Retailers can increase security and decrease loss with a new open architecture video surveillance system, now available through a partnership between Direct Source and Milestone Systems. The IP-based video platform helps retailers digitally capture real-time footage of the store and can automatically alert employees about potential thefts, suspicious behavior and other security events.

"Retailers use a large amount of resources to review and analyze analog video," said Brad Fick, president, Direct Source, a national retail system integration, deployment and services provider. "Being able to pull digital information in real-time based on specifically selected events, rather than scroll through analog, can save time, improve loss prevention, reduce total cost of ownership and better manage staffing."

With the platform, retailers can increase the effectiveness of their existing security teams and leverage security tools already in place. The software acts as the glue of the surveillance system, to connect, share and manage multiple cameras or security devices through a single user interface. Direct Source recommends cameras from Axis Communications, the global leader in the network video market, in any Milestone platform installation.

"The approach afforded by the open platform of Milestone and the expertise of Direct Source gives retailers the ability to design a solution that not only meets their needs today, but is scalable and flexible to meet future requirements," said Hedgie Bartol, retail manager, Milestone Systems. "A platform approach allows migration from analog to hybrid to a full IP-based system. It also supports layering other solutions such as business intelligence and analytics to create one holistic, unified platform."