Many people invest in security systems for their homes but are let down. This is not because the system is not technologically advanced enough but because it lacks a basic feature: not being monitored. Recent studies have found out that in Europe, a very high percentage of intruder alarm systems are not even monitored.
In fact, recent figures suggest that only one in 20 households in the EU has a remotely monitored security system.
In Malta, the situation is even more drastic, with few systems being made more effective by remote monitoring.
“What’s the use of installing hi-tech alarm systems, investing in complex configurations without being able to track down what triggered the alarm and follow up with immediate action?
“The obvious conclusion is a simple one: most burglaries will be much less effective if the installed alarm system is also monitored. In other words, monitoring an intruder alarm is common, good and proper practice,” Eder Catania from G4S Malta said.
Domestic burglary has increased by 14 % within the EU
“It boils down to technology and investment in a solid infrastructure that offers the highest level of monitoring platforms for your home. This is why the effectiveness of our intruder alarm systems for the domestic market are backed by a video monitoring and operations centre that is professionally managed and operated.
“The centre has the infrastructure, equipment and personnel necessary to provide customers with first-class network connectivity 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” Mr Catanai added.
Along with its network and services management systems, G4S operates a monitoring centre designed to provide security, reliability and speed. G4S Technology monitoring services and capabilities include dynamic display walls to coordinate activities between multiple networks and systems by the centre’s technicians, round-the-clock staffing, house offices for key permanent personnel, monitoring consoles and servers and wide/local area network equipment needed to support the functions and services of the project, monitoring of network equipment alarms and remote site alarms, such as power failure, low-battery voltage, high or low temperature and high humidity.
“The monitoring centre is equipped with sufficient electrical power back-up to continue operations during a power outage and all maintenance activity is coordinated as a single point of contact for all network maintenance issues. G4S also offers monitoring, provisioning, storage and disaster recovery to government and commercial customers, as well as control and maintenance of network documentation.”
G4S also offers complete audit trails of the monitoring centre’s operator actions and provides means to allow clients and organisations to access reports and recorded video clips.