Hotels may be places of relaxation, but they require stringent security to protect guests and their valuables.
South African Patrol Security, which provides guarding services at various Southern Sun hotels in KwaZulu-Natal, recently upgraded the surveillance system at the Southern Sun Umhlanga Sands Hotel, partnering with Easi Telecom and specialist distributor Miro to provide a world-class security solution.
Consisting of the installation of approximately 28 Vivotek IP cameras, this solution was an extension of the existing security offering, and will provide hotel management and guests alike with the peace of mind knowing that security is being monitored at all times. Easi Telecom’s Tyron van Greunen explains that the choice of an IP-based system was based on a number of factors.
“An IP-based system is easy to install and expand, and is ideal in situations where there is a need for high resolution images. Normal analogue systems can’t achieve the same kind of clarity,” Van Greunen says. “Vivotek is the only brand we use when it comes to IP-based cameras because they offer great bang for the buck and fantastic quality.”
Vivotek’s value proposition lies in its wide range of cost-effective IP cameras, which offer clear and detailed images and network capability. Riandi van Niekerk, Miro’s marketing manager, explains that these cameras are ideal for locations and situations requiring accurate identification, and are available in indoor and outdoor models.
“From an entry-level camera providing a 1-megapixel sensor to a best-in-class product that represents the next-generation in video quality in network cameras, Vivotek has a solution for every need,” she says.
Van Greunen adds that the Vivotek range’s compatibility with the QNAP NVRS Network Video Recorder is one of the reasons he uses the brand.
“Compact, simple to configure and requiring very little maintenance, the QNAP NVRS allows the hotel to enjoy the benefits of digital IP surveillance with no fuss,” he says. “For playback and recording, this product is hard to beat, and it works out of the box.”
The installation occurred over a period of a few months, and cameras are being added all the time.
Van Greunen explains that this installation was particularly challenging because the hotel was undergoing renovations, and the contractors inadvertently caused a need to re-install a number of cameras by accidentally cutting pipes and allowing water to freeze the cameras.
“Despite those issues, the installation was relatively simple, and has delivered results for the hotel, which can now monitor and secure its entire premises, including all of the lifts. The Vivotek cameras’ picture quality has made a world of difference, with crisp, clear images that allow security to see the details of any incident,” he concludes.