Protecting Facilities with Proactive Video Monitoring

Vital Infrastructure

Protecting utility companies is a challenging task. Because of the nature of their operations, downtime for utility companies has a much more significant impact than for other types of organisations. Public utilities, private utilities, managed utilities and utility cooperatives include natural gas, electricity, telephone, water, solar and wind facilities — all of these are vital infrastructure to supply businesses, governments and communities. Even a brief interruption could potentially have a catastrophic impact on human life and the economy. Their vital nature can also make utility companies a target for acts of vandalism or terror.

Remote and Isolated

The facilities are often unmanned, are typically located in remote areas, and may be widely spread across disparate locations. There may be outdoor equipment that is not housed inside any kind of structure. These physical elements, as well as personnel working on the premises, all require security. At the same time, the utility companies must maintain regulatory compliance while also managing their business needs.

When a utility does suffer a breach or other criminal incident, the cost of repairs can be significant. This is compounded by the losses due to downtime, as well as potential hikes in insurance premiums. The facility, owners, and managers may also face liability.

For all of these reasons, it is essential to have a public utility agency monitoring company that can deliver a customised approach to protect the facility against risk.

Shortfalls of Video Surveillance and Security Guards

Many utility companies continue to rely on traditional security solutions like cameras and on-site security guards. However, these solutions leave a number of gaps, which become apparent quickly as soon as an incident occurs. These include:

  • Cameras are reactive and document crime rather than preventing it

  • Security guards can be extremely costly and cannot be in all places at once

  • Fencing and other obstacles can be circumvented

  • Reporting incidents is a labor-intensive process and may leave gaps in evidence