The Missing Link in Jobsite Security

Introduction

Today’s jobsite security cameras offer a multitude of features – from AI-powered motion alerts to PPE detection. However, one of the options you’ll likely be offered when purchasing a jobsite camera is professional monitoring. It can often seem like a weighty decision, as it means tacking on another monthly fee for something you may (hopefully) never use, but we believe that the one time you need it, it’ll be worth the cost. Here’s why professional monitoring is the missing link in your jobsite security.

Professional Monitoring vs. Unverified Monitoring for Your Jobsite

You can find two types of monitoring options for jobsite security cameras: professional and unverified monitored.

Unverified Monitoring

A jobsite security camera with unverified monitoring sends you text alerts when motion is detected on your jobsite, but it stops there— it’s on you to see the notification on your phone and then determine what follow-up actions to take. And if you put your phone on silent or don’t have it on hand 24/7, you may miss the alerts entirely.

Professionally Monitored

If you have a professionally monitored jobsite security camera, a trained monitoring professional gets alerted when something triggers your motion alerts. Within about a minute of the motion, that monitoring service will verify if the threat is real. If the threat is confirmed, they will alert the phone numbers on file to make sure everything is okay. To dismiss an alarm, you need to answer the call and provide a pin number or code word as verification. If you don’t have the code or don’t answer the phone, the service automatically contacts the police or fire department. 

TrueLook gives you the choice between unverified monitoring and using our Jobsite Surveillance service, which provides professional monitoring from a center that is Five Diamond Certified and UL listed. These credentials mean that we rank in the top 5% of monitoring centers.

Additionally, with TrueLoook’s AI-powered Motion Alerts, you can choose what hours and areas of your jobsite you want to monitor. If you’re worried about specific entrances and areas of your jobsite after hours, you can set detection and exclusion zones for your camera’s motion detection. These customization features can also help you avoid false alarms. For example, if your jobsite is located near a busy sidewalk, you can exclude this zone from your monitored areas.

The Perks of Professional Jobsite Monitoring

Let’s put things into perspective- You’re out to dinner on a Friday night, finally getting your mind off of work and into ‘weekend mode’, when suddenly you receive a notification on your mobile device. The text notification is alerting you of a motion alert at your jobsite – how are you to proceed next?

With an unverified monitoring security system, you would need to have notifications enabled on your phone at all times to receive this alert (i.e. Do Not Disturb mode is not an option for you) and also have a game plan for what to do when you receive that text alert. This game plan would likely involve you checking the camera live feed to verify the threat, then contacting the correct authorities to provide them with all of the necessary site details (access points, entrance codes) and describe the threat in progress (location on the jobsite and intruder descriptions). You can imagine this process is not ideal and has a lot of potential for error and delaying response time. While unverified monitoring jobsite cameras may be a cost-efficient approach, there can be drawbacks.

With professional monitoring, you get that same text alert but, if the motion alert is verified as a threat, it is followed by a phone call from the monitoring service. This agent has access to your live camera feed and will provide you with details of the event in progress and the option to request emergency services. If you request emergency services, the agent will contact the correct authorities for you, providing them with all of the jobsite access details (provided by you during your initial set-up), as well as a description of the threat in progress.

Two Tips Before Bringing on Professional Monitoring Services

While we do recommend professional jobsite monitoring, here are a few tips to keep in mind prior to bringing on professional monitoring services.

Number 1. Customization

To reduce false alarms you’ll need a camera with customizable, AI-powered motion alerts – at TrueLook we include this with every camera. With advanced customization options, you can define the areas of your jobsite that you want your camera to cover while ignoring everything outside of these areas. With this customization, you can effectively monitor the area you want, and reduce the number of unnecessary motion alerts, such as cars driving by. You’ll also select specific hours that you want to activate your motion alerts, typically during evening hours and weekends when no one should be on site.

Number 2. No Contract Service Plans

We don’t recommend jobsite security cameras or monitoring services that require a lengthy service contract. TrueLook offers no-contract service plans, giving you the ability to choose to add Jobsite Surveillance for certain jobsites or even select months during your build process. This type of stop-and start flexibility is most accommodating for today’s construction projects