While companies assess work related risks to employees, it is also prudent for executives and/or key employees to consider implementing the following steps to proactively guard against threats or a possible hostage situations:

• Develop a security plan and emergency procedures with family members and discuss what they should do if "this" or "that" happens. Then rehearse it!
• Get an unlisted phone number
• Use a P.O. Box or other address to receive personal mail
• Use alternate routes to go home each day so that people cannot learn your daily routine
• Install an alarm system in your home with an ambush feature built into the keypad
• Place spotlights with motion-sensing devices strategically around your house
• Make sure your floor plan is not accessible over the Web. This includes ensuring that realtors do not post any floor plans if your house is for sale
• Never admit strangers or solicitors into your home. Screen all visitors carefully
• Report suspicious activities in your neighborhood and encourage neighbors to be vigilant
• Keep all doors and windows locked and secure at all times. Install deadbolt locks and check them frequently. This includes keeping the door leading from your garage into you house ALWAYS locked.
• Have an all clear or trouble signal implemented for the home

It has been a while since a hostage situation involving a home take over has occurred, but why wait till it becomes popular again to take precautions?

A DVR is basically computer (PC) running software designed to receive either an analog or digital signal from a camera. This data is recorded to a hard drive(s) for storage and possible future retrieval.

When changing from a VCR to a DVR, the archiving of information is constantly and automatically being recorded to a hard drive verses onto a tape, which must be changed. With a DVR you never have to physically change anything for the data to be continually recorded. Once the hard drive is full, on a DVR, it will automatically start recording over the oldest data. The larger the hard drive, the more recorded data you get.

This presents a new challenge when a DVR experiences a failure, as all recorded data can be lost. Since the hard drives are the hardest working piece of the puzzle, it is also the weakest link and typically results in 100% of the data being lost. In a hard drive crash, some or all the data can possibly be recovered, but this could be a very expensive endeavor. If a DVR has to be sent back to the factory for any other component failure everything is typically wiped clean to assure all hardware and firmware upgrades are the most current available. The secret is to think all this through and know all your backup options prior to the need arising.

While a repaired unit is out and IF a loaner DVR is put in its place, remember all your data will walk out the door when this unit is replaced with the repaired unit.

Since DVRs have no tapes needing to be changed and can basically be installed and forgotten, it is imperative you do NOT let this happen (forget about your DVR). If it is not periodically checked to assure it is operating correctly, it is possible when you need the stored video, it might not be there when you need it the most!

You, as the DVR owner, should:

1) Check the unit periodically to make sure it is recording properly by playing back recorded video.

2) Look at live video to make sure all cameras are presently working.

3) Check the unit (daily) to make sure the time and date are correct.

4) Make sure the video you are recording is adequate at all times of the day. It is possible for the sun shining into a camera to affect the recorded video, which also changes with the seasons. If this was not the case when the system was initially programmed it is possible this camera may, at some time, not be recording necessary video.

5) Check motion settings to be sure the sensitivity settings are correct and the proper areas are masked off.

6) Make sure the span of time being recorded is adequate. Remember that once old data is recorded over, it is gone for good.

7) Simulate a robbery and act as the FBI would to make sure you know how to get recorded video off your DVR. If you do not know how to do this and the authorities can’t get this information when needed, it is possible your DVR could be taken as evidence.

8) Know where your operating manual is.

9) If you utilize any type of back up, make sure it is working by checking it periodically.

10) If you utilize a UPS (uninterrupted power supply) check that it is working properly and has enough reserve power to do what is was designed to do.

As always if you have any other questions, or need help with any of your security equipment, please call or Email for help.

Hopefully by now you have been able to upgrade from a VCR to a DVR and enjoy the time savings in reviewing video, the added quality of video being recorded and the ability to only search through motion recorded events, just to name a few.

To your DVR running and your camera system humming, please remember the following:

1)      Keep the unit clean!  If the unit is under a service agreement, it ought to be cleaned once a year, but that might not be enough.  If dust gathers around the cooling fans, that is a sign that it is time to clean me up;

2)      Heat is an enemy to any PC so keep your unit cool.  Be sure nothing is set around or on top of the unit that might block air circulation;

3)      Check the unit no less than once a day to make sure it is recording. Nothing worse than needing recorded video only to find out the unit has not been recording for weeks.  Units today offer the ability to let you know when a camera is blocked, loses focus, or has been disconnected.  Only systems with multiple recorders will typically benefit from software that has the ability to let you know when a specific recorder is out;

4)      DO YOUR HOME WORK!!! Know how to remove recorded video off the hard drive to a DVD, thumb drive, or some other external means.  If the FBI needs recorded video off your unit and it cannot be gotten off your DVR, they might take the whole unit;

5)      Is our DVR unit archiving enough past video?

6)      Make certain all your cameras are getting the recorded video you want before it is needed.  If you need to get faces or license plates off certain cameras, review recorded video on these cameras to assure you can. Waiting till after an incident occurs will only add frustration to already bad situation.

7)      What is the worst possible incident that could happen and are all our cameras positioned to help?

8)      Would a covert (hidden) camera help in our system?

9)      Is back lighting issues causing some cameras to not provide a good enough picture?  Remember to review past video at different times of the day to make sure all lighting situations are taken into account;

Camera systems are typically not thought of till there is a need.  If the above items are not addressed prior to this need, it will be too late!

The Internet has opened the doors for many new Security related products, but have you ever considered having your alarm signal communicate over the Internet?

In the old days when an alarm signal went directly to the Police Department and it was cut or tampered with, there would be an instant notification.  But, due to personnel cut backs and liability issues, most Police departments have discontinued or extremely limited this service.

As a result, today’s alarm panels will normally dial into the monitoring station over a normal phone line when needed.  As a rule, a test signal is sent once every 24 hours, so if the phone line is cut or down, the system is useless unless a cell phone back up is utilized.

The ability to monitor alarm signals over the Internet offers many advantages for alarm subscribers. Data transmission is secure, extremely fast (6 seconds or less) and fully supervised (can "ping" monitoring station every 6 minutes). If you utilize a cell phone back up, Internet monitoring could offer a significant cost savings due to this piece of the puzzle being able to be eliminated.

Sending alarm and system information to a central monitoring station through the Internet is not only superior to analog or cell phone communication, but it is also a communication method approved and accepted by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) for Grade AA High-Line Security and for Commercial Fire.