Dal Realty

Dal Realty Management Corp. is a family-run property management business located in Brooklyn, NY. The company currently operates 18 total properties, primarily residential 4-story walkups with a high percentage of lower-income Section 8 housing, and one small commercial building. The company takes a proactive approach to the safety and welfare of tenants, staff, and properties.

 Santo Dalmazio, the Owner & Managing Partner at Dal Realty, was frustrated by the limitations of his legacy camera systems. We had a conversation about how Verkada has helped the company resolve longstanding security issues with an evolution from just cameras to an innovative and fully integrated security platform.

The Challenge

“Security has always been an issue. Our insurance rates were increasing year-to-year and we've always had issues with slip-and-falls, criminal activity, and difficulty supporting incident investigations and NYPD.” 

Dal Realty experienced several shortcomings from the services and cameras provided by their previous technology partners:

• No single provider could offer coverage for all the company's buildings, requiring multiple providers with non-intercompatible systems; 

• Data storage was insufficient, the company was missing critical video evidence that was needed for insurance, liability & law enforcement purposes;

• Video review, archiving & sharing was hampered by limited software;

• On-site recording & storage devices represented a single-point-of-failure with poor reliability.

Following a free trial and demonstration of Verkada cameras and Verkada Command, Santo was ready to make the transition to a fully digital, IoT-based solution.

Why Verkada?

“Verkada came along and we could get as much memory storage as we needed, quick access to video, no vulnerable DVR sitting there. We've covered all public areas with cameras, as well as roofs and basements. It was a no-brainer, we just jumped right in and have been happy ever since.”

The initial Verkada deployment includes devices and services across all 18 Dal Realty buildings: 

• 302 internal & external cameras

• Verkada Command cloud-based management software with facial recognition & 24/7 live support

• Dedicated viewing station at Dal Realty office

• Mobile app for remote monitoring & management

Service is tailored to meet each of Dal Realty's essential needs, including advanced functionality, ease of use, seamless integration across all locations, and centralized plus mobile-capable management.

Scalable Hybrid Cloud Storage

“Our loss runs greatly affect our insurance premiums and so we implemented cameras many years ago. Memory was always an issue – whenever we would get an attorney letter, it would be 6-12 months after the incident. At that point there was no video evidence and our insurance company would end up paying out more.” 

Verkada cameras utilize a hybrid cloud approach. Each camera has a built-in SSD that can store 365 days of video. The system updates to the cloud every 10 seconds. In the event of an internet outage or connection loss, users receive a real-time alert: each camera's SSD still functions and data can be recalled manually anytime, or downloaded once a connection is restored. 

Now Dal Realty has total control over their data, with a storage capability that not only supports their current operations but can also scale as needed. Santo has performance ideally aligned with his objectives to manage insurance costs and support compliance across a variety of business processes.

Secure Remote Access & Ease of Use

“Verkada solves our data access and sharing problem. We can jump back a year, six months, or a few minutes in a matter of seconds. We can grant others quick access, including our attorneys, insurance companies, and the NYPD. The system solves all our needs for archiving, downloading video, and viewing live video.”

Verkada's all-in-one cloud-based management software is innovative, comprehensive, and versatile. Access and sharing are simple to manage. Santo can view, playback, archive, or share data from the dedicated viewing station, or remotely via the app. Live video can be shared instantly via SMS or email.

Playback, storage, and archiving have advanced utility features. All videos are watermarked with date, time, camera ID, and location, to provide total assurance for authenticity and accuracy. Digital zoom allows detailed investigation of images. Dal Realty also uses Verkada's facial recognition solution to track staff and further enhance security.

Seamless Integration & Mobile Management

“I recommend the free trial to everyone – they sent us a unit and we had it plugged in and working in seconds, it was simple and seamless to use these cameras. In the two years we've had the Verkada system, they've upgraded everything automatically and they've built additional solutions. The mobile app is an extension of the desktop app and solves all our needs.” 

Verkada cameras come online and configure in minutes. Ease of use eliminates any operational complexity: no training is required to access video and use features, centralized management brings all capabilities and functions within easy reach, and the mobile app allows access from anywhere.

No maintenance contract is needed because all support is included, with real people to talk at any time. Users like Dal Realty can easily scale to thousands of cameras as their enterprise grows, as well as build out an entire security management ecosystem that includes access control, environmental sensors, alarms, and guest management solutions.

Pricing and total cost of ownership are also simple and transparent, with options for one, three, five, or 10-year licenses. All hardware includes a 10-year limited warranty, automatic firmware updates maintain a high level of security, and new features and enhancements are added at no cost. Live and online technical support are also available at no extra cost. 

What's Next for Dal Realty

Whether he is monitoring daily operations, investigating incidents alongside his legal team and insurance partners, or cooperating with law enforcement to help keep tenants, staff, and property safe, Santo is confident that Verkada is able to support his business needs. His job is easier than ever, thanks to a platform that is integrated, cost controlled, and performs seamlessly across Dal Realty's many locations.

Santo says results have been so outstanding that they are excited to dive deeper into the capabilities offered within the Verkada ecosystem:

“I'm very happy with our decision – Verkada met all our needs and checked every box. For us as a family business, cost is a major issue and we were able to afford Verkada's systems. We're about to implement Verkada's environmental sensors in all our heating plants and boiler rooms, add alarms, and more.”