Home security essentials: February 2012

Advantages and Uses of Video Conferencing

Uses of Video conferencing

Video conferencing can be used in a host of different environments, which is one of the reasons the technology is so popular. General uses for video conferencing include business meetings, educational training or instruction and collaboration among health officials or other representatives. Thus far video conferencing has been used in the following fields:

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- Telemedicine

- Telecommunicatio

- Education

- Surveillance

- Security

- Emergency Response

Advantages and Benefits of Video conferencing

Perhaps the biggest advantage or benefit video conferencing has to offer is the ability to meet with people in remote locations without incurring travel expenses or other expenses associated with face to face communication. Business meetings, educational meetings, healthcare conferences and more can all be easily conducted thanks to video conferencing technology. Individuals living in remote areas can also use video conferencing to keep in touch if you will, with the world at large.

More people are easily accessed and contacted using video conferencing. Because of this technology information and knowledge are often disseminated at more rapid rates, and collaboration between people occurs more willingly and freely. Students can take advantage of video conferencing to take classes at distant locations that would normally be unavailable. They can also take classes that will accommodate busy schedules.

Video conferencing can stimulate better brainstorming, knowledge sharing and information gathering. Businesses can use video conferencing to provide presentations to key members of an organization or to solicit new clients in a professional manner, regardless of their location. The possibilities for communication are virtually endless thanks to video conferencing technologies.

Advantages and Uses of Video Conferencing

Article by Frank Owen, visit his web site on video conferencing for more information on video conferencing http://www.videoconferencinginsider.com

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Remote View Your Home Security Cameras While Away From Home

So you have installed a home security camera system at your home, or are planning to install one. That is great news, because you can start using your camera system to prevent problems as well as provide evidence if vandalism or theft occurs. But if you are currently in the market for a home security camera system, then you might want to consider some of the added features that are available. Many home security camera systems can provide you the ability to view your cameras while you are away from home over the internet. But it is important to look for certain things when you are considering a remotely viewable home security camera system.

The most important thing to consider when you are selecting a remote-viewable security camera system is the security of your system on the network. It is important to ensure that the system you have selected has the ability to set up a password protected user account, so that you can ensure that you will be the only one that has access to your system. After all, you don't want someone else being able to watch you on your cameras.

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Next, you should consider your internet connection...do you have a static IP address or dynamic IP address internet connection? If you do not know the answer to that question, then it is very likely that you have a dynamic IP address, because static IP addresses cost more on a monthly basis from your internet service provider. It is important to know this when selecting a home security camera system, because if you can avoid having to pay an extra -30 per month for a static IP address, then you can save a great deal of money in the long-run. So when you are selecting a remote viewable home security camera system or DVR, be sure to ask if it will work with a dynamic IP address. Most of the systems on the market will not work with a dynamic IP address, which is why our Alnet Systems PC-Based DVR Cards have become very popular for home security camera installations. This system has built-in support for the dynamic IP addresses, so that you can view your cameras remotely, without having to pay an extra monthly fee to your internet service provider.

Finally, look at the remote viewing options that the home security camera system or DVR offers you. The remote viewing ability of standalone and PC-based DVRs vary widely from basic Internet Explorer-ONLY remote viewing through a web browser, to more advanced PC-Client remote viewing that offer full-resolution access to your cameras, and even Windows Mobile PDA phone and Windows Mobile Smartphone remote viewing, like with our Alnet Systems PC-Based home security camera systems. With the PDA phone and Smartphone remote viewing, you are even able to connect in to view your live and pre-recorded video right from your cell phone, so that next time you are on the train and stressing out about whether or not you shut the garage door, you can know for sure in seconds.

The decision to install home security cameras is becoming an easy one in today's society...but ensure when you do, that you select a system that can work for your needs. Consider the costs and remote viewing capabilities at the same time, because a cheaper DVR can sometimes cost you more in internet connection costs over the long run, while providing lower-quality recording at the same time. Let the remote access allow you to have better peace of mind, and stay more connected with your largest investment, your home.

Remote View Your Home Security Cameras While Away From Home

Ez-Toyz Inc. Surveillance Solutions is dedicated to helping homeowners protect their homes from vandalism and theft. Our experts can assist you in protecting your home with a system that will suit your needs and budget. Home Surveillance Camera Systems can be as simple as a single camera plugged into a VCR, or as robust and powerful as a PC-Based DVR or Standalone DVR multi-camera systems. Our most popular Home Surveillance Camera Systems can be found here: http://ez-toyz.com/Home_Surveillance_Systems.asp

For more information on Home Surveillance Camera systems in general, visit http://homesurveillancecameras.us

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5 Easy Steps to Improving Your Security Guard Service

When property managers hire security guard companies they have a picture in mind of what their contract security force will look like, but too often what they get is not what they pictured. What we have found is that most security guard companies are capable of providing the service that property managers want, but too often do not because of a lack of ongoing quality control procedures.

Security guard companies are unlike any vendor that a property manager usually hires. If you hire a painter, you can see whether or not they are doing their jobs by looking at the walls. But when you hire a security guard company, how often can you see whether the guard company is doing their job which includes running background checks and drug screenings, providing good training for your guards, and effectively monitoring and supervising your guards. In most instances they probably are, but it is important to implement a system of verification and quality control to ensure that problems associated with the lack of performing these jobs do not begin to occur.

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In this article we will discuss five (5) easy steps to improving your security guard service and achieving what you picture as your ideal security guard force.

Screen Your Guards Qualifications

In many states, guards are mandated to have a specified amount of training before they can begin working as security guards. If your state is one of these states, ensure that your security guard company is compliant.

If you are in a state where there are no state requirements for guard certification, then investigate the type of training that is being provided by your security company and ask yourself does it seem adequate.

Additionally, is your security guard company performing background and drug screenings on all your guards BEFORE they send them to your property? If they are, they should be providing you with verifications. If not, why?

Another excellent way to screen whether the guard is a good fit for your property is to conduct a short "interview" to get a feel for the guard and to explain your expectations. This initial conversation can tell you a lot about what to expect from that guard and it gives you a chance to request a different guard if you feel that it is necessary.

Assess Guard Training

Although most security guard companies have a very thorough orientation that introduces each guard to the company itself, in many cases the guard's orientation to his assigned property is not as complete. We call the orientation for the assigned property "Site Specific Training". Find out what your site specific training looks like:

• Does it occur at your property?
• Who does the training?
• How long is each new officer trained?
• How long does the security company double bank? (Double banking is the process of having a veteran guard working at the same time as the new guard.)
• How thoroughly are your post orders explained?

Determine the answer to each of these questions and make sure that they fit with what you feel is adequate. You should even consider sitting in on your security guard company's orientation and your site specific training to get an understanding of what goes into preparing a guard to work at your property.

Review Your Guard's Supervision

Guard supervision is one of the more important factors of good security guard service. When security companies provide poor supervision, there is not enough emphasis placed on preventing mistakes, problems, and complaints. Lack of supervision also removes the opportunity for the guard to learn and better understand their duties. If the guards are not being supervised, they begin to feel that their work is not important and they begin to see themselves as less of a part of the security team. When guards do not feel like part of your team it typically leads to unacceptable practices such as unprofessional behavior, tardiness, and even theft.

Depending on the structure of your contract, on-site supervisors may not be included. If your contract does not require on-site supervision, how does your security guard company remotely supervise its guards? Outside of the normal security company field supervisor spot checks, the two methods of remote supervision that prove most successful are:

1. Officer Tour Tracking Systems
2. Officer Check-Ins

If your guards are required to make rounds of your property, then a system for tracking them while on duty is essential. Officer Tour Tracking Systems provide a remote way of monitoring the guards while they are on your property. These tracking systems allow the security guard company to monitor the time and log the activity of the guards while they are making rounds to various areas on your property. Most Officer Tour Tracking Systems can generate reports that enable the security guard company to quickly get an understanding of whether the guard is making rounds. The property manager should also be provided with an abridged version of these reports. Manufacturers of such systems include Deggy and Timekeeping Systems, Inc.

In addition to Officer Tour Tracking systems, we have found that having a system for guards to check in regularly with the security guard company provides a way of making sure that each guard is safe and alert. By having guards check-in regularly with the security guard company, at least every 30 minutes, guards feel that their safety is important and that being awake and alert is an important part of their job.

Inspect Your Guards

After hours inspections of your guards are always great ways of finding out exactly what is happening with your security while you are not there. During these inspections, make sure to ask your security guards questions about their duties and responsibilities to ensure that they understand their jobs. In fact, we suggest having your security guards audited regularly, formally (i.e. post inspection) and informally (i.e. secret shopped) by a licensed security consultant as part of your ongoing security program.

Firms like Asymmetric Strategies provide a free service aimed at doing exactly that. Remember, when choosing a security consultant be sure that the consultant is not actually a security guard company. If so, your audit is sure to turn up problems with your current security guard company.

Meet with your Security Guard Company Regularly

The fifth and easiest step is to regularly meet with your security company. Without providing regular feedback to your security guard company, property managers are missing out on opportunities to achieve incremental increases in efficiency. Topics such as tenant feedback, guard attrition, feedback from any remote supervisory systems, and any security audits should be discussed during these meetings.

For property managers, getting the security that they want is sometimes just a matter of putting the right processes in place to make sure that all parties understand what is expected. The five easy steps that we outline here are just a few for you to consider. For more ideas or suggestions, please feel free to contact us by email at info@asymmetricstrategies.com or contact a licensed security consultant in your area.

5 Easy Steps to Improving Your Security Guard Service

Mr. Courtney Sparkman is General Manager of Asymmetric Strategies, LLC a Chicago, IL based security consultancy serving a broad range of clients that include both property managers and security guard companies. He served as the Vice President of Operations at one of the premier security agencies in Chicago for 7 years and has nearly 20 years of experience in client relationship management. Mr. Sparkman has always strived to make a difference for the clients that he works with.

For more information on increasing the effectiveness of your security guard company's services please visit our website.

Foods That Contain Essential Fatty Acids

We all need essential fatty acids to live a life that where we are physically and mentally well. There are many great foods to choose from that will offer you more essential fatty acids. This list of such foods will help you make choices to eat better and make sure you get enough in your diet.

Fatty fish and fish oil supplements

Home Security Essentials

The food that will provide you with the best source of essential fatty acids is fish and fish oil supplements. Many individuals who have issues with heart disease, high cholesterol, and various other disorders are encouraged by their doctor to include fatty fish in their diet at least three times each week. Fish oil supplements should also be taken each day. Make sure you choose fish that is low in mercury because it can reduce the benefits from the essential Omega 3 fatty acids.

Flax seed and flax seed supplements

Another wonderful source for Omega 3 fatty acids is flax seed and flax seed supplements. Fish oil provides the Omega 3 fatty acids EPA and DHA and flax seed contains ALA. This is converted into EPA and DHA. It is important to understand that diabetics are not able to benefit from flax seed oil because their body can't convert it into EPA and DHA. It is a great alternative for vegetarians and vegans though who don't want to eat fish or take fish oil supplements. It is very common to grind flax oil and then sprinkle it on cereal and salads. You can also choose flax seed oil capsules that you can take daily.

Walnuts

Walnuts contain high amounts of essential fatty acids that come from plants. Eating a handful of walnuts each day will increase the amount of essential Omega 3 fatty acids in your system as well as reduce your cholesterol and reduce your risk of heart disease and arthritis.

Omega 3 Eggs

Many people enjoy the taste of Omega 3 eggs that come from chickens that have been able to roam freely on farms or they have been fed flax and fish oil as part of their diet. The amount of Omega 3 in the eggs is much more than you will find in ordinary eggs. They also contain EPA and DHA.

Vegetables

Eating dark green, leafy vegetables will provide you with various essential fatty acids but not enough to meet your daily required intake. It is important that you take a supplement as well.

Eating a well balanced diet that consists of dark green, leafy vegetables, omega 3 eggs, walnuts, flax seed, fatty fish, and supplements of either fish oil or flax seed oil will ensure you get the proper amount of essential Omega 3 fatty acids.

Foods That Contain Essential Fatty Acids

You can also find more info on omega essential fatty and raw flax seed. OmegaFlaxSeedOil.com is a comprehensive resource to help individuals gain the benefits of essential nutrition such as flax seed oil, omega 3 and vitamin B12.

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What Gift Should You Give Your Security Guard?

You should give your security guards gifts. After all, they are the people who watch you and your property day and night. You should be able to show them your gratitude with well-chosen gifts that are as memorable as they are useful. This article contains a few suggestions about what you should give your guards for any special occasion.

First of all, know what your security guards are interested in, and know what their families might want and need. For instance, do your security guards like to read? You can give them useful books, whether fiction or non-fiction, that they can read off the job. This will give them a way to relax when they are not working.

Home Security Essentials

You might also want to give their children or spouses special gifts or tokens to remember you by. For example, give them something to help keep cooked food warm. This can allow your guards to have warm food on the job. When nights grow cold, you can also have sweaters and jackets to give your security guards and their families.

Second, get things to keep your security guard safe. They may leave their duty late and could be put in danger. Give them their own stun guns or portable knives. You may also want to keep your security guards awake and alert, so coffee is a good security guard gift. You may choose to give coffee beans, ground coffee, or even coffee mugs and thermal containers to keep coffee warm.

A gift basket is always a good gift to give. Make sure that you have only the best quality products in your gift basket. A good theme would be gourmet foods, which your security guard can share with his or her family. You may also want to give chocolates or coffee, which can keep a security guard up and alert.

Last, although you might cringe at the thought, money is still a good option. Your security guards may or may not be paid thousands of dollars to do their job, but at the end of the day, they still need to have some cash on hand to make up for their expenses. A few hundreds will be a good gift without you appearing condescending.

These are only a few things that you can get your security guards. Remember, they are the ones who keep you safe and sound, and they deserve to be recognized for their bravery and strength.

What Gift Should You Give Your Security Guard?

The Security Guard Package is one special kit that includes the security guard essentials. Get one from TBO-Tech Self Defense Products.

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How to Improve Network Security

Naturally, with the growing benefits of technology, the Internet and network configurations comes the growing danger of security breaches, identity theft and cyber crimes. Unfortunately, electronic theft is becoming a greater danger to many businesses across the globe, so how do business owners keep their data safe and secure? One way to keep sensitive information secure is to constantly improve network security and to stay ahead of the game.

Every day we hear that computer viruses, hacker, and other security breaches have found new ways to steal identities, financial records and other information we thought previously secure. Because of the increase in such cyber crimes, data protection laws have tightened and the punishments hardened. With this comes the need for all businesses to take data security very seriously.

Home Security Essentials

It is extremely important to improve network security for your business on a regular basis. Aside from encrypted pages and passwords, there is a multitude of ways to improve network security for your business which include firewalls and other infrastructure protective measures. Education, information and action are key elements to improving any network's security.

Before a business can adequately protect its network, it is important to understand that there is no such thing as a completely secure system, as technology is always changing. However, to stay one step ahead and keep the network secure, business owners and their IT department should learn and understand any and all risks associated with security standards and network systems.

Network security can always be improved. After understanding the risks involved in any network, network operators should be educated and informed. It is important for network operators to keep an eye out for operational anomalies. Any anomaly is usually an indication that something is wrong and there may be a security breach. In addition to educating operators, it is important for operators to know and understand the risks associated with your existing security standards. Risk mitigation is essential in improving network security.

Organisation is also crucial to improving network security. It is an excellent idea to employ both control system engineers and IT specialists to work together to maintain the network. If you are unable to employ individuals, you may outsource the positions. The team should schedule risk analyses on a regular basis, implement change control and monitor the network regularly. Additionally, create policies and procedures that describe and outline risk mitigation, alert vectors and actions to be taken if and when any type of security breach is detected is smart. Furthermore, your operating staff should know exactly who to contact in the case of a breach or attack on the security of the network.

Following industry guidance and suggestions is also a good way to improve network security. One of these suggestions is to create a single point failure matrix, which is often critical during possible threats or attacks. The network security industry is always announcing new ways to secure and protect networks, configurations and information.

Staying informed has never been more important than when a business needs to improve network security. Though integrating the latest technologies and protections for your network is smart, regular security audits, education, and monitoring are all key ways to improve network security.

How to Improve Network Security

Derek Rogers is a freelance writer who writes for a number of UK businesses. For information on Network Security, he recommends Network 24, a leading provider of UK network security solutions.

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Adapting to Change: 5 Essential Life Skills

People who are adaptive are able to organize their thoughts in ways that generate appropriate and positive actions. Adaptive abilities are necessary as changes occur in individuals and their circumstances.

Adaptive behaviors are age-dependent skills that allow us to engage successfully in activities of daily living throughout our lives. We can also think of adaptive behaviors as skills that allow us to be flexible when change occurs in our personal lives or careers.

Home Security Essentials

If we are adaptive, we will react to unexpected events or unconstructive actions in creative or constructive ways. An adaptive individual is able to refocus the mind in new directions and make choices based on his or her desired outcomes. He or she is open to change, knowing it is the set of the sail that matters--not the direction of the wind.

Consider these five life skills for dealing constructively with changing circumstances in daily living.

1. Stop and think to avoid misinterpretations. Give yourself time to analyze situations thoroughly. View actions and circumstances from different angles and perspectives to gain an accurate understanding of what has happened. If people are involved, communicate your concerns and ask questions to get information that might not be apparent. This will allow you to make informed choices.

2. Think long-term. Ask yourself "What if?" questions. Think about the consequences of dealing with a situation in various ways. Ask, "What will I lose?" and "What will I gain?" "How could this choice affect my family, friends, self, and future well being?"

3. Prepare for change with continuous learning. Change is a constant in everyone's life. The skills needed to meet various needs will change throughout all stages of life. We will continue to need updated knowledge in such areas as self-care, relationships, parenting, and financial.

4. Look beneath the surface. Welcome challenges. Every challenging situation brings the chance to grow wiser and more skillful. Somewhere, someone has successfully dealt with the same situation. Even circumstances that seem most devastating carry within them the seed of a new blessing. Those who search for these blessings will eventually find them.

5. Become clear on your values: the principles that guide your actions. Then look at your needs: those things that must be met in ways that remain true to your values. Ask yourself this question: "Is my reaction an attempt to meet a personal need in a healthy manner, or is it a creative solution to some other problem?" Then ask, "Is my choice of action in keeping with my core values?"

Thinking conscientiously about these skills has helped many of my clients to make positive choices in situations requiring adaptive change and problem solving. They can also help you. May every new challenge leave you wiser, more skillful, more adaptive, and more loving, today and also in the future.

Adapting to Change: 5 Essential Life Skills

© Copyright 2006 by Steve Brunkhorst. Steve is a professional life success coach, motivational author, and the editor of Achieve! 60-Second Nuggets of Inspiration, a popular mini-zine bringing great stories, motivational nuggets, and inspiring thoughts to help you achieve more in your career and personal life. Get the next issue by visiting http://www.AchieveEzine.com

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