5 Things You Should Know Before Selecting a Site Security Partner
If you're evaluating site security providers, it can be hard to know where to start. Price varies wildly, promises can sound the same, and every provider claims to be the “best option.” But there are a few key things worth considering to avoid frustration later.
Below, we’ll cover 5 key factors that make the biggest difference, and why more teams are choosing reliability backed by genuine support.
Why Cutting Corners on Site Security Costs More in the Long Run
1. The Real Cost of Site Security: What You Don’t See on the Quote
When you’re comparing security providers, it’s easy to focus on the price on the page, but the real cost often shows up later. We regularly hear from project teams who chose a cheaper system to save money upfront, only to discover how much extra time, effort, and risk it added once the project was underway.
If your engineers or site managers are spending hours hunting through footage, dealing with offline cameras, or trying to get hold of a provider who never answers the phone, that “cheap” system is already costing far more than you planned. And if a break-in happens, especially one that the system fails to detect or record, the cost becomes even clearer.
Cheaper systems often create hidden burdens, such as:
- Extra labour spent troubleshooting and managing issues
- Lost time piecing together poor-quality or incomplete footage
- Unexpected downtime when equipment fails or goes offline
- Avoidable after-hours callouts for problems that shouldn’t have happened
- Costs from theft, damage, delays, or insurance claims
When you take the full picture into account, the maths changes. A low-cost system often adds more work, more risk, and more stress to your project team. Reliable hardware, proper monitoring, and responsive support don’t just protect your site — they protect your time, your budget, and your peace of mind.
2. Build Quality: Hardware and Mounting Options.
Secondly, it’s worth taking a close look at how the systems are actually built. Many low-cost setups rely on aluminium poles pushed into the ground, lightweight bases, IBC water tanks, plastic fittings or cheap materials. They might look fine on day one, but they’re easy to tamper with and, in some cases, easy to remove entirely. All it takes is a few minutes and the wrong person with the right tools, which means your site is vulnerable when you need it most. That’s why build quality is one of the biggest issues in site security.
Example
Here is a great example of why build quality matters: we had twelve Blackbox systems on site for a project north of Brisbane, while a neighbouring project was using four cheap systems. When an afternoon storm blew through, every one of their cameras blew over, leaving the site completely exposed at the worst possible time.
Meanwhile, our systems are equipped with heavy-duty poles and 1.2-tonne bases that remained upright and operational without missing a beat. When conditions get tough, the quality of your equipment becomes the difference between staying protected and being left vulnerable.
Our systems use:
- 1-tonne concrete bases
- 5m heavy-duty steel poles
- Industrial-grade mounting designed to resist movement and sabotage
- IP33 housings, solar, and electronics
- AI Cameras and large capacity backup battery systems for increased reliability
The idea is simple: If the system isn’t physically secure, your site is not secure.
3. Smarter Software Matters: Why We Use NX Witness
Another key factor to consider when comparing security providers is the software that powers the system. Cameras are important, but without the right platform behind them, you’re left with slow playback, clunky interfaces, and footage that’s hard to access when you need it most.
That’s why we use NX Witness, the industry-leading video management system trusted across the security industry. It gives project teams the kind of speed, reliability, and control that cheaper or outdated platforms simply can’t match.
With NX, you get:
- Fast, intuitive playback that lets you find what you need in seconds
- Smart AI tools to help identify people, vehicles, and activity
- Reliable mobile access for checking in from anywhere
- Simple, powerful investigation tools
- Secure user permissions to keep sensitive information protected
In other words, you’re not just getting a camera on a pole.
You’re getting a fully fledged, industry-leading security platform designed for the demands of construction and infrastructure projects.
It all comes down to Setup and Service
4. No “Set and Forget”: Why Proper Camera Commissioning Matters More Than Most People Realise
This is critically important when choosing a security partner, what the onboarding process is like and how your system is actually getting commissioned? A surprising number of providers will install a camera, plug it in, and leave it set to motion detection, as if we are still in the 80's. No fine-tuning, no detection zones, no AI analytics, no alert testing, and no real confidence that the system will perform when it matters.
Our approach is very different.
Every Blackbox unit goes through a thorough commissioning process, because the effectiveness of a security system comes down to how well it’s configured, not just the hardware you put on the pole.
We set up:
- Precise detection zones to reduce false alarms
- Smart triggers and alerts so the right people are notified at the right time
- AI behaviour settings for humans and vehicles
- Night and day profiles for optimal performance 24/7
- Camera angles and focus tailored to the site’s risks
- 20 minute onboarding and training session so you are up and running quickly
To make sure nothing is missed, our team conducts a 35-point commissioning checklist for every single camera. It’s our way of ensuring that when the system is activated, you’re getting accurate detection, reliable alerts, and clear evidence, not guesswork.
5. Support & Service Shouldn’t Be Optional
The last and arguably most important thing to consider when choosing a site security provider is the level of support you’ll get once the system is installed. Hardware matters, software matters, but none of it makes a difference if you can’t get help when you need it.
One of the biggest frustrations we hear from new clients is that their previous provider simply disappeared after installation. No answers. No follow-up. No support when an incident occurred. And when you’re dealing with security, time is of the essence.
Our approach is simple:
If you need us, we answer. If there’s an issue, we fix it. If you need help, we’re there.
We take pride in delivering a level of service that genuinely supports your project from start to finish. That means:
- Real people picking up the phone when you call
- Quick responses when something needs attention
- Proactive check-ins, not reactive excuses
- A team that cares about doing the job properly
- Support that doesn’t disappear once the invoice is paid
One client summed it up perfectly:
“The Blackbox cameras are great and work exactly as I had hoped. And if we ever do have an issue or need something done, Blackbox responds quickly. Your service is great.” Laura
To us, that’s what a security partner should be not just someone who installs a system, but someone who stands behind it. When you choose Blackbox, you’re not just getting equipment. You’re getting a team that genuinely cares about keeping your site protected.