In applications from education to logistics, more powerful and affordable video surveillance solutions are strengthening perimeter protection, writes Mike Rose, Executive Vice President of Sales, IDIS Americas.

The basics of perimeter protection

Advances in video surveillance technology are enabling new ways to strengthen security at the perimeter and shifting the balance of power between attackers and defenders.

From education to logistics and beyond, camera systems equipped with highly accurate and powerful AI analytics allow automated detection and alerts in response to a wide range of trigger events.

These highly effective, automated surveillance systems guarantee advance warning of potential threats, as well as more time to mount an appropriate response to prevent incidents from escalating.

All this spells good news for those tasked with protecting people and property, particularly hard-pressed security and police teams under pressure to adapt to new threats without the benefit of increased budgets.

The principles of perimeter protection are well established and an extensive arsenal of physical and electronic defenses is available to meet various threat levels – from military and border applications to commercial settings and public locations.

The challenge in settings such as schools that now require enhanced security is to find solutions that are affordable and appropriate, and work against a wider range of threats, up to and including active shooters.

The same problem also arises in many commercial settings, such as retail, warehouses and logistics.

For all these mid-sized locations, the latest AI-enhanced video tech can provide a powerful solution that delivers critically needed protection and deterrence, starting out at the perimeter.

A more formidable deterrent

Today’s security cameras, including bullets, turrets, PTZs and multi-heads, have been transformed into a more formidable perimeter defense than their predecessors.

Powerful PTZs are ideal for strengthening site boundaries, approaches and external facilities.

They can perform virtual guard tours and auto-tracking, supplementing in-person checks by officers.

More robust and reliable – with longer lifespans and minimal maintenance needed even in tough environments – they are built to capture high definition and UHD footage in all day and night lighting conditions, over hundreds of feet of distance.

There are even newer products that allow full color capture in low light, thereby reducing reliance on supplementary lighting.

Improved image capture and reliability are enhanced by more user-friendly video management system (VMS) operating solutions that make it easier to monitor events in real time.

These include mobile apps that allow monitoring and control by officers and senior managers on the move, with the ability to review recorded footage and better storage solutions that facilitate gap-free retention of recordings for extended periods.

In external locations without fixed networks, wireless networks provide a cost-effective alternative and enable real-time monitoring and playback.

If bandwidth is an issue, lower resolution models with special light enhancing technology may provide the answer which gives the same image quality.

This is often a pragmatic solution for locations where only wireless networks are available.

Improved controls and monitoring

PTZs have had a reputation for jerky controls, so try before you buy.

Some manufacturers have now eliminated these problems with smart user controls that improve accuracy and comfort for operators as they scan perimeters and track movements of people and vehicles.

The throughput of network video recorders (NVRs) will need to allow control room operators to monitor scenes without lag time or delay, so it is worth checking the recorded hard disk drive failure rate to get the best currently available, along with appropriate redundant array of independent drives/disks (RAID) support and redundant power, to give the assurance of built-in failover.

The camera’s SD card should maintain uninterrupted recording even when the connection is disrupted between an NVR and camera, automatically transferring footage to the NVR when connection is restored.

The result of all these improvements is that today’s video systems will help to ensure a faster, more certain response, and that, in turn, makes the sight of cameras at the perimeter more of a deterrent to any would-be intruder.

But the real gamechanger for perimeter protection – tipping advantage further towards the defender – is the current, rapid development of AI-driven automated detection.

Automated detection changes the balance of power

Video analytics built into cameras allow detection of activity, including line-cross (single and/or double); loitering; wrong-way motion; left objects; and removed objects.

And they include functions such as people counting, face detection and vehicle detection.

The result is flexible and affordable options for upgrading conventional perimeter video systems with targeted analytics at key locations.

System-wide integrated solutions take this a step further by making it easier to add an even broader range of AI analytics to any camera or video source.

Capabilities include intrusion detection; anomaly detection; crowd detection; fall detection; object counting and detection; weapon detection; scene change detection; perimeter monitoring and more.

Facial recognition, ID verification and license plate recognition can be used to streamline and enhance access control, while other vehicle-related video analytics, such as speed detection, vehicle make/model identification, traffic flow and wrong-way detection can help to secure approaches and parking lots.

And when used in conjunction with vehicle watch lists, these capabilities can streamline authorized access while also providing early warning of potential trouble.

In logistics centers, operators can establish virtual perimeters where physical barriers are impractical to stop intrusion or to prevent people from straying into high-risk areas.

Analytics can identify and track people and vehicles, detect loitering and trespassing, and count people in both real-time video streaming and recorded footage.

With seamless integration into the video system’s VMS, these AI enhancements can force-multiply both live monitoring operations and forensic investigations, freeing up operator time, reducing the risk of events being missed due to human error or fatigue and allowing responders to work more efficiently.

Intuitive setup and event rules for each video channel also allow specific risk factors to be addressed during various times of day or night.

Engage and challenge

Further enhanced by built-in red and blue warning lights, microphones and speakers, the new perimeter security cameras make it possible to engage with and challenge intruders at the earliest stage of their approach, with either automated warnings and direct human intervention or both.

As a result, what the new AI-enhanced video solutions are doing is levelling-up security and vigilance across entire sites, so that even remote corners of extensive grounds are subject to scrutiny, just as much as entrances, reception areas and priority internal locations.

Blind spots and vulnerabilities are being eliminated and domain awareness achieved consistently across entire sites with AI alerts.

So, in locations where security or police responders previously struggled to see every approaching threat, they can now have a much greater chance of doing so.

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.