the systems and the data involved, but also how it is used specifically in the Strata world is absolutely indispensable.

Ensuring that you invest in a CCTV system that is set up correctly right from the beginning will ensure that you maximise return on investment; but more importantly, it will optimise your ability to respond to an incident as quickly and efficiently as possible.

So we know how to get the best out of our security system; but without the right partner, your planning won't amount to much. Jump to part 4 below for our top tips on spotting and selecting the best integration partner to ensure you get the right system from the beginning.

Brave Security
9 Hall Street, Port Melbourne VIC 3207
13.000.THEFT (1300-084-338)
www.bravesecurity.com.au