Ajax Photo Mode: photo verification to streamline monitoring station operations

Monitoring companies must act quickly but make the most of every minute. That's why early context for threat detection is essential. Ajax Systems has already implemented sending real-time event notifications from its video devices to monitoring software. While this provided valuable insight during security incidents, partners across Europe, including the UK and France, asked for more: they need not only event notifications but also visual verification.

The new Ajax service delivers exactly that. When cameras detect motion or recognize objects, a series of photos is automatically sent to the monitoring software. In this article, we will break down how the service works and how it fits into monitoring workflows.

Convenient event handling for monitoring stations

Ajax Systems introduces Ajax Photo Mode, a new service that is available on a subscription basis. When Ajax video devices detect a person, pet, vehicle, or any motion, a monitoring station receives an event notification containing three photos. This is similar to how Ajax MotionCam detectors operate: a single motion detection activates an alarm and photo capture for verification. It is a seamless experience that monitoring companies already trust, now extended to video surveillance.

Currently, the Ajax Photo Mode service is not supported on Ajax NVRs. Future updates will address this.

Notifications from Ajax video devices are already packed with context, from AI detection details to storage health and power supply updates. With Ajax Photo Mode, monitoring stations now get a snapshot of what triggered the event. This helps operators make faster and more informed decisions.

The service allows monitoring companies to verify camera detections before intrusion detectors raise an alarm. This approach helps optimize operational resources and focus attention where it is needed most.

The service is already available. Request access:

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Efficient monitoring with less effort

The new service helps monitoring stations process events faster and more efficiently. Operators instantly receive a photo showing the reason for the Ajax camera triggering, without the need to search through camera feeds or review video archives. The images are automatically delivered, allowing for quick assessment of the situation.

Thanks to Ajax Photo Mode, monitoring companies can distinguish real threats from routine activity, reduce false alarms, and avoid unnecessary dispatches while improving operational efficiency and maintaining a high level of security. Ultimately, this also enhances service quality for end users.

The new service can be useful for perimeter protection, gated communities, parking areas, farms, warehouses, and industrial sites. For example, detecting a person entering a restricted zone after hours or a car pulling up to a closed service area enables an earlier response.

The service is also helpful when an intrusion protection system is missing or outdated and cannot be installed or replaced. With the Ajax Photo Mode service, Ajax can provide intelligent photo verification of the event that triggered the camera, extending monitoring capabilities without costly infrastructure upgrades.

Whether it is a remote site or a holiday home, the new service helps monitoring teams be informed faster and respond appropriately.

All data handling complies with GDPR standards. Ajax video devices are also NDAA-compliant, which ensures they meet the strict requirements for government and critical infrastructure projects.

How the service works

Monitoring stations receive a series of three photos immediately after an Ajax video device detects a person, vehicle, pet, or any motion. The image sequence allows monitoring teams to assess the event dynamically, rather than relying on a single frame.

Events are delivered securely from Ajax Cloud to third-party monitoring software via Ajax Cloud Signaling, Ajax Translator, and Ajax Translator PRO.

scheme — How photos from an Ajax camera are transferred to third-party monitoring software

Monitoring companies subscribe to the service on a per-camera basis. All setup and management processes are handled via Ajax PRO Desktop or Ajax PRO: Tool for Engineers. In these apps, security professionals can activate the Ajax Photo Mode service and select which cameras or event types should trigger photo capture. It is possible to specify whether monitoring stations should be notified of the detection of a specific object or any motion in the camera's field of view. When the selected camera detects the specified trigger, the monitoring station receives an event with attached images.

The monitoring software must support receiving photos from Ajax video devices. If your software receives images from MotionCam detectors, the Ajax Photo Mode service will work as well. Consider that Sur-Gard (Contact ID) and ADEMCO 685 protocols do not support photo transmission.

To activate the service, the monitoring company must have access to the client's system settings. If such access is available, the company can manage the service directly: enable or disable it, choose cameras, and configure triggers. If access is not available, an installation company with the necessary permissions must be involved. In this case, the installation company configures the service on behalf of the monitoring company.

Tool for scaling business and meeting client needs

The service adds value to intrusion setups by improving reliability, speeding up threat detection, and reducing false patrol dispatches. Clients benefit from an enhanced system, while partners gain efficient management and resource optimization.

Flexible setup. The Ajax Photo Mode service is suitable for monitoring projects of various scales, whether it is a site with one camera or a facility where cameras provide full coverage. Choose which cameras send photos and adjust settings anytime.
Scalability and easy management. Add or remove cameras freely. The service can be reassigned or disabled at the software level, which ensures smooth adaptation to changing client needs. A security professional can choose to stop the service immediately, schedule its deactivation for the beginning of the following month, or restore it later when needed.
Improved reliability and speed. Deliver more flexible and robust security solutions to clients with Ajax Photo Mode. Ajax video devices can detect threats even before intrusion detectors trigger, providing an extra layer of confirmation for faster and more accurate situation assessment.

Ajax video devices use built-in AI technology to streamline security operations and boost system performance. This helps monitoring companies detect threats faster, minimize routine work, and focus attention where it is needed most. Learn more about AI-powered video surveillance in our article.

Easy setup and control in Ajax apps

The service is configured separately for each camera directly in Ajax PRO Desktop and Ajax PRO: Tool for Engineers. Everything works smoothly and simply, just like with any of Ajax Services. Activation and management take just a few steps, including selecting events that trigger photo capture and connecting the camera to a receiver.

For step-by-step instructions, refer to the user manual.

Ajax Photo Mode is a flexible subscription-based service that is easily managed via Ajax PRO apps. It is highly scalable and can be activated for any number of video devices. The service simplifies monitoring station operations by delivering timely photo verification of motion detected by Ajax video devices. These features allow monitoring companies to optimize the operational process and enhance the overall reliability of the security system, which is a clear advantage for both professionals and end users.