Video surveillance is a crucial tool to ensure security in all types of industries. A wide range of tools can be found in today's market that can be effectively implemented and leveraged.
By: Álvaro León Pérez Sepúlveda
There is a broad consensus on the benefits of video surveillance systems in industrial environments, including having a deterrent to acts of vandalism and theft, having access control and being able to inspect the production line to increase productivity and guarantee quality, among others.
"The presence of cameras deters criminals and reduces theft and other crimes; This helps protect employees and customers, which in turn creates a safer environment. In addition, video surveillance makes it possible to monitor storage areas, preventing and identifying internal theft and fraudulent practices. That reduces losses and increases profitability," says José Luis Sánchez, Chief Security Officer of Meat Industry.
At the same time, this type of solution makes it possible to guarantee the safety and integrity of the production chain in sectors such as food and pharmaceuticals, where they contribute to avoiding episodes of contamination or sabotage, while helping to comply with current regulations and legal regulations.
Likewise, video surveillance is useful in mining industries, characterized by their critical needs for security, intrusion detection and productivity tracking, while the oil and gas industries require remote monitoring of their operations and guarantee the safety of their personnel, to mention just a few examples.
Manufacturing industries are no exception. Automotive, textile and technology plants also depend, to a large extent, on their ability to monitor complex processes and react quickly to human error, accidents and unforeseen circumstances.
"The cameras are used to monitor the flow of goods, identify inventory mismanagement and better plan the replenishment of products. They provide real-time insight into operations, allowing insight into staff performance, identifying bottlenecks, and making quick decisions to address issues. Video surveillance also helps to comply with security and data protection regulations, providing evidence in the event of claims and protecting the company from sanctions and litigation," adds the CSO of Meat Industry.
Technology for industrial video surveillance
Darío Mojica, Director of Engineering, Video Security and Analytics at Motorola Solutions Latin America, says that recent technological innovations include the use of analytics powered by Artificial Intelligence, Cloud management solutions for decision-making and advanced detection through connected sensors to monitor environmental conditions and detect intruders.
"It is important to emphasize that the most relevant thing is to design an ecosystem that allows the integration of various devices with data analysis, depending on the nature, location and context of each industrial facility," he says.
Asked about the technologies available to make up such an ecosystem, José Luis Sánchez points out that AI and video analysis can be used to identify suspicious behavior, such as unusual movements or anomalous activity patterns; which reduces the workload of industrial security personnel and improves the ability to detect real threats in factories and plants.
"High-resolution cameras and 360-degree cameras (PTZ) provide greater clarity and surveillance coverage, allowing sharper details to be captured, large areas to be monitored with less equipment, and easier to identify intruders and collect evidence in case of detected incidents."
He then argues that facial recognition technology is used to identify and track persons of interest in real time; which is useful for controlling access to restricted areas, detecting unauthorized people and improving security in general for employees, suppliers, customers and third parties. Currently there are cameras that recognize even weapons and different types and sizes of animals.
Another valuable resource is the integration of video surveillance systems with physical security management platforms (PSIM and VMS), as it allows centralizing the monitoring and management of multiple security systems, such as intrusion alarms, access control, and video surveillance; providing a complete view of security and facilitating the coordination of responses to all types of incidents.
Cloud video surveillance technology allows surveillance video to be stored and accessed remotely over the internet and offers greater flexibility and scalability, as companies can store large amounts of video data without the need to invest in expensive infrastructure.
Similarly, there are already advanced video analytics solutions that use intelligent algorithms to analyze the behavior of people and objects in video in real time, which can include intrusion detection, people counting, vehicle recognition, and abandoned object detection, among other functionalities.
Finally, thermal and infrared cameras can detect heat emitted by people, animals, and objects, allowing for surveillance in low-light or complete darkness. It is especially useful for nighttime security and intrusion detection in poorly lit industrial areas.
The Scati company has been developing a complete range of products aimed at the effective protection of perimeters, accesses, production lines and supply chains for industries. This is how Maria Eugenia Sánchez Luz, who works as KAM & Business Development of the company for Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean, describes it.
"We have developed video solutions with AI that are integrated with industrial operations and that allow us to know the traceability of the goods through the reading of codes (bars, QR, etc.), asset tracking and control of mobile assets; or recognize faces and license plates to allow access only to authorized people and vehicles. In this way, we offer comprehensive solutions to our customers," explains the executive.
Meanwhile, Motorola Solutions offers industrial and enterprise security solutions that combine live video, radio communications, analytics and AI, contactless access, identity management, and advanced alarms to alert personnel to potential threats, as well as automate workflows and accelerate responsiveness.
"With a solution like Avigilon DMS, alerts from cloud-based solutions, such as Avigilon Alta, or site-based, such as Avigilon Unity, are managed at the level of video security and access control, in order to attend to them according to Standard Operating Procedures. These solutions are complemented by sensors such as HALO Amplify to have panic buttons, occupancy counting and water leak detection. We also have Pelco Elevate and Calipsa analysis platforms to update existing cameras with AI and learning capacity," says Darío Mojica.
What is incumbent on industries
Industries and factories that implement video surveillance systems must carry out planning and training actions in order to obtain maximum benefits. First of all, critical areas that require surveillance must be identified and the strategic location of cameras must be determined, considering lighting and environmental conditions, as well as the correct assessment of video storage requirements.
Iván Gustavo Islas Castillo, director of Loss Prevention at El Palacio de Hierro, is clear: "Video surveillance has a strategic and important impact when it is built through an efficient model that is supported by a mapping of capabilities required by the business for the security model, aligned with a financial projection of utility and expense," Says.
For his part, José Luis Sánchez mentions that it is important to select the right video surveillance technology for the specific security needs of the organization and the industrial environment, which can include high-resolution cameras, thermal cameras, facial recognition systems, among others.
"All employees involved in the operation and monitoring of video surveillance systems must receive appropriate training, including camera operators, security personnel, and other relevant employees. The training should cover aspects such as equipment management, monitoring procedures, incident management, and data privacy," adds the CSO.
Darío Mojica agrees that training is essential for customers to benefit from the technologies acquired: "That implies training them to configure alarms, interpret alerts and use security management interfaces. In addition, it is essential to establish emergency response procedures and maintain regular communication with us to receive updates and technical support," he says.
Maria Eugenia Sánchez Luz also speaks on the subject: "Aware of the multitude of systems that an operator has to control on a daily basis: video surveillance, access control, fire, intrusion systems and those of the operation itself, we have developed the Scati Sentry platform that integrates these systems under a single interface and simplifies the daily operations of the operators".
The experts then highlight the need to establish clear procedures and policies for the operation and management of video surveillance systems. This includes protocols for video monitoring, incident response, data storage and retention, access to recorded footage, and compliance with privacy and data protection regulations.
What about cybersecurity?
As expected, industries that use video surveillance systems face cybersecurity risks, such as attacks aimed at accessing cameras or management systems to obtain confidential information or disrupt operations.
As a result, systems must undergo regular maintenance to ensure optimal operation through functional testing, equipment inspection, firmware and software updates, and fault repair. It's also important to stay on top of the latest technological innovations and upgrade systems as needed.
"Any system that has a network link is vulnerable, an ethical hacker is the best exercise to determine the vulnerabilities of the system; firewalls and PCI certifications are very important. Protocol and physical security flows for access to sensitive facilities is essential," says Ivan Gustavo Islas Castillo.
Precisely, manufacturers are developing solutions with security protocols, regular software updates to correct vulnerabilities and monitoring and response services for cyber incidents.
"In our case, we offer cybersecurity services designed to detect and respond to threats that affect critical systems, applications and infrastructure in the cloud, networks and devices. Our Security Operations Centers provide 24/7 coverage and have experts specialized in identifying and responding to cyberattacks," explains Darío Mojica.
In turn, the Scati executive says that the company "strives to apply cybersecurity best practices in the design, development and testing of devices to minimize the risk of flaws that could be exploited in an attack. However, securing the network, as well as the devices and services that support them, requires the active participation of all those involved: manufacturers, installers and end customers, because a secure environment depends on its users, its processes and its technology."
