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BEST PRACTICES IN PREVENTING DATA LOSS & ENSURING DATA SECURITY IN AN IP NETWORK SURVEILLANCE SECURITY SYSTEM.

The current day IP surveillance cameras common in CCTV surveillance installations are the replacement to the analog that was coaxial cable based. The IP-based surveillance system involves plugging the cameras into an Ethernet Local Area Network (LAN). The benefits are definitely outstanding, ranging from simplified cabling to greater camera control. To enjoy the digital system and its numerous benefits in a  surveillance security system, you must make the right choices as far as its configuration is concerned. Otherwise, it may present its own challenges that may be detrimental to your own security system. Here are some of the best practices and the  main goals they should achieve.

Minimising data loss in an IP surveillance security system

Traditionally, the loss of data packets in an IP Network caused by a brief outage are recoverable events and although may be associated with a small loss in e-commerce websites, it is just but a small blip. The case is not the same with video a security surveillance system. Just a brief interruption at the wrong moment can result in failure to record the vital evidence that catches a criminal or failing to alert the security personnel to avert a crime. The core goal of CCTV surveillance installations is to provide 24/7 vigilance and therefore failure that leads to data loss must be avoided. To avoid this;

1. Protect the switches from environmental or human harm by building a secure room for switching equipment. This can be up to 90m away from cameras
2. Double up on data paths to avoid cabling failures. You can further reduce the risk in your surveillance security system by using resilient ring network design or aggregated links that follow separate paths from other systems like water, electricity or telephone lines.

• Double up on the power supply by using switching equipment that supports dual power supply units (PSUs). Power reticulation can be guarded against by connecting a switch’s two PSUs to independent power sources if available.

What can you do?

1. Guard your surveillance security system against network storms. Note that packets endlessly storming around in circles can grind normal network operation to a halt. It is therefore essential to correctly configure the network using a robust ring resiliency protocol between the switches and spanning tree or loop at the edge.
2. Treat the cameras in your surveillance security system with care. While CCTV surveillance installations call for a lot of physical care, the cameras call for more than that. The care here is taken not to overload the camera’s processors. If the cameras have the additional load of examining and processing unnecessary IP data coming into the network, it can lead to overload of the CPU, causing deterioration of the video quality. This can best be achieved by configuring the switches in your surveillance security system so they can only send the bare minimum packets to the cameras.

Maintaining security of the data

Video surveillance cameras are by necessity installed in publically accessible locations and are therefore exposed to vandalisation by motivated criminals. For instance, unplugging a camera and replacing it with a Wi-Fi access point, provides a criminal with the opportunity to steal data or launch DoS (Denial of Service). They can also create diversion or otherwise disrupt the surveillance network while a crime is being carried out. To save your surveillance security system from this, the switch ports that cameras are attached to should be accorded the highest level of protection through the following ways:

1. Configure high-security authentication on all camera-connected ports. Switch ports should be set to never allow data exchange with connected a device unless it is provided with authentication credentials.
2. Configure switches to send alarm messages if cameras are ever unplugged.

• Ensure that during CCTV surveillance installations, the ports which cameras have not been attached are shut down.

Data security and loss are key factors in a surveillance security system and care should be taken to avoid data loss and to protect the data from being tampered with. These steps will guarantee the integrity of the surveillance system in its design.

FLEXIBILITY OF A SECURITY SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM AND ITS FUTURE

Any IP video surveillance security system should be flexible and be able to integrate successfully with future developments. CCTV Surveillance installations become expensive and utterly ineffective if they cannot be adjusted to fit new developments like powerful cameras. The future of your surveillance security system therefore depends on two major factors; its flexibility and being future proof. To ensure that your system has the above, the following practices are vital.

Maximising flexibility of the IP surveillance security system

Networks need change over time. This change results from expansion, merging of organisations, evolving of services and many more. To ensure adaptability and easy rearrangement, the following tips are necessary.

1. Use multicast instead of unicast to enjoy the flexibility on where to direct the data. Unicast, despite being simpler in set up, only allows data to be sent to one destination while multicast data is inherently capable of being delivered to multiple destinations
2. Employ an intelligent network management framework. A flexible network must be able to roll out new features and new configurations across the network with minimum disruption. Performing network-wide tasks like upgrading software, improving security configuration or turning on new features can be problematic. Use of intelligent network management framework enables automation of network-wide tasks.

• Using a backbone design that supports multiple head-ends to enable easy disaster recovery that may call for 2 or more sites. Basing the network design on a resilient core ring, or a long distance clustered-switch backbone like VCStack-LD, facilitates a smooth integration of mirrored head-end locations.

Future proofing the network of your surveillance security system

It is better to have a network that is well positioned to take advantage of new technical advances. Even after CCTV surveillance installation, it is highly desirable to be able to take advantage of new camera capabilities as they arrive without needing to replace the data network ethernet infrastructure. This can be achieved by:

1. Deploying PoE+ capability which has greatly simplified the process of installing video cameras. Once the data cable is in place, the camera can be installed and begin operation immediately without running a separate power feed to the camera. Original PoE standard provides up to 15 watts of power over an Ethernet cable.
2. Don’t skimp on bandwidth- The resolution of the video images increases exponentially, the higher the resolution the more information human and electronic analysers have to work with. This implies high data rate and therefore it means that a future network needs plenty of bandwidth. It should therefore be provisioned to allow for up to 5-fold increase in bandwidth.

• Be ready for IPv6- most of the surveillance security system equipments are currently using IPv4 which is an old version of IP. However, as more of the applications related to IP video surveillance such as sending feeds to mobile devices are increasing, IPv6 will obviously be key. Most governments are already allowing the use of IPv6 in the public sector networking systems.

To summarise, some or all of these methods may be necessary to allow flexibility and adaptability within your IP surveillance network. This greatly depends on the scale, complexity and requirements of the assets being protected by the IP network surveillance system.

Follow our blog or check our social media pages to learn more on this subject in future posts!

For a free site risk audit please get in contact with Voltec Services on 0438214425.

Just wanted to show you a great result we have achieved for one of our clients. The Southern Cross Catholic College who we have done some audio visual works for previously had a problem recently where the Biamp Tesira headend had a meltdown. This was caused by a significant power surge. We were investigating the best approach to the replacement of the Biamp Tesira DSP – Digital Signal Processor. We found that the best option to avoid a significant programming and upfront equipment cost would be to install a Soundcraft Ui24R mixing console. The beauty of these consoles is their simplicity. They have plenty of functionality straight out of the box to run a significant production as a portable arrangement or in this case a control for the school hall.

The Soundcraft Ui24R can output its own wifi signal so tablet control is easy to set up and operate. No actual internet signal is needed to make it work. The user interface for the tablet has loads of presets in there for various sound installations and productions. For this situation all we have needed to set up some user access levels so that students and novices alike can control the system without having access to change tuning settings of the hall sound system and microphones. Quote a good result and a great example of the right product for the right application.

Simplicity works beautifully. Sometimes the outcome is simple on the surface but not so simple to deliver. Contact Voltec Services for great results in audio visual.

More information on the We are Hiring page or Contact us.

So here is the situation.

You have an existing analog CCTV system that has been working OK and you have had it since the Burdekin Dam was built. You have had some sort of incident that requires you to provide descent footage to identify a person or vehicle to police. The footage just doesn’t cut it because the old analog CCTV resolution comes out blurry once again. We won’t talk about the fact that most CCTV systems around are not maintained properly to ensure the best possible images for that camera are captured on an ongoing basis. Assuming the camera is in focus, we are talking resolution issues that just do not cut it when it comes to identifying persons.

This is all too common.

So you have considered and upgrade based on necessity because those existing cameras no matter how much you adjust or refocus them will not get the resolution that you are after.

This is a fair conclusion for the situation.

So you have no doubt heard about IP cameras, network cameras, digital CCTV. All the same thing. Just some different names. These types of cameras are commonplace in today’s market and are gaining a bigger slice of the market share all the time. So any discussion of upgrades would include a switch to this type of CCTV system at least as a possibility.

What I want to drill down to for this particular blog is the actual nuts and bolts of upgrading a system. So when we are comparing an old analog surveillance system to a new IP network surveillance system what is the most obvious difference for a system such as this? The answer is the cabling.

All of your existing analog cameras are joined to the DVR – recording device with coaxial cabling (the same as TV antenna cable) and twin to power the camera.

New IP network camera systems use a single data cable (also known as twisted pair). This is part of their popularity. Less cables to run and terminate. There are other functions available and also more scalability though we are not talking too deeply about IP systems right now.

Here is where we get to the point. What do you do if the camera locations are not accessible for replacement cabling? How much are you willing to pay for an installation of new cabling? Have you actually had any quotes for a replacement cabling infrastructure that would make you fall off your chair because the labour cost to replace all of that cabling is astounding?

This is where an upgrade to HD SDI cameras can really become a saviour.

Take a large portion of the labour content out because you do not have to pay for the cabling to be replaced then add the cost of the equipment which includes cameras and a HD capable recorder and complete the setup. The existing analog cameras will even work on a HD recorder if you want to upgrade a section at a time. Here are some photos to compare the two technologies working on the same piece of cable.

Here is a chart that shows the different resolutions in the market today. New cameras are always pushing this boundary. HD resolution of 1920 x 1080 can give you awesome results and this is the proof.

Below are some images comparing Analog to HD-SDI image quality

Ask us how you can achieve awesome results with your existing cabling.

We are licenced security advisers and installers and can provide quality installations with equipment that has been proven in the field.

A security licence is a legal requirement for a business or a person who engages body guards, security officers, crowd control officers, private investigators and surveillance equipment installers who offer their services at a fee.

A security surveillance systems installer is a professional who is paid to install and maintain a set of security hardware and software. The security equipment that a business must be licenced to install are; Locks, safes and vaults, CCTV equipment, Electric fences, security alarms and bullet proof materials.

These security compliance certificates can either be issued to individuals within the organisation, the corporation itself or partners of the corporation. In Australia security licence is issued by the Queensland government.

There are no special qualification requirements put by the Queensland Government for security service providers. However, there are certain staff within the security firms which must have a set of qualifications before the firm can be licensed to offer the security services.

Security sector licensing in Australia is devolved. It is regulated and effected by either state police, department of consumer affairs or the department of fair trading. At Voltec Services, we have gone through all the relevant police checks and fingerprinting in a bid to obtain the licence as legitimate security surveillance service provider. This is a Class 2 corporate licence that enables us to advise on and install security equipment.

Why is security licencing required?

Basically, the security licencing is a constitutional requirement for anyone who intends to operate a security installation business, so any organisation offering the service without a licence is operating outside the law and could be arrested and consequently prosecuted.

Benefits to customer & What could happen if a non licenced contractor is used?

Once a company is licenced to offer security service, another unhappy situation sets in: not all contractors appreciate the law. And not everyone enjoys playing by the rules. Unlicenced contractors might be a more appealing option when comparing the financial estimates. Licenced contractors will charge more because they go through a great deal to earn the credentials, pay for insurance protection and hire qualified personnel who offer quality services. A non-licenced contractor on the other hand may have no insurance protection or qualified employees for that type of work. Furthermore, how can you be sure that this firm can be trusted to know the access codes to your workplace or home if they have not completed police checks?

My advice is; don’t take chances with your security system. Save your business the unnecessary risks and stress that comes with contracting cheap and unlicenced taskforce. Hire service providers who you are certain has gone through the police checks and earned the credentials of their trade and abide by good business practices. I guarantee you will stand a good chance of seeing your security systems installation job done right the first time.

Its only fitting that we have another topic about the NBN. The bus is still rolling out and we are seeing more about it little by little. I am writing this particular blog because I am noticing that many businesses have their external NBN box mounted in such a place that is completely prone to damage from the public. The NBN has their specifications for the IK rating and IP rating (impact and weather resistance) and that is fine for the box itself, though it only takes one look at the installation to see that the cable coming in could easily be snipped or whacked and its all over red rover. At least until you get into the office on the next Monday and organise Telstra or similar to come out and make a repair. This could be days…

How much is that going to cost you in lost revenue though? A day or maybe three without internet and phones? It could cost you a bundle when you think about lost opportunities, bad customer experiences, lost sales. I don’t need to continue this list, you get what I mean.

Now who would want to do this? Criminals is a good place to start.

Many businesses do not have a 4G/GSM dialler to create an extra protection layer for communications between the security/CCTV system and the outside world. Relying on the fibre makes your external NBN box an easy target. More about 4G/GSM diallers in the next blog.

Beyond that is accidental damage: whipper snippers, shopping trolleys, office furniture anything really. Sometimes staff are not aware what this cable is, how easily it could be damaged or how important it is to the operation of your business. This type of thing can happen with the internal lines also. We have seen a number of instances where the internal fibre run has been loosely installed in duct stuck onto the wall with double sided tape. 2 months later the installation it is starting to pull away from the wall. To me this is not good enough and a poor way to treat possibly the most important tool for many businesses. The fibre cable that is used to enter the external and internal box (if you have fibre into the premises) doesn’t have all the extra protective layers like and underground or weather protected cable does. It doesn’t take much to damage these cores with a bit of a knock or a small kink.

So what do you do?

1. I would suggest having a look around where your external box meets the  building, look for any conduits or ducting coming up to meet the NBN box.

2. Secondly, see if you can locate the internal run. It may be visible, it may be concealed in a ceiling or wall space or even run in ducting across a wall internally or externally.

3. Think about things that may come in contact with it internally or externally. through business operations or outside influences.

4. Does it look like it needs physical protection or more rugged casing in some way?

5. Call us to discuss some practical ideas for protecting your asset to avoid downtime of this critical asset.

Here are some photos of installations that demonstrate how accessible these fibre cables really are:

In this situation your business phone lines could easily be damaged without any tools. This box is mounted at an adult’s waist height.

Another example of fibre optic cabling that is accessible from public areas. See the black cable hanging below the box…

By now everybody this side of Ballarat knows the term NBN. I dont need to spell out what this acronym stands for. NBN is on everyone’s lips. Politicians, the press, phone companies, the business community and all the way down the line to the people. I couldn’t think of a P word for business community. Let me know if you have one…

Everyone is now talking about how they have NBN or are waiting for NBN or what form of NBN they will eventually get whether its home or business. Its a big project. (My fibre to the premises works great by the way). With such a big project there is naturally a range of topics and gripes flying around.

Now that many homes and businesses have their installations completed and connected, we are starting to see the methods that installers are using to get the job done quickly. This is obviously because the installers are wanting to cash in and get things done quick considering they are on a flat install rate whether its a five minute job or a 5 hour doozey.

There are some terrible installations around. All those things you learn as a tradesperson going through the apprenticeship seem to be going out the window when these NBN install jobs are done. Duct hanging off the wall after only a month of installation. What a joke it is. i need to be fair with this. Not all installations are poorly done. Though I hate to say it, when government funds are thrown around in great numbers there will always be hoards lining up to cash in. I don’t know who is expected to pay for rectifications. Probably the consumer unless they have a loud voice and a bunch of patience to deal with their provider.

So here is the question. Would there be a better way to handle a project like the NBN installation (talking nationwide here) than the way we have done it?  Does a project that spans more than one term of government need to be handled by another department which is free of the political football games that restrict funding?

Na forget that. You’ve probably heard enough about politics in the last 6 weeks.

Stay tuned for more posts about the NBN and how it affects your business. Let us know about your experiences with the rollout good, bad or ugly.