Security Surveillance Centers - Design, Implementation, and Operation

In this review of Security Surveillance Centers: Design, Implementation, and Operation, the bottom line is simple: this book is for organizations and practitioners who run or plan to run a dedicated surveillance operations center and need a practical, operations-first reference. The author shifts emphasis from equipment specifications to the everyday work of a surveillance center, so readers get step-by-step coverage of policy, procedures, and industry-ready operational forms. For anyone seeking guidance on improving day-to-day operations rather than the technical minutiae of cameras or networks, this text is the most directly useful choice.

Key Features

• Operations focus: Emphasizes the role and day-to-day function of a surveillance center so teams can standardize workflows and expectations.
• Design guidance: Covers practical aspects of designing a center of any size, which helps planners align layout and staffing with operational needs.
• Implementation steps: Provides step-by-step instruction for bringing a center online, reducing guesswork during project execution.
• Policy and procedures: Includes detailed procedures that organizations can adapt to create consistent, defensible operating practices.
• Operational forms: Supplies industry-specific forms and templates that speed training and onboarding for trainees and supervisors.
• Audience breadth: Written for users from trainees to supervisors, making it a resource across multiple organizational levels.

Who It's For

This book is aimed at security managers, operations supervisors, facility directors, and consultants who must establish or improve a physical surveillance operations center rather than spec surveillance hardware. It is particularly useful for teams that already have systems in place and need to standardize policy, training, and operational paperwork.

Those who should look elsewhere include readers seeking in-depth technical manuals on camera models, networking protocols, or system integration. This text intentionally prioritizes the human and organizational side over electronics and programming details.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Clear operational perspective helps teams adopt consistent procedures and reduce on-shift uncertainty.
• Templates and forms are immediately usable, saving time during training and implementation.
• Design and implementation guidance applies to centers of varying scale, from small rooms to larger facilities.

Cons

• Not a substitute for a technical systems manual, so readers needing electronic or network-level detail will need supplemental resources.

Specifications

Title	Security Surveillance Centers: Design, Implementation, and Operation
Author	Anthony V. DiSalvatore
Primary focus	Operation of security surveillance centers
Content type	Policy, procedures, design and implementation guidance
Includes	Operational forms and templates
Intended audience	Trainees, supervisors, organizations operating surveillance centers

Our Verdict

Security Surveillance Centers is a practical, operations-oriented reference that fills a gap left by more technical books. Organizations that operate surveillance centers and need concrete policies, procedures, and forms will find strong value here; it delivers usable guidance for design, implementation, and daily operation without getting bogged down in equipment specs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this book cover technical equipment and networking?
The emphasis is on operations and procedures; technical equipment and network-level detail are not the primary focus.

Who can use the included forms and templates?
Forms are written for industry use and can be adapted by trainees, supervisors, and facility managers for their specific center.

Is this suitable for a small site with one operator?
Yes, the design and operational guidance scale to centers of various sizes, including small single-operator rooms.