The Eyes Have IT: How Video Is Driving a Proactive Approach to Physical Security

BOSTON, MA--(Marketwire - April 8, 2010) -  Aberdeen Group, a Harte-Hanks Company (NYSE: HHS), today announced the publication of a new research study called The Eyes Have IT: How Video Analytics is Driving a Proactive Approach to Physical Security. Aberdeen found that with the same number of full-time equivalent (FTE) staff, the top performers in the study are able to support 3.3-times more cameras and 21-times more alerts requiring evaluation and action by guards or operators. In addition, by investing in enabling technologies such as video analytics, the top performers are actually spending about 67% less than all others on a per-camera basis, and their guard force is assessing, prioritizing and taking action on 5-times more alerts per camera per day.

Top performance at video surveillance means higher probability of detection, lower rate of false alarms, and a shift towards ardently managing and responding to situations as they unfold, rather than reactively figuring out what happened after the fact. Technologies such as video analytics and physical security information management help to automate video monitoring, filter out irrelevant information, and provide operators and guard forces with the data they need to make more intelligent decisions -- typically referred to as "actionable data" in the language of IT; "situational knowledge" in the language of public safety; and "total domain awareness" in the language of homeland security.

"Rather than investing in still more passive cameras and still more people that together provide very limited value, Aberdeen's research shows that the top performers in video surveillance are investing in enabling technologies such as video analytics that provide more value by recognizing and acting on anomalous behavior before the incidents occur, rather than after," commented Derek Brink, vice president and research fellow for IT Security, Aberdeen. "In this way, they are moving beyond a purely forensic approach and driving a dedicated approach to physical security."

A complimentary copy of this report is made available in part through the underwriting support of BRS Labs. To obtain a complimentary copy of the report, visit: http://www.aberdeen.com/link/sponsor.asp?spid=30410182&cid=5721&camp2.

For additional access to complimentary Information Technology research, please visit http://research.aberdeen.com/index.php/-information-technology

To view complimentary 30-minute webcasts highlighting findings from this and other Aberdeen IT Security research, visit http://www.brighttalk.com/channels/1209/view.

About Aberdeen Group, a Harte-Hanks Company

Aberdeen provides fact-based research and market intelligence that delivers demonstrable results. Having queried more than 30,000 companies in the past two years, Aberdeen is positioned to educate users to action: driving market awareness, creating demand, enabling sales, and delivering meaningful return-on-investment analysis. As the trusted advisor to the global technology markets, corporations turn to Aberdeen for insights that drive decisions.

As a Harte-Hanks Company, Aberdeen plays a key role of putting content in context for the global direct and targeted marketing company. Aberdeen's analytical and independent view of the "customer optimization" process of Harte-Hanks (Information - Opportunity - Insight - Engagement - Interaction) extends the client value and accentuates the strategic role Harte-Hanks brings to the market. For additional information, visit Aberdeen or call (617) 854-5200, or to learn more about Harte-Hanks, call (800) 456-9748.

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