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First It Was Email, Then It Was VoIP. Now It’s IP Video.

Rick Endres, President of The Washington Network, Discusses How the Internet Now Plays a Critical Role in Helping Companies Stay Protected


Alexandria, VA  — January 8, 2007 — It’s no secret that the Internet has dramatically changed the way we conduct business on a daily basis.  From email to instant messaging to Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), the Internet has revolutionized the way we communicate, and the trend continues.  The latest Internet-spawned innovation that’s rapidly gaining popularity is IP video.  This phenomenal tool connects IP cameras to the Internet, so we can view just about anything, from any location around the world, in real-time. 

As you might imagine, IP video is having a tremendous impact on the security surveillance industry.  Companies want to protect their most important assets and IP-based video technology gives them that power at the click of a button.

Historically, video surveillance was based on analog technology. Closed circuit television (CCTV) was recorded on videotape.  Although it served the purpose of capturing what was going on, it didn’t transmit live information beyond a single monitoring station. Therefore, it limited monitoring capabilities in facilities like warehouses, factories, offices, child daycare centers, schools, retail stores, and banks. 

With the Internet revolution and the increasing presence of Local Area Networks, technology took great strides in video surveillance in the 1990’s.  Analog camera tubes were replaced with Charged Coupled Devices (CCD) and digital cameras as they became more affordable.  This combination meant that video surveillance could go live over the Internet and provide clearer, crisper images.

How does it all work?

A digital camera sends the video signal over a LAN line, to a server that manages all of the information.  The software gives the company the ability to record, display or re-transmit the images anywhere in the world.  Depending on the software, it may analyze data and highlight specific events, making it a customizable security tool. 

True IP-based digital surveillance uses signal processing that sends packetized video streams over the LAN to better utilize the bandwidth. It also provides greater data mining features and information retrieval.  If security is an issue, full digital surveillance offers the added ability to encrypt data, protecting against image tampering.

A complete IP-based technology is the best bang for your buck, and the best security.  TCP/IP transmittal of surveillance makes sense for remote monitoring of multiple locations and for remote recording of data onto back-up servers and hard disks for long-term storage.  Since most businesses already have a high-speed IP network, adding IP video simply leverages the same infrastructure to include video functionality.

The only action required is to set the IP address of the network cameras, and the system is up and ready for configuration. Traditional analog video systems require dedicated point-to-point cabling, making installation, maintenance, and changes to the systems such as expansion or relocation of cameras cumbersome and expensive.

Implementation of an IP-based video system is easy if you partner with the right provider that understands your business needs. Through its premier membership in Technology Assurance Group (TAG), a national organization of independently owned telecommunications companies, The Washington Network, Inc. has partnered with MG Security Systems, a leader in the industry, to offer IP-based surveillance solutions to its clients.

Who can benefit from IP video surveillance systems? The real question is what company can’t use this cutting edge technology. 

  • Banks and other financial institutions with multiple locations use IP video surveillance for trouble spots such as ATMs and drive up windows. 

  • Manufacturing and industrial companies use it to manage quality, safety and control, focusing on critical points of the production line to increase productivity and avoid problems. 

  • Small family-owned stores, large retailers and other companies of all sizes rely on IP video surveillance to reduce the potential for damage, shoplifting, theft, workplace injury, employee harassment and dishonest employees. They compile recorded evidence against bogus accident claims, and monitor merchandising displays in stores that may be hundreds of miles away.

  • Daycare centers use the technology to ensure the safety of the children.

  • Manufacturers, governments, hospitals and universities use IP video surveillance to identify visitors and employees, monitor hazardous work areas, thwart theft and ensure the security of their premises and parking facilities – all done in real-time.

These are just a few examples of how businesses and public institutions are using IP video surveillance to increase profitability, reduce costs and improve safety. Advances in IP-based technology have turned video surveillance into one of today’s most valuable management tools for loss prevention, safety, security and process efficiency. Organizations that incorporate it into their daily activities will have a greater chance of meeting their business objectives.

ABOUT THE WASHINGTON NETWORK, INC.

Founded in 1987, The Washington Network, Inc. in Alexandria, Virginia, provides computer networks, VoIP phone systems, IT support and other technology solutions for associations and businesses in the Washington, DC Metro area.

Serving clients without a large in-house IT staff, The Washington Network lowers operating costs while increasing worker productivity. The company’s flat-rate managed services include remote network monitoring, preventive maintenance, help desk, redundant back-ups and on-site support.

A member of the Northern Virginia Technology Council and Alexandria Chamber of Commerce, The Washington Network has been honored as the Chamber’s Professional Service Business of the Year.

Through its strategic membership in the Technology Assurance Group, The Washington Network serves and supports clients with multiple locations across the U.S. and Canada.

The Washington Network is located at 30 South Quaker Lane, Alexandria, Virginia 22314. For more information on The Washington Network, call 703.212.7100 or visit www.WashingtonNetwork.com.

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