Integrated systems unlock an innovations, writes Chris Wildfoerster, Program Manager, Audio, Axis Communications.

Proactively protecting

While video surveillance is a critical element of modern security systems, today’s organizations have access to technologies like IP-based systems, APIs and open-platform solutions that open an entirely new world of possibilities.

Modern systems integrate a wide range of other solutions designed to complement video surveillance, including video management systems (VMSs), access control, public address capabilities, mass notification systems and more.

Together, these elements form the foundation of a security solution that is more than the sum of its parts – one that can not only detect and identify unusual or suspicious activity, but act on it as well.

Today’s systems can lock doors, set off alarms, issue notifications and respond to security incidents in a wide variety of ways.

This is only possible because of modern, integrated security systems.

Integrated solutions work in concert with one another, helping organizations improve their emergency response capabilities to more effectively protect both people and property.

Linking multiple systems together allows organizations to analyze data from multiple sources to take quick and decisive action while providing up-to-date information to civilians, security teams and law enforcement personnel.

Traditional video surveillance systems can detect a security incident in progress, but an integrated system can proactively deter, de-escalate and even prevent an event from occurring – reducing response times and potentially saving lives.

What an integrated system looks like in action

Let’s walk through a scenario that helps illustrate how an integrated system operates.

Imagine a bank with surveillance cameras focused on the parking lot.

One day, a camera equipped with a weapon detection analytic identifies a suspicious individual approaching the building.

Within seconds, that video is relayed to a remote security operations center (SOC) where it can be quickly verified.

Typically, the SOC will have a process in place that outlines how a facility should act in the event of an incident.

In this case, the detection of a weapon might prompt the doors to automatically lock, preventing the suspicious person from entering the building, while also triggering pre-recorded announcements to repeat until the event has been resolved.

It will also initiate the process of alerting building occupants, internal security personnel and law enforcement, detailing the event.

Inside the bank, an alarm will trigger, along with strobing lights.

Depending on the emergency, the strobes may be different colors, such as red, green, blue or others.

A live call out over the public address system or prerecorded message stored in the speaker can also be triggered, along with updated digital signage.

These can urge occupants to shelter in place and stay away from the exits until police arrive.

If the cameras outside the building are equipped with a license plate detection analytic, that information can be automatically relayed to law enforcement along with images of the intruder, potentially allowing the police to positively identify the perpetrator before they even arrive on the scene.

If the integrated system is linked with local law enforcement, the bank may even be able to supply live video, ensuring officers know exactly what they are walking into and can respond accordingly.

All of these actions can be triggered in the time it takes a suspicious individual to exit their car and cross the parking lot, underscoring the immense value an integrated system can bring.

Because each step in the process is automatically triggered by accurate and reliable video analytics, organizations can quickly initiate the steps needed to proactively secure the premises and keep their customers and employees safe.

Similar steps can be initiated in schools, healthcare facilities, critical infrastructure sites, retail stores, commercial offices and other locations, adapted to meet the specific needs of the environment in question.

Thanks to today’s open-platform video systems and increasingly powerful devices, an integrated security solution is within reach for almost any organization.

Constructing an integrated system that meets your needs

When constructing an integrated system, one of the most important elements is a VMS.

The VMS is essentially what holds everything together, unifying the different components of the system within a single platform umbrella.

There are many different VMS options on the market today, ranging from proprietary systems with specific product suites to open-platform systems capable of integrating with a broader range of solutions.

As edge devices have grown more powerful, capable of running a wider range of analytics, open-platform solutions have become increasingly popular.

While proprietary systems offer some advantages, an open-platform VMS gives the organization more hardware and software options.

That means organizations can choose the solutions that meet their specific needs rather than relying on a single provider.

Those needs can vary significantly depending on the facility in question, which means options are important.

For example, mass notification solutions are a natural extension of a facility’s security system and have become a particularly important element within modern integrated systems, enabling real-time disbursement of critical information and enabling a more engaged and informed emergency response.

But different locations may have different requirements.

In an active shooter situation, organizations with a large campus need to be able to make verbal announcements instructing one building to shelter in place while others evacuate.

In areas prone to natural disasters, verbal announcements, colored strobes and enhanced digital signage can provide clear, automated instructions even to hearing-impaired individuals.

The ability to relay specific, tailored information based on what is happening on the ground has the potential to save lives.

As needs change and threats evolve, an integrated system based upon an open-platform VMS can ensure the organization maintains the flexibility and scalability to evolve alongside them.

It’s important to note that an integrated system is only as good as the people that support it.

Having emergency processes in place (and practicing them regularly) can help ensure that employees know what to do in any situation.

There are advisory organizations that can help here – for example, within the education sphere, the Partner Alliance for Safer Schools (PASS) provides a list of recommended security guidelines that are intended for K-12 schools but are highly applicable to other environments as well.

Part of what makes the PASS guidelines so valuable is that they are thorough – schools and other educational facilities need to comply with a wide range of regulations geared toward keeping children safe, which means they include recommendations for many different scenarios.

As a result, they provide recommendations on integrated systems that organizations in almost any industry may find invaluable.

Integrated systems improve overall security readiness

The more integrated a security system is, the easier it is to visually and audibly respond to a broad range of security situations in a proactive manner.

If a side entrance is propped open at a school, a live or prerecorded announcement can be played in the area and the resource officer can be immediately dispatched and the situation addressed.

If an individual with a weapon is approaching, doors can be automatically locked before they enter the building.

Today’s organizations have more options than ever at their fingertips, and the right VMS integrated with solutions that meet the facility’s specific needs can have a meaningful impact on security readiness, improving overall safety and potentially saving lives.

By prioritizing an open-platform solution, businesses can maintain the flexibility they need to evolve with their changing security and regulatory needs.

This article was originally published in the special ISC West 2025 March edition of Security Journal Americas. To read your FREE digital edition, click here.