Debunking the PSIM vs VMS myths

There are many in the security industry that are drawing comparisons between a Video Management System (VMS) and Physical Security Information Management (PSIM) technology believing them to be one and the same. Yet to do so is largely because of a lack of understanding of the roles that they play and each of the system’s functionality.
A ‘typical’ video surveillance solution comprises cameras, a network infrastructure, a storage solution, and software for ‘managing’ the system – i.e. to view live and recorded video.
A browser can be used to view live video from a camera, but for handling recording and other video functionality in the system, a VMS is required, installed on the same or separate PC.
True integration
PSIM integration provides a number of benefits to companies, including enhanced reliability and fail over, increased control, improved situation awareness and management reporting. A PSIM solution can go beyond security applications which gives it scalability, adaptability into the future and hence a positive ROI.
PSIM, is not limited to video, it provides a single integrated ‘dashboard’ for a number of disparate systems on a single platform. Building management systems, electronic security, CCTV, fire safety devices and ANPR for instance can be monitored and controlled. Whilst VMS systems can integrate these systems the level of control tends to focus on CCTV and functionality is lacking for the third party interfaces as these are classed as secondary systems. Furthermore if you lose the VMS all integration is lost.
The PSIM software operates as a standalone platform over LAN or WAN networks for remote and local sites with workstations that have automatic redundancy transferring control to any operating security control room on the network. This offers the end user flexibility when closing down sites or buildings for off-peak or out of normal working hours or in the unlikely event of any system failures. A true PSIM system is product agnostic and treats all interfaces as equal with common control so training and operation of the system is intuitive and user friendly whilst offering high levels of interfaced functionality.
PSIM and VMS of course have complementary roles: PSIM depends on video supplied by a VMS system, but a PSIM system cannot record video, nor is it a substitute for a VMS. It doesn’t manage video at all as such – it manages incidents.
ISM’s PSIM solution, Genesys, allows the integration of multiple systems from multiple manufacturers – all from one holistic integrated security system.
Most importantly, it features Migrating 3+ technology, a patented automatic failover technology that adds higher levels of automatic configurable redundancy and power. Control is effectively distributed across multiple workstations: It takes power to your PC and multiplies it by the number of PCs on your network.
This means that if one PC fails, control is migrated to another PC seamlessly, with no interruption or downtime. Genesys is therefore not restricted in its performance by the size or capability of a server, nor does it require the expense of moving to server farms or utilising clustering software.
Genesys is a ‘true’ PSIM system built around intuitive software that combines a range of industry leading features and benefits including an enhanced graphical user experience and 3-D modelling and a comprehensive event management database. Events and alarms are presented to the operator clearly as and when they happen.
The clue, in many ways, is in the name: VMS is effectively limited to the management of video. For true integration of multiple technologies, however, PSIM provides the answer.