9.20.23 – Security Today – By Amy Varisco
Salient’s CompleteView VMS revolutionizes security for the state of Mississippi
In alignment with the state of Mississippi’s mission of “Empowering Mississippi citizens to stay connected and engaged with their government,” Salient’s CompleteView VMS is being installed throughout more than 150 state boards, commissions and agencies in order to ensure safety for thousands of constituents who access state services daily.
Determining the right path to success was not a quick process. The elaborate undertaking of converting all State of Mississippi buildings from its legacy video system, which included analog cameras across a disparate video platform, to match their standard of excellence took a lot of planning. This involved researching and interviewing multiple manufacturers of IP cameras and video management systems. The plan was strategic, as it was important to state officials to find an open architecture solution that could utilize as much existing technology as possible, thereby preserving current taxpayer investment.
After a thorough evaluation, the decision came down to three competitive VMSs, all based on total cost-of ownership, scalability requirements, software performance capabilities, along with support assessments. Salient’s CompleteView was ultimately determined the top choice.
“In the selection process, three VMS manufacturers were deemed a reasonable fit. The choice of CompleteView over these competitors came down to one critical component, partnership. The culture at Salient embodies an unmatched support you don’t typically see in an industry leader. Their greatest value-add is that open line of communication between the RSM, technical support, and engineering. If I need something, I know I can pick up the phone and get immediate assistance” said Mike Cooper with Mississippi Department of Public Safety.
Once CompleteView was selected, another strategic decision was made to have state staff members manage the design and installation of CompleteView internally rather than engage outside consulting. This has proved to be an effective option, allowing them to tailor each installation to suit individual property needs. The state works through the channel for procurement, then manages all programming and administration internally. This offers them the most flexibility while still achieving uniformity across each deployment as well as complete control of the process.
The conversion to CompleteView is underway and will take approximately three to five years to complete. The state now benefits from a centralized platform that allows for greater administrative control, as well as a product that meets the State of Mississippi standard for NDAA compliance. “We now have a platform that is easily managed and visibly organized in an efficient manner. We also appreciate having a system that’s permission based with tighter controls,” Cooper said.
Finally, The state’s technical team is committed to keeping the system updated as Salient releases newer versions of its software each quarter. These upgrades ensure they are taking advantage of all security enhancements and feature improvements that CompleteView has to offer. The state has also planned integration of its access control system, Open Options, with CompleteView, tying video directly to specific door openings. This gives State personnel an enhanced view into their security operations, with quick and easy auditing of badge events through a single interface.
Further initiatives will explore the addition of AI video analytics to add weapons detection, appearance search, and cross-camera tracking – all to help speed up investigations. An open platform makes these integrations possible. Staying present on these new releases and innovative integrations ensures an advanced level of protection from potential threats and works to achieve the ultimate end game – keeping community members safe.
About the Author
Amy Varisco is the Regional Sales Manager for Salient Systems’ Gulf South region, where she consults with security integrators and end-users across a wide range of verticals on the value of Salient’s video management platform. She joined Salient in 2019 bringing over 20+ years of experience in the security industry, with a strong focus on business management, finance, sales and operations. Amy’s strength in working with executive teams and decision makers combined with her passion for customer experience lends itself to a positive client process, from the planning stages, through deployment, and ultimately the creation of quality, long-term business relationships.