When you buy a surveillance system from a big box store it may seem like a great bargain. Everything you need is right there in the box. “That’s fine if you want to be limited to exactly what’s in the carton,” says Mitch Mershon, Medium Business Program Manager, Axis Communications, Inc. “But these systems aren’t designed to expand. So if you want to add cameras or servers or other security features you’re essentially out of luck.”

Maxing out your security system on Day One puts you in a real bind. For instance, if you want to install another camera in the back parking lot to catch someone illegally tossing their trash in your dumpster -- you can’t. You cannot add a door station to screen visitors and remotely unlock entrances. If you add a second location to your business, you might not be able to easily monitor both places at once with your original investment.

Instead of boxing yourself in with a system that only delivers short term value, the smarter alternative would be to invest in a security solution that is designed to grow with you.

Opt For a Scalable Surveillance Solution

One solution that fits that criterion is AXIS Camera Station, a proven video management software (VMS) that delivers true scalability. Developed especially for small and mid-sized surveillance needs, it allows you to start with just a few cameras then add functionality and other security devices as you need them. AXIS Camera Station is an ideal solution for almost any monitoring task from entrances and exits to parking lots and loading docks, from corridors and stairways to offices and conference rooms.

AXIS Camera Station supports the full portfolio of Axis HDTV-quality, 4K and megapixel network cameras giving you the flexibility to choose the best camera for each surveillance location. The VMS taps into the powerful features of Axis network cameras that can make your surveillance efforts more effective. “That includes things like operating cameras in corridor format so you can better monitor narrow hallways and long retail aisles, and electronic image stabilization for jitter-free video even when a camera is subject to vibration,” says Mershon.

AXIS Camera Station does more than manage cameras. It gives you full control over your entire security operation, all in one place. You can easily add devices like network speakers to broadcast messages to staff and warn away intruders, as well as add network video door stations to see and speak with visitors and remotely control entry. You can combine networked I/O modules to manage lights, gates and more to proactively protect people and property. With up to 64-channel support per network video recorder, you can tie in multiple recording devices per location. You even have the capacity to integrate an intelligent audio system for broadcasting background music and announcements.

“The AXIS Camera Station platform is designed to support integrated solutions,” says Mershon. “When you’re ready, you can also enhance your investment with things like video and audio analytics which will not only give you better situational awareness but also provide you with actionable intelligence to help you grow your business.”

Opt For Simple and Flexible Operation

Unless you have a dedicated security center, you are probably only checking on your video system on an ad-hoc, as-needed basis. “If a situation arises, the last thing you want to do is start flipping through a manual trying to figure out how to use the system,” notes Mershon. “It’s got to be intuitive to operate.”

AXIS Camera Station uses clear graphic interfaces to help you easily navigate through your system, manage incidents and take action. Flexible live-view layouts, maps and web page display can be adapted to your needs using simple drop-and-drag tools. Action buttons can be included to let you remotely open doors for visitors or control other devices. Alarms are clearly displayed to alert operators to take immediate action.

Some of the many actions you can perform with AXIS Camera Station include:

• Multi-source event handling: Receive notifications, handle events and trigger actions based on detection from a variety of sources such as analytics, radar and other inputs.
• Video search, retrieval and export: Search through footage from multiple cameras simultaneously. A smart search function lets you search though hours of recordings in just a few seconds. The timeline features lets you rapidly retrieve and export video evidence.
• Privacy masking: Mask objects and innocent bystanders in the video to comply with regulations. AXIS Camera Station includes a video redaction feature that lets you easily clean video when exporting. AXIS Live Privacy Shield lets you monitor live activities without collecting any personal data.
• Mobile viewing: If you want to manage your security remotely, AXIS Camera Station mobile app lets you tap into the VMS from your smartphone and keep an eye on surveillance sites even while you are traveling. The mobile app lets you live view locations, access recorded events by timeline, control pan/tilt/zoom cameras and export video. You can even answer door station calls and remotely unlock doors.

AXIS Camera Station also supports more than 20 languages, making it an ideal solution for a wide range of users across the globe.

Opt For Exceptional Reliability

When it comes to security, reliability is critical. “One of the worst things to happen when you have an incident is to check your video and find out your cameras have been down for weeks,” says Mershon. “You need a solution that you can trust to just work.”

Like other Axis products, AXIS Camera Station was developed to work well beyond its expected lifespan. With built-in health monitoring software, the VMS continuously checks all system components to confirm they are up and running, and performing as expected. To further increase reliability, AXIS Camera Station supports fail-over recording by temporarily storing video in the network camera’s SD card.

As an added precaution, AXIS Camera Station offers a remote, cloud-based monitoring service. Should the server go down, you can be immediately notified to take action to remedy the situation.

Opt For a True Security Partnership

Security systems are living organisms. They need to adapt over time, incorporating advances in technology that can help you address a constantly evolving threat landscape. “In today’s world, there’s no such thing as set it and forget it,” Mershon explains. “If you want to stay protected, you need technology partners who can advise and guide you over the long haul.”

That is why, in addition to a robust portfolio of products, Axis offers a full range of services to help integrators and end-users create and maintain the best safety and security solutions possible. In addition to assistance in installation design, you can draw on the expertise of Axis’ award-winning technical support team. Axis also offers introductory and advanced courses online and on-site, as well as webinars and an extensive online knowledge base to help customers maximize the benefits from their investment.

If you want to see our products in a simulated “real-life” environment, visit one of many Axis Experience Centers across the U.S. for a unique hands-on opportunity. We will give you a behind-the-scenes look at our latest technologies and help you determine the best choice of products for your specific challenges and needs.

Don’t Box Yourself In

When it comes to security, the VMS is the cornerstone of your surveillance solution. So do not get boxed into technology you will quickly outgrow. Instead, invest in a system designed to not only support your current needs but easily expand to meet future security challenges as you grow. Contact Axis Communications to learn more about how AXIS Camera Station can be your VMS for today and tomorrow.