THE CHeKT DIFFERENCE

How is CHeKT Different from other Video Solutions?

CHeKT’s ability to scale into existing security systems or be installed as a component of a new security installation allows security professionals the flexibility of adding Video Monitoring on any site. The compatibility with on-site alarm systems or to work without an alarm system and broad compliance with most video systems allow security companies to deploy the CHeKT system for any customer with confidence.

The feature-rich Visual Alarm Monitoring interface for monitoring center agents, ensures that all video systems and brands are presented to agents in a uniform and consistent fashion on every alarm activation. The Visual Alarm Monitoring platform from CHeKT also gives agents functions to share the video alarm information directly with the customer to aid in the decision-making process and share this video evidence with law enforcement when there is a crime in progress. Additionally, agents have features for on-site audio broadcast messages, access to controlling lights, and sirens; all designed to assist agents with the best methods of deterring crime and avoiding damage to a customer’s property. A monitoring center agent empowered by the CHeKT platform has full access and interactive control of a site from the moment an intruder is detected.

The improved level of security services enabled by CHeKT gives the alarm responding agents and the customer the best possible method of providing remote monitoring services for security property and the best experience available from any video monitoring solution.

ABOUT

What is CHeKT Video Alarm Monitoring?

Video Alarm Monitoring provides alarm monitoring centers with proactive visual awareness of critical incidents with the on-site video system and detection devices, giving agents access to the event video of a triggered security zone and live video access to cameras on the site. Video Alarm Monitoring combines the speed and dependability of the OPTEX Bridge and detection devices with the visual information available from a video system. In real-time, a responding agent is virtually driven to the scene of the crime in the CHeKT Monitoring portal. From there, they gain a visual understanding of what activated the security system and have situational awareness by watching live video on cameras. This accurate understanding allows the agent to understand the differences between a high threat alarm, “a crime in progress,” and a low threat alarm, “caused by animals, employees or other conditions.” CHeKT provides customers with a smarter security system by leveraging on-site video systems and the accuracy of security zones, resulting in higher level of service then traditional alarm monitoring or video surveillance systems.

ENHANCED ALARM MONITORING

How does Visual Alarm Monitoring differ from traditional alarm monitoring?

Traditional alarm monitoring uses detection devices from a property to create on-site security zones. When a zones sense movement, or a change, it transmits an alarm to the monitoring center. Because these zones do not provide the monitoring center agent with any visual information about the cause of the alarm, over 95% of alarms are false alarms and don’t lead to the apprehension of criminals.

CHeKT’s Video Alarm Monitoring combines the principles of alarm system monitoring with on-site cameras, giving the alarm monitoring agent instant access to see exactly what caused an alarm to occur and providing the client the immediate and accurate response they desire. With Visual Alarm Monitoring, customers experience an improved level of service and the confidence of know their monitoring center can see.

CHeKT Proactive Security
VIDEO VERIFICATION

How does Visual Alarm Monitoring differ from Video Verification Services?

Video verification provides monitoring center agents access to a single video clip of an alarm incident; however, most solutions don’t provide access to potentially critical information from other live cameras. The clips in a video verification platform are brief and do not provide an agent with the enhanced level of situational awareness needed to make an informed decision.
Using CHeKT, agents are provided with a pre and post-alarm video of the alarm event, allowing them to quickly identify the cause of the alarm incident. However, agents also access the associated camera’s live video and live video from other cameras around the property. Understanding what other activity is occurring on the property in real-time is essential information in guiding their response. This enhanced situational awareness ensures that agents can make the most informed decisions and provide critical details during an emergency.

UNMATCHED SERVICE

How does Visual Alarm Monitoring differ from Live Remote Video Monitoring?

Live Remote Video Monitoring is resource intensive in manpower, and it’s difficult to maintain a high level of accuracy over long periods. Remote Video Monitoring and Live Video Monitoring services depend on agents to watch hours of real-time video, looking for an incident or activity that may be considered a threat. This process is expensive, and over long periods, agents become numb to the environmental conditions and have difficulty accurately identifying a critical incident.

The CHeKT Visual Alarm Monitoring platform is event and triggered-based visual alarm monitoring. Using highly accurate detection, a CHeKT monitoring center agent is engaged with a site only when triggered by an event or critical condition. CHeKT will leverage the accuracy of the on-site detection zones, the on-site alarm system and video analytics. Clients determine when remote visual alarm monitoring is needed, by disarming and arming the system, controlling when the agents should be alerted to a detected incident. CHeKT reduces the high cost associated with 24/7 video monitoring and improves the accuracy of the response. Agents are only engaged with a property’s video when the site is armed and an event trigger occurs, notifying them of an incident, ensuring they are alert and ready to respond.

PRIMARY BENEFITS

So why is CHeKT Visual Alarm Monitoring Essential?

The effectiveness of a traditional alarm system and alarm response has degraded over the last several years, and simply recording a crime with an on-site video surveillance system does not prevent a crime and rarely leads to the apprehension of the criminal. However, the customers’ need for effective security hasn’t changed; in fact, it is more important today than ever, and customers realize this.

Making CHeKT’s Visual Alarm Monitoring the standard solution for a customer’s security gives them the comprehensive and proactive monitored security they desire. When someone hears that their alarm monitoring center will see what caused an alarm to occur, they immediately recognize this as the service they want. The instant access to video evidence gives agents the situational awareness needed to make informed decisions and communicate confidently with customers about the alarm situation. This also means that while a crime is in progress, the agent can clearly see and communicate to law enforcement what is happening on the site in real-time, improving the police response time and force required. CHeKT’s Visual Alarm Monitoring platform gives customers the real-time visual alarm monitoring response they desire and the service expected from their security solution.

Here are a few critical areas of the improved level of service provided by CHeKT’s platform.

Locations with visual alarm monitoring services receive an expedited police response leading to high apprehension rates and limited property damage. When monitoring center agents communicate details of a crime in progress, law enforcement is actively engaged in the response. In many cases, law enforcement will request additional details to gain the situational awareness they need to apprehend criminals and ensure officer safety as they proceed to the crime scene.

CHeKT’s proactive visual alarm monitoring platform provides agents with controllable relays to control lighting, sirens, doors, gates, etc. Additionally, agents can issue predetermined and live audio commands to a site. With access to live video feeds and these controls, agents can significantly deter criminal activity on site. Combined with an expedited police response, criminal activity is significantly reduced by providing visual alarm monitoring services.

Visual Alarm Monitoring also helps monitoring center operators see events caused by employees or other circumstances unrelated to a crime. Giving agents access to the site’s live video ensures that the police are not unnecessarily dispatched, flipping the industry’s 95% false alarm dispatch rate to a 95% confirmed valid dispatch rate. In cases where operators can’t identify the intent or nature of a person’s presence on a site, they can quickly share the video evidence with the customer using CHeKT’s Verify SMS Video feature to engage the customer in the decision-making process.
While this shared decision-making reduces the false alarm dispatch rate, it also enhances the security and rapid response for confirmed crimes. Both the customer and monitoring agent have access to the video for a confirmed dispatch.
The CHeKT Visual Monitoring solution provides both the monitoring center agents and the customer with the information needed to make informed decisions during critical events. Leading to reduced false alarm dispatches and a faster response by law enforcement and increases the overall satisfaction of the customer experience.

RENEWED VALUE

Where does Visual Alarm Monitoring Make Sense?

The value of visually reviewing an alarm is noticed in any location where the security of property and or people is critical, from rural areas where the response is often delayed or inaccurate, to locations where employee safety is a high concern. Giving the monitoring center agent, who is responsible to dispatch first responders, information from live video on the scene ensures an accurate and timely response. In locations like jewelry stores, banks, and small convenience stores, Visual Alarm Monitoring is effective in securing property, but more importantly, it’s critical as it enhances employee safety by pairing security zones, like panic buttons, with live video access to the monitoring station. On accounts where the business equipment is stored outside, Visual Alarm Monitoring is used to prevent theft and vandalism, saving a business owner countless expenses in lost productivity and replacement costs.
Visual Alarm Monitoring improves detection, deterrence, and apprehensions on any location where a real-time informed response serves a customer’s need by creating a comprehensive security solution with video and alarm monitoring.

TRADITIONAL SENSORS & VIDEO ANALYTICS

How do traditional alarm security zones or video analytics work to provide an operator with Visual Alarm Monitoring?

With traditional alarm monitoring, security zones are designed to detect an intruder as they move in or around a secured property. Traditional zones like door contacts, motion detectors, infrared beams, panic buttons, and other circuit sensors have a long history of providing stable and proven event detection. With CHeKT, creating Visual Alarm Monitoring of these traditional detection zones is cost-effective and simple.  By pairing an associated camera to see the entire zone’s detection area,  video is instantly generated when the zone is triggered.

Video analytics have become more accurate, and with the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to accurately classify an object, using analytics as detection devices is becoming more common. The CHeKT platform can use these camera analytics to generate an alarm when a defined area and classification rule is violated. When this analytic trigger occurs, video is instantly available to the monitoring center agent.

As with all of the CHeKT Visual Alarm Monitoring event-based triggers, a monitoring center also has access to pre-alarm video, live video from the triggered camera, and other live cameras on the site.

By leveraging detection from traditional security sensors and analytics, CHeKT allows security companies to design detection that meets the needs of their customers. By utilizing an alarm system to initiate interaction with the site, monitoring centers can efficiently provide locations with remote video monitoring, knowing that video alerts will only occur when the location is armed.

Traditional sensors and video analytics each have their strengths and weaknesses. Below are some things to consider as you decide on the best method of detection for a location:

  • Extremely Stable
  • Inexpensive
  • Immune to inclement weather conditions
  • Long-Lasting Accuracy
  • Reliable
  • Works in harsh conditions
  • Extremely Low False Alarm Rates
  • Provides Excellent Spot Detection
  • Works during Power Failure and Internet Outages
  • Low Total Cost of Ownership

  • Longer Install time for exterior zones
  • Lacks Object Classification
  • Lacks Defined Area Detection
  • Difficult to Mask Areas

  • Installation of one device, “Camera & Sensor.”
  • Simple Installations
  • Object Classification
  • Area Detection Zones\
  • Provides Broad Coverage Area Detection

  • Unpredictable False Alarm Rates
  • Expensive
  • Negatively affected by weather conditions.
  • Negatively affected by dirt and dust.
  • Negatively affected lighting conditions.
  • May not work during Power Failure and Internet Outages
  • Higher Total Cost of Ownership
  • Short life cycle

Whether you use traditional sensors or cameras with analytics is important to understand proper site design and the detection areas needed by a customer. Both technologies have their strengths and can be the right detection method based on the site and security application.

Where and how can CHeKT Visual Alarm Monitoring be deployed?

Applications

Understanding where and how to deploy Visual Alarm Monitoring is more about understanding a customer’s needs and the concerns they need to solve. With CHeKT, security providers can create a comprehensive Visual Alarm Monitored security system for just about any opportunity. Below are some categories and examples of how CHeKT’s Visual Alarm Monitoring service would enhance the security provided to customers.

  • Residential
  • Commercial
  • Industrial
  • Environmental
  • Educational
  • Medical

Providing security services for a home is one of our industry’s most important services. Visual Alarm Monitoring provides families with the best way to monitor a home from an unexpected threat. Visually viewing and understanding when a burglary or break-in occurs on a home ensures the proper life safety and law enforcement services are dispatched. In addition, with Visual Alarm Monitoring, security can be designed with proactive detection. Alarm detection zones can be moved into the yard, and various entry points away from the house. With these proactive detection zones, alarm triggers can alert the homeowner and monitoring center of someone’s presence before a break-in occurs. Seeing what caused an alarm trigger means knowing the difference between an alarm caused by a pet, child, or family member and a break-in requiring an immediate police response.

Application Ideas:

  • Perimeter Zone Verification: By pairing external cameras to perimeter doors and windows, the alarm monitoring center has access to cameras when an alarm occurs. This method of visual alarm monitoring protects a family’s privacy while ensuring a monitoring center agent has visual confir-mation of the break-in.
  • Glass Break Verification: Binding exterior cameras to internal glass-break sensors protects a customer’s privacy and allows a monitoring center agent access to the video trigger information of a glass-break alarm. When agents can see a false alarm trigger caused by a lightning storm or other shock-induced event vs. an actual glass-break caused by an intruder, this is the difference between avoiding a customer service concern and an accurate dispatch on a crime in progress.
  • Proactive Detection: Using cameras with video analytics or connecting them with external sensors creates trigger points on gates, porches, or other critical areas of the yard. When a trigger occurs, the event and location is immediately visible by the monitoring center and homeowner to determine if a police response is needed.
  • External Building Security: External garages, tool shops, barns, and pool areas are all common spots for theft. Adding Visual Alarm monitoring service to these locations, with lighting and audio messaging controls for the homeowner and monitoring center agent deters crime and increases the apprehension rate.

Markets:

  • Residential
  • Home Businesses
  • Farms

Benefits:

  • Combined decision-making of homeowner and monitoring center.
  • Improved Police Response Time
  • Proactive/Preventative Security Services.
  • Reduction in false dispatches and false alarm fines from law enforcement

The safety of employees and the protection of inventory are concerns for all business owners. Visual Alarm Monitoring gives emergency monitoring center agents the ability to see during an alarm. When a cashier presses an emergency/panic button or a door alarm occurs at 2 am, visual alarm monitoring improves the response time from first responders. Whether it is a theft or a medical emergency, the situational awareness provided by the camera system increases the operator’s ability to relay accurate and beneficial information to first responders. As a business owner, the peace of mind a visual alarm verification system provides for you is immediately noticeable.

Application Ideas:

  • Visual Monitoring of Alarm Zones: The Visual Alarm Monitoring service pairs cameras that overlook alarm zones, giving a central station operator immediate information when an alarm occurs.
  • Panic/Incident Buttons: Using a camera with an emergency response button and an LED light gives the central station operator immediate visibility of emergency situations. The LED light gives employees assurance that a dispatching agent is viewing and responding.
  • Stock-Room Monitoring: Assigning cameras and detection to rooms or areas that require higher security and a video response allows an alarm monitoring agent access to see who enters a room. This information is instantly shared with managers or business owners.
  • Emergency Exits: Using cameras to supervise emergency doors gives central station video information that is quickly communicated to store owners.
  • Supervision Freezer/Coolers (Environmental Conditions): Video cameras are used to supervise environmental sensor zones, like water flow detection or temperature-controlled areas. Central alarm monitoring agents see and provide store managers with information on what is causing the environmental sensor alarm. This level of instant visual awareness saves time and money by protecting goods/equipment from damage.
  • Supervision: Site Arming & Disarming: Small business owners often manage multiple properties. With visual monitoring, central station operators can review the opening and closing of a business to ensure locations are running on schedule.

Markets:

  • Retail
  • Jewelry
  • Convenience Stores/Liquor Stores
  • Educational

Benefits:

  • Improved Police Response Time
  • Peace of Mind for Employees & Owners
  • Overseeing Emergency Situations Off-Site
  • Real-time Proactive Security Services.
  • Reduction in false dispatches and false alarm fines from law enforcement

Displaying products outside of a business is a great way to drive traffic through the front doors. Unfortunately, no matter how well staffed, this leaves inventory susceptible to theft after-hours. Visual Alarm Monitoring utilizes sensors and on-site cameras for remote visual monitoring and detection when someone is on-site. Central station operators have instant access to the video when someone is detected. This video information can be shared with an owner to provide guidance to the dispatching agent and also to be shared with law enforcement, all leading to a priority response and a greater apprehension rate. Dispatching agents can also deter crime with audio announcements and turning on lights to expose the criminal. A solution that deters crime and apprehends criminals gives you peace of mind.

Application Ideas:

  • Visual Monitoring of Alarm Zones: Pairing cameras that overlook alarm detection areas directs the responding and dispatching agent to the precise location of the alarm trigger.
  • A/C Units – Copper Protection: Copper is often stolen from A/C units and other external machinery. Visual alarm monitoring ensures that when a tamper/theft sensor is triggered, an alarm monitoring agent immediately dispatches authorities to prevent the crime.
  • Contractor Equipment Yards: Plumbing and Electrical Contractors often have equipment and tools outside. Securing this equipment is not only about protecting contractors from theft, but more importantly, that their service crews can still perform services when they arrive at work. By pairing exterior detection zones with cameras, when an intruder is detected on the site, central station operators have access to live video from the site, leading to a priority police response and increased apprehension rate.
  • Equipment Rental Locations: Often, equipment rental locations, Lawn & Garden repair shops, and lumbar yards store equipment outside. Securing this equipment from theft and vandalism is critical to these business owners. Exterior detection zones provide the alarm monitoring agents with instant access to a violated area. Agents can deter crime and the loss of productivity by using audio broadcast messages and lighting controls to warn trespassers. When a crime is in progress, video information is shared with law enforcement, leading to a priority response and increased apprehension rate.
  • Agricultural: Equipment yards, pump equipment, and service yards are often located in remote areas, making them easy targets for thieves. Visual alarm monitoring allows for quick alerts to the monitoring center, local law enforcement, and representatives for the protected site.

Markets:

  • Lawn & Garden
  • Equipment Rental Locations
  • Plumbing/Electrical Contractors
  • Motorcycle Dealerships
  • New/Used Car Lots
  • Repair Facilities
  • Tow Yards
  • Substations

Benefits:

  • Improved Police Response Time
  • Peace of Mind for Employees & Owners
  • Real-time Proactive Security Services.
  • Asset Protection
  • Audio Broadcasts: Customer Safety & Criminal Deterrence
  • Reduction of Lost Productivity
  • Prevent Inventory Shrinkage

On-site Guards are costly and can often be unreliable as they can only be in one place at a time. Remote Visual Monitoring with outdoor trigger points and video analytics can alleviate the need for physical on-site security. Central station operators are notified if someone is on-site and will supervise their activity. Agents can provide friendly audio messages to announce business hours and inform customers that they are under live remote video surveillance. They can also simultaneously watch and monitor additional cameras from the site and have a full situational awareness of everything happening on the property. This high level of remote video guard service prevents vandalism and theft.

Application Ideas:

  • Scrap Yard/Parts/Junk Yards: With triggers from reliable video analytics, thermal imaging sensors, Infrared beams, and exterior motion detectors, a remote video monitoring center agent will instantly observe people on the property. Remote visual monitoring center agents stand ready to respond to alarm conditions 24/7/365
  • Construction Lots: Job sites and construction areas are often susceptible to theft and crime due to the tools and equipment left on the job combined with an unfinished location that typically lacks power and a security system. By utilizing a mobile video surveillance trailer and solar power if needed, these job sites can be easily monitored with Visual Alarm Monitoring. Mobile surveillance trailers using the CHeKT Visual Alarm Monitoring solution become a rapid deployment system that can secure any construction lot.
  • Sales Lots: Car, ATV, Motorcycle dealers, and tractor dealers all have equipment stored outside. Ensuring this equipment is protected from vandalism and theft is not only about the cost of repairs but also lost sales opportunities. Locations with outdoor sales lots cannot afford to lose a day of sales opportunities, so protecting these assets with exterior detections and audible warnings is essential to their operation.
  • Video Guard Tours: Remote visual monitoring center agents can perform a tour of the equipment and large properties on a regularly scheduled basis.
  • Lone Worker Escorts: In locations where employee security is essential, a remote escort service can be initiated by phone call or a call switch, and a remote visual monitoring center agents can provide video escorted services through a public parking lot.

Markets:

  • Construction
  • Metal Scrap Yards
  • Landfills
  • Used Auto Part/Junk Yard Lots
  • Parking Lots
  • Auto Dealerships

Benefits:

  • Improved Police Response Time
  • Peace of Mind for Employees & Owners
  • Real-time Proactive Security Services.
  • Asset Protection
  • Audio Broadcasts: Customer Safety & Criminal Deterrence
  • Reduction of Lost Productivity
  • Prevent Inventory Shrinkage

A proactive, real-time video and audio response to an incident ensures that customers, business owners, and law enforcement are notified and can respond to an event as it is happening. Whether this is a service of convenience or an emergency that saves an organization time and money, a critical response center operator stands ready to serve the needs of you and your business.

Application Ideas:

  • Environmental Sensors: When a visual response to a temperature alarm sensor, water sensor, or other environment detection is needed, agents have immediate access to the alarm and video information about what may have caused the alarm. This visually confirmed critical information saves an organization significant money from machinery repair to lost productivity revenue.
  • Equipment Malfunctions: Supervising machinery is essential to employee safety and a company’s productivity. When machinery has a fault condition, a relay can be triggered to initiate a remote response by agents. The agents can provide you with video evidence of what may have caused the fault and can remotely disable the machinery to prevent further damage.
  • Elevator Monitoring: When an emergency call button is pressed in an elevator, allowing monitoring center agents access to an elevator camera and audio means the difference in knowing a prank vs. a critical health emergency. Ensuring the fastest and most accurate emergency response team is dispatched.
  • Access Control Rules: When an unauthorized entry is attempted on an access door location, the business owner and the alarm monitoring center agents have instant access to live video and audio of the door.
  • Dump/Waste Yard Supervision: If a client is concerned about unauthorized dumping, exterior sensors and visual alarm monitoring provides them with an automatic push notification of the unauthorized activity. Clients can control the activity time of the notification and ask the central station to monitor the location on their behalf.
  • Gas Station Pump/ATM Security: Gas stations have become a new target for thieves to steal credit card information. Pairing cameras with a tamper trigger or a door switch secures gas pumps and ATM systems from credit card skimmer installation and ATM vandalization.
  • Gate and Entry Control: Remote video monitoring center agents can respond to the gate, or access control triggered call stations and remotely open gates or doors for staff.
  • Security Fog Deployment: Deploying security fog to deter a crime in a jewelry store, gun shop, or pawn shop significantly impacts a crime in progress. When monitoring center agents are directed and see a crime in progress that cannot be stopped, they can deploy security fog that will rapidly fill a room and visually impair the criminal’s ability to see.

Benefits:

  • Improved Police Response Time
  • Peace of Mind for Employees & Owners
  • Real-time Proactive Security Services.
  • Asset Protection
  • Audio Broadcasts: Customer Safety & Criminal Deterrence
  • Remote Relay Control functions can be controlled by the end-user and/or monitoring center
CASE STUDIES

Visual Alarm Monitoring

Visit our case study library to see how security dealers used CHeKT to solve real-world problems for their customers.

Case Studies
CHeKT Proactive Security
LET’S TALK

Proactive Security Measures

An effective visual security solution that deters crime, enhances employee safety, and leads to the apprehension of criminals, is what a modern security system should provide for everyone.

CHeKT’s Visual Security System is the perfect fit for your home or business. Contact one of our professional security partners today.

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