Star Wars and Surveillance

Happy Star Wars Day!

As you may or may not know, I am a massive Star Wars fan. Star Wars is such a cultural phenomenon that I couldn't let May the Fourth go by without writing something about it. It didn't take long to come up with a way to integrate Star Wars into the security industry. So, just for the fun of it, we're going to countdown 5 instances of surveillance in the galaxy far, far away!

5. ZALUNA

One of the first things that came to mind for me was the character Zaluna from John Jackson Miller's novel A New Dawn. Zaluna, a Sullustan, was a surveillance operator for the company Transcept Media Solutions. She was able to use her "slicing" skills to freeze several cameras in order to assist the heroes Kanan Jarrus and Hera Syndulla.

4. SECURITY RECORDINGS

At the end of Revenge of the Sith, security recordings are vital in giving Yoda and Obi-Wan the proof they needed that Anakin turned to the dark side. Yoda cautions Obi-Wan that he'll only find pain if he looks into the security recordings at the Jedi Temple. And pain is about the only way you can describe the onslaught of younglings by the merciless Darth Vader.

3. IMPERIAL SECURITY BUREAU

The ISB was a law enforcement and intelligence agency of the Galactic Empire. An entire branch was dedicated to surveillance. This bureau was formed by the Emperor himself and was instrumental in maintaining stability throughout the galaxy.

2. RATHTARS ATTACK!

In The Force Awakens we see a good example of CCTV when the Rathtars are accidentally let loose on the ship. After Finn is incapacitated by one, Rey sees where they're headed on the monitoring screens and is able to use some quick thinking and probably The Force to rescue her friend.

1. IMPERIAL PROBE DROIDS

The Imperial probe droid was commonly used for reconnaissance. The most notable instances are when Darth Maul uses 3 of them to search for Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi on Tatooine in The Phantom Menace and when a probe droid searches for the Rebels on Hoth in The Empire Strikes Back.

So, there you have it. Five instances of surveillance in Star Wars. Surveillance cameras have become so second nature and I find it fascinating  that even something as fantastical as Star Wars incorporates it.

Thanks to all my friends on Twitter who helped me think of ideas for this! I had a lot of fun doing this, maybe I should do a follow-up article about access control in a galaxy far, far away....

(All images property of Lucasfilm.)

Video Monitoring and Commercial Businesses │Scottsdale

Safeguard and Protect Your Retail Business with Video Monitoring

Commercial retailers in Scottsdale, are you reluctant to install video monitoring equipment in your store? Not having an adequate video monitoring system can put you at risk for loss of inventory, cash receipts, and vandalism. 

To help you make a decision to purchase a video monitoring system here are some actionable reasons:

• When you position surveillance cameras around your store you can deter crimes from occurring, and save many thousands of dollars every year.

• Live monitoring with commercial surveillance cameras empowers an authorized employee, such as that hard-working store manager of yours to watch all areas of your store through a CCTV monitor, connected to surveillance cameras. This is a boon to your commercial business as it’s impossible to patrol every aisle in your store, especially if you lease a large space.

• From a remote-control spot like the cash register area, probably located near the front of the store, a CCTV monitor situated there will help to give the manager a clear view of all customer activity, happening throughout the store.

• Beside a CCTV to monitor the action, you can choose an Internet protocol (IP) surveillance camera to view the goings-on, using a computer, tablet, or mobile phone. How convenient is that?

• Disputes between customers and employees can occur. We know of one instance in which a store employee managed to short-change a customer by a significant amount of money. If a video surveillance camera had been trained on the cash register, the employee would’ve been caught red-handed.

You don’t want to lose profits, or the customers that bring in those profits. So, take the time today to call Phoenix Surveillance. We will give you a free quote on any video monitoring system you’re thinking about buying. Call 602-248-8477 or click the link below to request a quote.

Security Systems and Restaurants │Scottsdale

Affordable Security Systems Meet Budget-Conscious Business Needs

Scottsdale restaurant owners know running a busy dining establishment entails many security monitoring issues that must be handled. A security system must be establish to observe credit card transactions, cash transactions, and employee and patron behavior. After-business hours pose other risks, affecting your business’s bottom line, including theft or vandalism. Then there are threats to your business’s investments like a failed freezer that could cost add tremendous cost to your bottom line.

A well-set-up surveillance security system is vital to help you protect your business assets and the safety of your restaurant staff. Three solutions that can assist in this endeavor are invasion protection, access control, and video monitoring.

• Invasion protection works through the systematic placement of such products as theft alarms and silent panic buttons to aid in securing employee and patron safety and security.

• Access control is ever-evolving to give you better solutions to out-of-date mechanical locks and keys, implementing instead electronic locks, security tags, and access control cards. These products will prevent security concerns as code-sharing among employees, or a former employee having possession of a key.

Other access control products can prevent entry to such vulnerable spaces where walk-ins and freezers are kept, along with liquor and wine inventories (susceptible to theft).

• Advanced video monitoring cameras will track activity in crucial locations like cash drawers, entryways and exits.

To protect other business assets such as the already-mentioned risk of an out-of-order freezer, new temperature-monitoring instruments can be incorporated into your security monitoring system.

These latest advances in security systems are a wise decision to help you save money in the long run. Our advice is to call Phoenix Surveillance today to find out what your restaurant’s particular needs are, and how upgrading to a new security monitoring system can be made affordable. Call us at 602-248-8477 or click the link below to request a quote online.

Surveillance Cameras and Industrial Businesses │Scottsdale

CCTV: What It Is and How It Works

Many new industry startups in Scottsdale want to know what CCTV is and how CCTV can benefit their businesses.
CCTV is the acronym for closed circuit television, defined as a closed system, meaning the CCTV signal is not broadcast over the airwaves externally. Instead the circuit is internal, with direct connections made between the security camera, display monitor, and video recording device (VRD). The VRD transmits its footage to the closed-circuit elements. The most basic CCTV systems connect to the display monitor using a coaxial cable. More cameras can be added as long as there are corresponding monitor outputs.
It should also be noted that today’s VRDs are digital, capable of holding more video as well as an automatic data backup feature.

CCTV is most often used for surveillance cameras, found in many industrial businesses such as hospitality, banking, restaurants, retail, healthcare, and more.

CCTV is an adaptable system in that as long as a camera can broadcast a signal, it can become part of a CCTV system. And it doesn’t matter if the security camera is wired or wireless.

The best use of CCTV is with the most sophisticated surveillance cameras. These kinds of cameras contain pan / tilt / zoom features that permit the user to control the camera by remote means.

CCTV can also accommodate hidden cameras. The upside of hidden security cameras is they can fool crooks into thinking they are free and clear from getting recorded while committing criminal acts. The downside is that hidden surveillance cameras will not keep crimes from being carried out as with a visible security camera that can be detected.

Do you need CCTV for your local business? Our happy crew is happy to assist you! Call 602-248-8477 or click the link below to request a quote!