During lockdown, premises were vacant and therefore vulnerable to intrusion. With the lifting of restrictions, many businesses are returningto the office but only in a part-time or hybrid way. Compared to pre-pandemic norms, more premises are vacant more of the time.
In addition, some businesses have folded thanks to the pandemic, while a few have switched to entirely remote operation. Again, it means that perfectly good premises are lying empty, waiting for an economic upturn.
A break-in can be devastating for business. Offices can be ransacked and devices stolen. If thieves target on-premise servers, there’s a real risk that sensitive data could be exposed. Vandalism can cause significant damage whether a building is occupied or not, and we all know how destructive even a day of downtime can be to our businesses.
Tightening security
It’s not surprising then that many organisations are tightening security, or employing specialist security or facilities management firms to do it for them.
The good news is that modern, connected security is highly effective. Connected alarm systems can quickly identify and respond to potential intruders. High definition CCTV can help to identify wrong-doers, and that’s if it hasn’t deterred them from entering the property in the first place.
These security systems often need to cover large areas and multiple entrance points, and so they use mobile data to connect individual devices to each other and to a central security platform, as well as to the mobile devices of on-site security guards.
Needless to say, these connections have to be fast and robust. If connectivity goes down, so does your security. Those in the business of securing business premises need mobile connectivity they can rely on at all times.
Modern mobile data
Luckily, mobile data isn’t a second grade option to fixed line equivalents anymore. Mobile data speeds are available up to 200Mbps, much faster than the average Fibre to the Cabinet (FTTC) connection.
Mobile data is also highly robust, if you choose the right technology. For example, an M2M (Machine to Machine) SIM, or an E-SIM that connects to multiple networks, will both create data streams as robust as fixed line broadband.
A multi-SIM network adds another layer of reliability, too. If you rely on a single mobile network, you not only lose your security services when it goes down, the loss of connection will trigger an alarm system, forcing personnel to visit the site. With a multi-SIM solution, your connectivity will simply switch to another network provider.
In addition, the use of SD-internet (Software Defined Internet) allows mobile data connections to be calibrated more precisely, enhancing performance beyond what is traditionally available from 4G.
That last point is particularly important for security and facilities management companies running networks of CCTV cameras. CCTV needs a fixed IP and extra bandwidth to show more detailed pictures of intruders. SD-internet can be calibrated to prioritise bandwidth for CCTV, while reducing it for less data-hungry applications like alarms.
The right solution – but at the right cost?
All in all, a multi-SIM, M2M mobile network is the perfect connectivity solution for security and facilities management businesses, because it is flexible, fast and robust.
But one issue is cost. Mobile data can be expensive, especially if you breach predetermined limits. If usage isn’t carefully monitored and controlled, costs can become prohibitive.
What many businesses do to avoid that eventuality is invest in spare capacity they rarely actually use. For example, they might sign up to SIMs with a 1GB data limit on each but in most months use only a fraction of that total.
Happily, there is a solution that doesn’t involve paying too much or wasting large amounts of data. Pooled data is simply the practice of having one pool of data shared across multiple devices. It’s the best way to run an effective mobile network without breaking your budget.
Here are five ways a pooled data package from Everything Voice can save you money…
Pooled data means avoiding overage
Less chance of breaching limits
Choose the best pool for you
There are three main kinds of pooled data.
- Fixed Pools, where a fixed amount of data is chosen in advance.
- Aggregated Pools, which change every time a SIM is added or removed.
- Buffer Pools, which operate at an account level and can reduce data overage charges significantly.
Most security businesses will have predictable usage, meaning a fixed pool will be the most appropriate. But if you’re adding new devices to your security infrastructure, an aggregated pool might make more sense, at least in the short term. Choosing the right pooled data type for you can lead to reduced costs, and our specialists at Everything Voice can help you make the most cost-effective decision.
Flexible by design
Getting the picture
Why Everything Voice?
Our pooled data packages can greatly reduce your mobile data spend, while ensuring your security network always has the bandwidth it needs. By utilising multi-network E-SIMs, we add an extra layer of reliability, because your CCTV and alarm systems aren’t relying on a single mobile network for connectivity.
We also combine pooled data and SD-Internet, calibrating your security infrastructure so the right bandwidth is always available for the devices that need it most.
It all makes for a comprehensive and cost-effective mobile solution for security and facilities management professionals. It can save your business money while safeguarding your security infrastructure.
If you don’t know which pooled data type is right for you – perhaps you have more complex needs – talk to Everything Voice. We’ll be happy to talk you through the options available to your business and calculate the best pooled data solution for your budget.