Houston's economic boom continues to attract businesses and investment, but with growth comes new security challenges. The city experienced a troubling 9% increase in aggravated assaults in 2024, jumping from under 17,000 incidents to over 18,000 cases that can directly impact commercial properties. For business owners, basic security cameras are no longer enough to protect patrons and properties. Modern commercial video surveillance equipped with artificial intelligence and advanced analytics provides the comprehensive protection today's businesses require.

Traditional commercial video surveillance wasn’t built for how modern businesses operate. They rely on fragile on-site equipment, often require dedicated IT support, and rarely provide the flexibility needed to manage multiple locations in real time. And when something goes wrong, whether it's a missed update, a failed hard drive, or a disconnected camera, the downtime and disruption can be costly.

That’s where cloud-based video surveillance, and specifically Verkada, changes the equation. If your current system feels more like a burden than a benefit, you’re not alone. Keep reading to see why more businesses in Houston, TX, are leaving behind outdated NVRs in favor of smarter, scalable surveillance.

Demand for tighter security and better operational control is pushing commercial property managers to rethink how they handle parking, with LPR (License Plate Recognition) technology becoming a popular upgrade. Parking areas often fall through the cracks when it comes to commercial video surveillance planning, but LPR turns them into active zones of control. These systems log every vehicle that enters or exits, giving staff instant access to real-time traffic data.

Offices, retail centers, and mixed-use spaces use LPR to enforce rules, manage access, and eliminate the hassle of paper permits or manual checks. Security teams can flag unauthorized vehicles, track employee and visitor movements, and respond to incidents without digging through hours of footage.

Property managers also get the tools to monitor trends—who parks where, how long, and how often—which helps in redesigning layouts or adjusting policies. The result: tighter oversight, quicker response times, and smoother daily operations. LPR works around the clock to keep parking organized, monitored, and secure.