Recording, viewing and monitoring have different jobs
A camera can record, offer a live view or feed a monitoring service. Check which of those jobs each camera does at your site.
| Control or service | What it does |
|---|---|
| Recorded CCTV | Stores footage for later review. Recording settings and retention belong to the camera system and recorder. |
| Live viewing | Lets an authorised person check what a camera shows now. It still needs someone to decide when to look. |
| Remote monitoring | Sends configured events to a monitoring team for assessment and an agreed response. |
Follow the event beyond the camera
Picture movement in a restricted corridor after closing. The camera records it, but a person only knows to look if a detection system sends an event or they happen to check the feed. With monitoring, an operator can review the camera view and follow your agreed response procedure. Check how that event gets from the corridor to the monitoring team.
Where Bearbox fits
Bearbox provides live viewing for compatible connected CCTV installations, alongside access and alarm information. Recording, playback and footage export remain with the network video recorder, or NVR. Your team can check the live situation through Bearbox and use the recorder to review stored footage.
What DSOC adds
DSOC offers CCTV and alarm monitoring for self-storage. Its team can investigate the events you send and follow the response procedure agreed for your site. Confirm which cameras and alarms are covered, what the team can see, and who they contact. The monitoring service needs its own agreed coverage and response plan.
A published example: Ready Steady Store
DSOC’s Ready Steady Store case describes Bearbox MFA, alarm work by All Things Fire and Security, and professional monitoring. DSOC reports at least ten disrupted live break-in attempts over three years, involving audio warnings and guard or police responses.
Ask what happens when nobody is on site
Which areas trigger monitoring events? Who receives them? What can they see? What happens if the first contact is unavailable? Include cameras inside the building as well as the entrance, and distinguish view-only coverage from monitored detection areas. A clear answer to these questions tells you more than a camera count.