We see various types of surveillance on TV and in movies. Stakeouts, CCTV control rooms, and phone wiretaps are just some of the many methods used to keep an eye on someone — but what exactly is surveillance, and why is it important?

In this article, we’ll talk about:

• What surveillance is and why it’s important
• The 6 types of surveillance
• Advanced surveillance tools and techniques
• Why do security teams use surveillance systems?
• How Belfry supports modern surveillance

Let’s start by talking about what surveillance is and why it is so important.

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What is surveillance, and why is it important?

Surveillance can seem like Big Brother or a big eye in the sky, but it doesn’t have to be that sinister. 

It is basically the act of keeping an eye on people, places, or activities to gather information or prevent something bad from happening. It can take many forms — think of things like security cameras, electronic tracking, data analysis, or even physically watching a location.

Surveillance is a tool used by law enforcement and private investigators to ensure safety, enforce laws, and protect against threats. 

For example, police might use surveillance cameras to monitor a busy public area for suspicious behavior, or private investigators might track someone’s activities as part of a case. The goal is always to stay ahead of potential problems and keep people and places safe.

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Exploring the 6 types of surveillance & their technologies

Surveillance is a critical aspect of most security strategies. After all, surveillance techniques allow security staff, management, and business owners to better track what’s going on in their daily operations. These techniques can also help thwart criminal incidents and prevent accidents that are waiting to happen.

Let’s take a look at six types of surveillance and their tools, benefits, and challenges:

1. Physical surveillance

Physical surveillance, often incorporating direct surveillance or “boots on the ground”, is a hands-on approach involving human observation supplemented by technology. It allows real-time monitoring and involves techniques like stakeouts, patrols, or shadowing individuals during investigations or security operations. 

Let’s take a closer look at what goes on in this type of surveillance:

• Technologies and tools used: Physical surveillance often relies on stationary observation posts (stakeouts) and patrol vehicles with integrated monitoring systems. Some security staff may also shadow suspects on foot.
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• Advantages: This method allows you to gather visual evidence, such as photos and videos. It’s great for private surveillance and is also adaptable and useful for criminal investigations, confirming infidelity, corporate investigations, and insurance fraud cases.

• Challenges: One disadvantage of physical surveillance is that it can be labor-intensive and costly. After all, you’ll have to pay for salaries, training, transportation, and equipment. There may also be some legal restrictions, depending on the state’s local laws.

• Costs: A surveillance officer costs about $24 per hour on average. You may also need about $500 to $5000 initial investment on equipment like binoculars, cameras, and communication devices. 

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2. Electronic surveillance

Electronic surveillance leverages devices like cameras, microphones, and GPS trackers to monitor high-traffic areas and keep perimeters secure. It’s widely used by cops and security personnel to identify suspicious activity and collect evidence for law enforcement.

Although expensive, electronic surveillance can be an extremely reliable way for you to keep an eye on business operations and make sure that everything goes smoothly.

Let’s see what goes on in electronic surveillance:

• Technologies and tools used: You’ll often see teams using advanced CCTV and IP camera systems. They may also work with GPS trackers for vehicle and asset monitoring or covert recording devices like hidden cameras or microphones for investigations.

• Advantages: Electronic surveillance is useful for tracking shipments, merchandise, and expensive equipment. They are also a great way to increase surveillance coverage without needing guards to be physically present.

• Challenges: You’ll need to maintain the surveillance equipment consistently. There are also some legal considerations, such as obtaining consent for recordings.

• Costs:  
  
  • CCTV Cameras: Basic cameras can cost $100 to $300 each, while cameras with more features can be around $400 to $500 each. 
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  • High-definition CCTV systems: Some users have reported that basic commercial CCTV systems with multiple cameras can cost anywhere from $1,000 for 3-4 cameras to $4,000 for 8 cameras. More complex systems can cost upwards of those amounts.
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  • GPS tracking devices: $50 to $100 per device. Some may have monthly fees from $10 to $50.
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  • Covert recording devices: $100 to $1,500, depending on the quality, level of covertness, and functionality.
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  • Advanced systems: Systems like perimeter security can cost $10,000 to $50,000 for large-scale operations. 

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3. Computer surveillance

Computer surveillance focuses on tracking digital activities, including emails, web browsing, and other online activity. It plays a crucial role in cybersecurity, corporate espionage prevention, and monitoring insider threats.

Here’s what you can expect in computer surveillance:

• Technologies and tools used: Teams often use firewalls and malware detection software. They may also employ AI tools for identifying suspicious online behavior. People can watch for odd user activity within a closed network.

• Advantages: Computer surveillance can help protect sensitive data and may also prevent cybercrime. It can also allow companies and organizations to detect criminal activity from within. Finally, companies can also prevent fraud by detecting suspicious orders.

• Challenges: This type of surveillance requires skilled IT personnel to implement and monitor. It may also be subject to privacy concerns and legal considerations depending on the state.

• Costs: 
  
  • Anti-virus software: $20 to $60 per device annually.
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  • Firewalls: For small businesses, hardware costs can range from $700 to $1,000. Businesses with 15 to 100 users can expect to pay $1,500 to $4,000 for firewall hardware.
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  • Skilled IT personnel: $50,000 to $120,000 per IT expert annually, depending on location and skill level.

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4. Social media surveillance

Most people have probably been guilty of doing a little social media creeping once in a while. However, in security, this type of surveillance involves monitoring public social media activity to identify patterns, connections, or potential threats. 

While it relies on publicly shared information, social media surveillance can still lead to privacy concerns and ethical debates about data usage.

Another big advantage of social media surveillance is the low cost, as it only requires investments in software and apps.

Here’s what goes on in social media surveillance:

• Technologies and tools used: Security teams may use AI-driven tools for sentiment analysis and trend tracking. They may also utilize social media monitoring platforms for open-source intelligence or OSINT (the process of gathering and analyzing publicly available information from open sources such as websites, social media platforms, and more).

• Advantages: Social media monitoring is much more cost-effective and non-intrusive compared to other surveillance methods. It can also help you to gather valuable insight from publicly available content.

• Challenges: Unfortunately, in this method, you may be limited to publicly available data. It also raises ethical concerns around monitoring individuals online — even if they posted the info themselves.

• Costs:
  
  • AI-driven monitoring tools: Apps like Hootsuite offer monthly subscriptions starting from $99, depending on the features. They may also provide enterprise plans at custom costs.
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  • Existing OSINT platforms: You can use existing platforms at prices starting from $25 a month.
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  • Custom OSINT platforms: Initial investment in the development of these platforms can be anywhere from $5,000 to $20,000, depending on scale.

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5. Financial surveillance

Financial surveillance monitors transactions to detect fraud, embezzlement, or money laundering so we don’t see another Madoff or Enron. It ensures that a company and its employees are complying with regulations and supports forensic accounting at both individual and corporate levels.

Here’s what to expect with financial surveillance:

• Technologies and tools used: Teams can use AI algorithms for transaction monitoring. They may also use secure databases for cross-referencing suspicious activities.

• Advantages: One of the biggest advantages of this surveillance method is that it improves transparency and helps to uncover financial crimes. It can also support efforts to comply with regulations.

• Challenges: Companies must provide extensive data access. You will then need skilled staff to handle data analysis. Financial surveillance must also adhere to strict regulatory oversight, including the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA), the USA Patriot Act, the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2020, and the Corporate Transparency Act.

• Costs:
  
  • AI transaction monitoring systems: Starts at $500 to $1000 per month for smaller scale systems; Can go up to $100,000 annually for larger scale systems.
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  • Compliance and auditing tools: Anywhere from $10 a month to single payments of $10,000 or more. Auditing services can cost $10,000 to $50,000 annually. Most don’t publish pricing publicly. 
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  • Forensic accounting services: $150–$500 per hour or $10,000–$50,000 per investigation.

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6. Biometric surveillance

Biometric surveillance, such as facial recognition or fingerprints, identifies individuals using unique physical traits. It doesn’t have to be as complex as an episode of Black Mirror, but nevertheless, security teams and businesses often rely on biometric surveillance for access control and asset tracking, especially in high-security situations.

Here’s what’s involved in biometric surveillance: 

• Technologies and tools used: Security operations can employ AI-powered facial recognition integrated into camera surveillance systems. They may also use fingerprint and iris scanners for secure authentication.

• Advantages: Biometric surveillance provides high accuracy with minimal human involvement. It also offers indisputable evidence of identity in investigations.

• Challenges: Since it involves such personal data, biometric surveillance is often controversial, with divided public opinions on its use.  There are also privacy concerns and potential biases in technology.

• Cost: Fingerprint scanners can be anywhere from $50 to $500 per device, while facial recognition systems can cost $1,000-$2,000 per door (or more for complex systems). Multi-factor authentication systems are pricier, at around $2,000 to $4,000 per door (or more for advanced setups).

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Advanced surveillance tools and techniques

Although the six surveillance methods we talked about above are all excellent ways to secure operations, sometimes you just need more to stay ahead of clever criminals and today’s ever-evolving threats.

Nowadays, you can find cutting-edge technology with real-time capabilities. These innovations help improve threat detection, make security operations more efficient, and ensure teams can respond rapidly to incidents and crises.

Let’s look at some advanced surveillance tools and techniques below:

AI-powered video surveillance

AI-powered video surveillance integrates artificial intelligence with video systems to enable automated threat detection and anomaly recognition.

• Use cases: Intruder detection, monitoring large spaces for unusual activity, and identifying patterns that indicate potential risks.
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• How is the AI trained? AI systems are trained using extensive datasets of video footage labeled with specific scenarios (e.g., normal behavior vs. suspicious activity). Machine learning algorithms analyze this data to identify patterns and improve detection accuracy over time.

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Live monitoring with integrated alerts

This technique involves real-time video feed monitoring supported by AI and human operators to reduce the chances of missing important details.

• Applications: Commonly used in warehouses, construction sites, and public venues where immediate response is crucial.
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• Key features: Alerts generated by AI or human monitoring can instantly notify security officers, enabling them to act swiftly or call law enforcement and first responders when necessary.

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Managed surveillance solutions

Managed surveillance solutions provide a fully outsourced system that includes the design, deployment, and maintenance of different types of surveillance systems.

• Features: These solutions often include advanced analytics, intelligent alerts, and remote control of surveillance systems.
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• Examples:
  
  • Corporate Use: Managed video surveillance systems that monitor office premises with centralized control for enhanced security.
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  • Government Applications: Systems tailored for securing public infrastructure, such as transportation hubs or municipal buildings.

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Why do security teams use surveillance systems?

Surveillance systems are so second nature that they’re practically expected in most security operations. And like any tradesman uses their tools for their trades, security guards use their own.

Teams employ surveillance systems because they offer several key benefits that make them helpful in modern security strategies. These systems help give a little boost to attention to detail, allowing security officers to see things that they might miss otherwise.

Here are other benefits of using surveillance systems:

• Crime deterrence: Visible surveillance systems act as a deterrent to potential criminals. When they feel like they can be caught at any time, they’re less likely to do bad things.
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• Real-time responses: Modern surveillance systems, especially those equipped with AI and live monitoring capabilities, can generate instant alerts for suspicious activities. This allows security teams to respond quickly and appropriately.

• Evidence collection: Surveillance systems provide reliable video and audio recordings that serve as crucial and irrefutable evidence in investigations or court cases.

• Operational efficiency: By automating the monitoring process, surveillance systems reduce the need for manual patrols while still increasing overall security coverage. This allows security teams to allocate their limited resources more effectively.

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Next steps to upgrade your surveillance strategy

If you’re ready to improve your security operations and put together a future-ready surveillance strategy, here are the key steps to guide your approach:

1. Perform a security audit: Begin by conducting a comprehensive security audit to identify gaps in your current setup and assess your organization’s needs. Evaluate areas of vulnerability and prioritize critical zones.
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2. Prioritize user-friendliness: Not everyone is exceptionally tech-savvy, so seek user-friendly solutions to ensure smooth operations and reduce the need for extensive training. Otherwise, hire specialists with the necessary tech expertise.
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3. Begin phased implementation: Adopt a phased approach when rolling out surveillance upgrades. Focus on scalable solutions that allow incremental expansion, helping you optimize costs and adjust coverage as your needs evolve.
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4. Focus on integration: Ensure the new systems are compatible with your existing infrastructure. Try software like Belfry that can help simplify your security operations.

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How Belfry supports modern surveillance efforts

The ability to keep an eye on things even in hard-to-reach areas and during off-hours has certainly improved many modern security strategies. But beyond using these types of surveillance, you can also use software like Belfry to further broaden the scope of your security operations.

Here’s how Belfry can support your operation:

• Security guard accountability: Belfry offers modern geofencing capabilities that allow you to check whether your security guards are at their assigned posts and that they are adhering to your protocols. You get an instant notification if they deviate from their assignments.
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• Real-time reactions: Even the best surveillance methods aren’t useful if you aren’t able to respond quickly to a situation. Belfry’s live activity logging and GPS tracking features allow you to monitor your operations in real time, so you can mount responses promptly.
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• Improved collaboration: With its mobile app and integrated instant messaging system, Belfry helps security guards, dispatchers, and administrators to collaborate quickly and efficiently.
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• Simplified reporting: Security guards can have a much easier time sending in their incident reports using Belfry’s mobile app.

Want to experience these benefits? Schedule a Free Demo Today.