Posted by Richard Schissler on Tue, Aug 14, 2012 @ 04:27 PM
Smaller businesses, say under a 100 employees typically don’t properly classify the purchase and maintenance of their IT equipment. Many CEO’s, controllers, or other corporate managers look at IT as a fixed asset and expense and nothing more. The reality is that a company’s IT is a process and it needs to be managed like one if the company is going to be successful.
The main measure of success of a small company IT department should be uptime. Or if you prefer the glass half empty, then measure downtime. The equipment and software that runs on it needs to be available and usable to the workers during all working hours.
A second measure of success is that the equipment and software are the best suited for the particular job or use they are assigned. If they are then the employee can work at maximum efficient while completing all assigned work task.
It takes a certain amount of expertise and investment to keep the IT process efficiently moving at all times. Many companies cannot afford the investment or in many cases do not recognize the true width and breath of the necessary investment. This is the exact situation that outsourcing was designed for. The company can connect with a quality vendor that has the resources and expertise that it provides to a number of clients, thus spreading the cost around.
Houston Outsource IT Services
Outsourcing is not a relationship that should be entered into lightly. In the case of IT we are considering outsourcing one of our primary operational processes. The basic part of the process, the actual operation and connectivity of the computers is a pretty straight forward proposition. The key challenge is the connection of the various software. The proposed outsourced vendor must have a certain level of knowledge of the primary software that is being used. Without this knowledge there is no way the vendor can really add value to the relationship.
The right vendor can bring economies of scale to the table that can reduce overall costs. Their help desk should be able to raise the uptime of the entire workforce. The fixed price of the service provides management with a much better control over their budgeted IT costs. A well-trained, well-established Houston Managed IT Services firm can really make any company’s IT process run like a well-oiled machine.
WesTec Services, A Houston IT provider that offers a wide range of services including: Network Installation/Service, Telephone Systems/Service, Video Surveillance/Access Control and Office Equipment
CALL TODAY at (713) 682-4000
Posted by Richard Schissler on Thu, Aug 02, 2012 @ 01:55 PM
No one wants to buy an electric drill they want to buy a hole!
It is important to focus on the purpose of a new surveillance system. In most cases it is to capture an unlawful or suspicious activity with an identifiable picture. You need to determine a reasonable budget to meet your expectations. Today most customers request an IP or networked base system using IP cameras. The fact is the less expensive Houston CCTV system using analog cameras can provide excellent pictures and be recorded on a reasonably priced DRV that has network connectivity to a mobile device. Images can be down loaded to memory sticks in several formats.
Yes, IP cameras have unlimited potential but if your budget is limited why not invest in an analog system.
I have been called in to help Houston security camera customers that have applications that they invested in network components only to get limited number of low resolution cameras. For the same investment they could have had an analogy system with more cameras and a better resolution. I have heard it said that the breakeven point on investment is about 20 cameras, analog verses IP cameras.
Ask yourself a few questions.
- Do I require positive ID or recognition? Do I need to give the picture to law enforcement that they can use to positively identify the suspect or will the picture be used to recognize an employee?
- Will I be better off with more cameras focused on a specific areas or general over view with fewer hi-quality cameras?
- Is low light going to be a consideration?
There are a number of differences between IP and analog cameras. The main one being price. Also the quaility of view offered can be siginficant different. 
The picuture above shows how very different the view can be.
One good use of an inexpensive IP camera is to use it as a standalone camera with a SD card. I have heard that some school busses are doing this successfully. Installing an IP camera, with 12 volt power and removing the SD card at the end of each shift. A good quality IP mini dome camera with SD card cost about $500.00.
More on the use of the IP camera with the SD card in my next blog.
WesTec Services, A Houston IT provider that offers a wide range of services including: Network Installation/Service, Telephone Systems/Service, Video Surveillance/Access Control and Office Equipment
CALL TODAY at (713) 682-4000
