From CCTV to IP: training in focus

The Government is moving rapidly to elevate every aspect of the security industry to a higher professional level. Private sector training providers have to work even more closely with the various awarding bodies and industry authorities to ensure that recognised qualification and assessment programmes are both open and transparent. At Tavcom, we applaud such initiatives.

As a company, we have long championed the need for a central governing force to provide a range of training courses that are strictly quality-controlled and recognised throughout the industry. That’s the main reason why we’re proud of our affiliation with SITO as a STEPS partner in providing an approved range of national and international training courses.

For 2005, we’ve introduced a number of new courses that security managers should find extremely useful. The focus on new learning – no pun intended! – encompasses CCTV and IP networking, while we’ve introduced a much-needed educational strand concerning security and emergency lighting.

There’s also a refresher for Control Room operational managers and staff, and once again we’ll be running our security management and disaster recovery courses.

Practical CCTV and legislation

Practical CCTV is a special five-day course aimed at those serving in the Ministry of Defence or the police service, not to mention all managers with a technical leaning towards the subject. It offers an effective blend of ‘need to know’ classroom theory and ‘hands on’ practical experience, the content covering both analogue and digital systems and leading to a BTEC Advanced Award (Level 3).

You can learn how to set up and configure video motion detection sensors, set up a range of colour, monochrome, day/night and dome cameras, configure and programme both digital and analogue recorders and IP/network video solutions. All of this is underpinned by instruction on the basic theory of CCTV, handling video and data storage media.

For specialists who need their surveillance skills sets extended, the four-day CCTV Consultancy course offers practical tips on the technical, legal, operational and management skills required if the expectations of end users are to be satisfied. The course culminates in a BTEC Professional Award – a recognised professional qualification and one that’s essential in an era when consultants will soon be required to work under licence by the Security Industry Authority.

The course covers risk assessment techniques and insurance pre-requisites, Data Protection legislation and legal inferences, tape and data management, current British and European Standards, on-site Health and Safety issues, how the operational CCTV requirement is pieced together and then put into practice. There’s also modules on managing installation companies and contractors, preparing system design documentation and advice on surveys.

IP is of course a new technology which is now in use on a daily basis within the security sector. Is it safe? Is it better than analogue? Is it more cost-effective? Where can you find IP-based solutions? Discover the answers to these questions and more on the IP: An Executive Briefing course, which runs over one day.

This course aims to demystify IP terminology, and looks at how security managers can work with their counterparts in IT to arrive at a successful end result. Basic LAN and networking principles are addressed, so too the numerous applications of IP in the security sector and bandwidth issues.

Private sector training providers have to work even more closely with the various awarding bodies and industry authorities to ensure that recognised qualification and assessment programmes are both open and transparent

Following on from this, the CCTV-over-IP foundation course has been developed in conjunction with manufacturers in both the security and networking sectors. A unique blend of classroom theory and workshop-based exercises provides a ‘real world’ approach to networks and IP.

New for 2005 is the Networking Masterclass, which covers IP and IP addressing, Ethernet, routers and routing. In essence, it allows delegates to understand the core issues involved in integrating CCTV and data networks, and will be of valuable assistance to IT security managers looking to determine suitable system designs. For this one, it’s recommended that all delegates possess at least a foundation level knowledge of PCs and networking.

Security and emergency lighting

On more than one occasion, Security Management Today has appealed to end users to assess lighting needs for night-time surveillance. Your CCTV installation will be rendered wholly ineffective if captured images don’t actually show the subject matter in anywhere near enough detail. Courts of Law and Judges aren’t in favour of that at all!

With this in mind, Tavcom has introduced a course entitled Security and Emergency Lighting. Running across three days and tailored for security system designers and consultants, the course reviews a wide range of topics, including the fundamentals of light (encompassing frequency and wavelengths), light pollution and energy management, where light should be measured for CCTV cameras, relevant Codes of Practice, colour spectrums, long range infrared and commercial lighting.

In addition, there are course segments looking at automated intelligent lighting systems, domes and high speed cameras, Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR), exit signs and aspects concerning on-site Health and Safety. The course culminates in a BTEC Advanced Award.

Managing security procedures

Security managers operating in today’s commercial environment need to possess myriad skills and a multi-dimensional approach. Where incidents do not end in criminal prosecution, an investigation must still be conducted to ‘balance the books’. For example, more often than not if something has been stolen it will not be recovered. In such cases, the subsequent investigation has a two-fold purpose – not only to identify the loss and the culprit, but also to ensure that such incidents will not happen again.

Security is also renowned for tight budgetary control. While the provision of security is essential, it should be recognised that the security professional will be required to make sound fiscal judgements when buying equipment and then organising maintenance.

Tavcom’s four-day Managing Security course (which again leads to a BTEC Professional Award) is residential and examines such topics – and a whole lot more besides. Perspectives on crime, Civil, Criminal and Employment Law, the selection of effective installers and consultants, the functions and qualities of leadership and conflict resolution all come under the microscope.