Are AI-Based Security Camera Systems More Effective Than The Traditional Systems?

As security threats evolve, so do security systems to prevent them from damaging your property, stealing your data or harming you physically. Security systems have come a long way. From simple CCTV camera setups to modern day access control systems and advanced security intelligence, security systems can now think for themselves. Moreover, with recent advancements in AI, advanced analytics and human-like intelligence has trickled into the security industry as well.

This blog explores the world of advanced AI in security systems and explores the benefits and pitfalls of AI-based security camera systems. Understanding 5 Ways Video Analytics Can Make Your Site More Secure is essential for businesses looking to enhance their security infrastructure.”

Although image and video processing has been a part of security systems for a long time, modern-day advanced analytics has taken things a step further. Recent studies show that around 73% of businesses use security systems with some form of intelligent features. This could be something as simple as motion detection, or complex such as facial recognition.

The current size of AI in the security market stands at $21.19 billion, which experts predict is set to reach a value of $60.24 billion by 2029. Involved in a number of functions such as security surveillance, access control, and alarm systems, AI features are slowly taking the center-stage in security systems.

AI features in security systems take various forms. However, most usage is confined to Video Management Software (VMS) which shows limited adaptability of AI in security despite the widespread usage. What it could be used for is viewing together all the collected data by various points in the security system.

Advanced analytics features enabled by AI use the following technologies:

AI enabled security cameras can take in information, process it and make your security system more proactive. This allows companies to move from a reactive approach, where they act after an incident has occurred, to a more proactive approach in that they allow preemptive measures to be taken to prevent the crime from taking place.
This can also enable better resource allocation based on the insights from the system such as where threats usually emerge from and where to place access control devices to monitor who comes and goes.

Modern security cameras powered by AI-enabled video analytics can do so much more than regular CCTV cameras:

These systems, however, do not stop here. They have the ability to grow more and more intelligent over time, improve on their performance and increase efficiency as they take in more data.

The biggest intervention in security made by artificial intelligence has been the decreased reliance on human attention. With the ever-decreasing attention span of humans, being proactive in security is an uphill battle. However, with the intervention of AI, threats can be detected automatically.

Here are a few ways artificial intelligence has improved security AI camera performance and made security systems more secure and efficient.

Security AI cameras enabled with advanced AI features are more efficient in terms of taking action and identifying threats. Where a physical security guard would falter, miss things, or make mistakes, AI-based security cameras would provide instant real-time alerts and keep an eye on all activity within the frame.

These cameras can be programmed however required, to identify threats as they come. In addition to monitoring regular activity, these CCTV cameras keep an eye out for suspicious activity as well. They can identify specific blacklisted personnel to prevent access, identify guns or weapons carried by people so that they can be stopped, and even use audio analytics to identify the abnormalities in sound and the shatter of glass to raise real-time alerts of suspicious activity.

Aside from the business applications, security AI cameras, with the power of AI can be programmed to tag suspicious activity such as a shady vehicle, or a person loitering which can be viewed later on. This frees you from the labor of sifting through hours of footage to look for a particular incident. It makes everything available at a glance, improving efficiency and increasing awareness.

Rather than relying on security calls or physical guards, AI enabled security cameras raise alarms on their own when they spot anything suspicious. What they spot can be programmed early on based on the specific business requirements, time of day, and object type. This allows for a proactive approach to security and helps take swift action in case of an incident to prevent wasting valuable time after the incident.

Instead of seeing data from one source in isolation, the AI based security system sees your security information as a whole. With data from access control systems on who comes and goes out the building, security camera footage to corroborate the data, and intrusion sensors to record and prevent unauthorized access, the AI based system acts as your eyes and ears around the entire site, and even across sites to prevent suspicious personnel from vandalizing or trespassing multiple sites.

Security camera systems grow more and more sophisticated everyday. Along with security solution, they also enable insights into how business processes can be improved and efficiency metrics be achieved. Moreover, they can be used as a regulatory enforcement tool to ensure protocol is being followed. What’s more, they do not have to be monitored by security people in order for the enforcement to work. They can be pre-built or taught to do so on their own without human intervention.

As things move more towards autonomous processes, businesses have to shift to AI-based interventions as well. With the already prevalent use of AI in security as well as business processes, making the leap is no longer a tough ask. Studies show that around 53% of the companies globally already use AI features in Internet Of Things (IoT) security. Translating that to more prominent usage in physical site security is only a matter of time.

As with everything under a growth and adaptation phase, Ai advancements too have limitations that need a helping hand before they can become self-sufficient.

AI-based security cameras present the following challenges that have yet to be overcome for AI to be the sole security front runner in the coming years:

The advancement in AI technology and its usage by security personnel begs the question: Can it be used without humans? The answer for anyone who has experience with AI based systems is a resounding “No”.

For reference, the Columbus Police Department in the US states that it receives about 22,000 false alarms every year and each takes about 30 minutes to address. Consider the example: It has recently rained in your area. There are puddles of water everywhere on your property, reflecting everything that goes on outside the premises of your site.

Your motion detecting, object identifying AI-based security camera would raise an alarm every time someone passes outside the property with their reflection being cast within the puddle inside the property. This leads to multiple calls to Police that have to send someone to check out if there is any activity. Such false alarms have to be verified by humans before dispatching, otherwise, it results in penalties and fines for the business.

Since everything is data-driven and on the internet, it is prone to a cyber attack. As AI patterns can be predicted, they can also be manipulated by tinkering with data or by bypassing security protocols set in place. A threat that did not exist with traditional security systems is a point of major contention now, with cyber security personnel pulling out all the stops to prevent such manipulation from happening.

Facial recognition, access control protocols and surveillance footage are all instances where personal information such as photos, whereabouts, and personal data is at risk. Strong protocols have to be installed to prevent misuse of data and its protection.

Some AI systems can build biases over time in such a way that they tend to discriminate based on features such as dark skin, or other physical attributes. This arises from a skewness in data that is used to train the AI machine learning model that programs discriminatory tendencies in the system.

Before implementing AI within your security system, consider the following factors to help you decide how to go about it:

Do a complete audit of your requirements, the features you would require and the objectives you would want to achieve from the implementation of security. What usually helps is identifying problem areas and seeing how those can be resolved. This also involves identifying risks associated with the business, both physical and financial.

Consider where the pitfalls are in your security system. See if there are any bottlenecks that may render your security system useless. Make sure that your security system is up-to-date to accommodate the high technology requirement of AI-based systems such as high resolution, faster internet and more.

Conduct training and workshops to arm your security personnel with information on how to run and use security systems with AI enabled, so that everyone knows what they are working with as well as what to watch out for in case security systems throw a fault.

Assess which information you want your security system to have. Be sure to check compliance and regulatory requirements in this case to make sure that you are not in breach of data privacy laws in your area.

In order to detect anomalies, security systems have to be monitored constantly to see if they are working properly or not. Establishing a routine of maintenance and upkeep can keep your system in top shape and help spot issues before they become a problem.

With all the factors in mind, it is best to consider AI as a force multiplier aimed at improving security efficiency and effectiveness, rather than a replacement for security personnel. As the security system evolves and learns more and more, it makes the lives of humans easier and more efficient. It has become an essential part of business operations and security and continues to make lives more secure and easier.

If you are looking to install AI security cameras for your business in Canada, look no further than Spotter Security. We have been in the security industry for over 20 years, helping businesses secure their premises with security cameras, access control systems, alarm systems, live video monitoring and security system maintenance.

Spotter Security has experience in securing businesses from various industries including construction, retail, corporate, warehousing, shipping and logistics, Spotter Security knows the ins and outs of security management for businesses. We take a problem solving approach to security and focus on reliability instead of selling you a complex and expensive system.

Artificial Intelligence is the wave of the future. If you are in the market for a new security system, or looking to upgrade your existing system, it would be best to consider AI an essential part of the system to make your site more secure, help you take action proactively and protect your assets and people more effectively.