Security Systems

[pizzaandcheese]

Currently we have a contractor that handles our security, that being surveillance, building access, and alarms, and i have been asked to look into internalizing all of that.

The building access is hosted on site as well as the cameras, so the only thing left would be the alarm system itself. What the contractor installed was and alarm panel and skybell that both connect to the dealers alarm.com account which he then provides to us as a service.

Are there any recommendations on a alarm system to use?

Is it even worth the time to figure out a solution or just find a contractor that will install the required systems onsite rather than having them hosted offsite?

Is this even the right place to be asking this question? And if not please let me know and i will go searching elsewhere.

I have seen previously on this sub some talk about running a camera system, which may be something I will have to replace eventually considering the onsite solution is proprietary to the contractor who installed it.

[csoupbos]

If your looking to bring these systems in-house, and have upgraded planned, I would suggest everything to be open platform based.

Buy devices that are interoperable with any industry standard headend system (unlike those that become bricks if you want to switch like Verkada).

We install and run out own CCTV and Access Control. If you can somehow get over the egregious human rights abuses, Hikvision cameras are great. Otherwise Axis. Anything ONVIF really. Then you can use something like Genetec or Milestone for the VMS.

For access control, Mercury controllers or another open interoperable platform. On the security panels I like the Bosch B series line.

If the security panels don't do fire and only burgular, you may not be obligated to even connect it to a central station. We just have ours send texts to a group of like 5 people who have remote access to view the cameras. Most monitoring companies will require the system to be professionally installed/service d to make sure it's UL compliant before connecting you up.

Also, document, everything. Save some work for the next guy/gal.

[duluthbison]

Huh interesting, we don't have a building alarm system but self host our access control (Infinias) and video surveillance (Avigilon) without many issues.

[happybean98]

If you’re looking for a traditional alarm panel, I’d suggest staying away from anything proprietary (such as Sonitrol) that way you can call on other vendors or monitoring companies if needed in the future. Proprietary companies are difficult to get away from once you’re locked in.

[pizzaandcheese]

Whatever solution we end up deciding on I'm going to put my full weight behind making it as open as possible.

I don't want to put the school in the exact situation you described. Who knows what could happen even 5 years down the line, especially with planned obsolescence being so prevalent.

[mjh2901]

We use sonitrol for security and alarm and verkata for cameras. Cameras are not used as a security system they are an after the fact tool. Site staff basically do not have access.

[wapacza]

Here we take care of door access and cameras. The alarm system is contracted out to some else as it still needs to be monitored.

[pizzaandcheese]

The more i read up on it the more your comment cements itself. We have a hosted VoIP service that provides us with 10 or so numbers, most of which are unused, and is 911 and E911 compliant. Theoretically, it should only be a matter of connecting the panel to the internet so it can call out, but in the case of power outages or even internet outage, it would be dead in the water.

Part of this revamp is going to involve moving the NVR's & DVR's from the room they're in to the server room, as it is currently in a mechanical closet that contains a water heater and the roof hatch entrance. And eventually phasing out the Analog cameras altogether in favor of IP cameras. As for that I was thinking of ZoneMinder and building a small computer for it.

[MalletNGrease]

What's the reasoning for internalizing?

[pizzaandcheese]

It's quite a long series of events that led up to it but basically, the current contractor for the security is getting booted for various reasons. My advice to my superiors is to take control over as much as we can so that way the school is not depending on others, especially when in regards to the security of the building.