Does Your Business Need CCTV?

Is your business suffering from crime, or are you worried that you haven’t done enough to protect it? There are many different security measures you can take to ensure that your business, your stock, your employees and your customers are safe, and one of these is by installing a CCTV system.

We’re used to seeing CCTV operations in our streets and in our shops, perhaps even in the place where we work, but would you put it in your business, and if so, why?

Peace of mind
.Is your business suffering from crime, or are you worried that you haven’t done enough to protect it? There are many different security measures you can take to ensure that your business, your stock, your employees and your customers are safe, and one of these is by installing a CCTV system.

We’re used to seeing CCTV operations in our streets and in our shops, perhaps even in the place where we work, but would you put it in your business, and if so, why?

Peace of mind

Whether you have been the target of vandals or have experienced robbery or attacks, you need a security system that gives you peace of mind. Whilst a CCTV system can’t always stop an attack, it can be a deterrent and it can provide valuable evidence that helps to identify the perpetrator, or to give the police a better idea about what took place. The knowledge that a CCTV system could make a would-be burglar change his or her mind or capture their face on tape if they decide to go ahead is the reason that many people invest in CCTV systems

Adaptable

Unlike many other security measures, CCTV is adaptable. This means you can start off with a small, relatively basic system and add cameras and monitors as and when you need to. You can decide to have static cameras in strategic places and remote-controlled cameras elsewhere. A good CCTV supplier can help to tailor a package that fits your needs.

Protects your staff and your customers

Your staff may have been subject to attack or verbal abuse, and your customers may not feel safe in your store and so your sales drop. A visible CCTV camera helps to protect your most important assets – your employees and your customers. For example, a monitored system could pick up the signs of trouble before anything actually occurs and staff can take immediate action.

It’s worth considering whether you and your business could benefit from the installation of a CCTV system.

3 Ways CCTV Can Help Your Business

Many business managers and owners discount the idea of installing a CCTV system on their premises. Worried about costs and benefits, they use other security measures to protect their stock and their staff.

CCTV systems could be more beneficial than you think. Here are three key ways that CCTV can help to protect your business.

Deterrent

Although they won’t stop all crime, it is thought that visible CCTV systems act as a deterrent to would-be criminals. It’s far less risky to steal from a shop with no CCTV than from one that explains its system clearly in a window poster and which has highly visible cameras. The presence of a camera at the entrance or exit of a building and watching over key areas like retail sales floors or IT suites can make the difference between your business being targeted and the criminal moving on.

Evidence and Interference

Depending on the type of system you install, CCTV has the potential both to stop a crime before it occurs and to provide the police with valuable images that can help them to detain a suspect. Monitored systems, where the images are fed from the camera to a real-time monitor, allow security staff to see what’s happening at the premises at all times. If they pick up anyone behaving suspiciously they can alert staff on the ground who may be able to prevent a crime. Recorded systems, on the other hand, should give vital information on the appearance and activities of any criminals, which can make a huge difference to a police investigation.

Peace of mind

For anyone working in, shopping in or visiting your business premises, the knowledge that there is a working CCTV system in place brings peace of mind. Not only does it let your employees know that you are concerned for their safety, but customers and visitors recognise it as a deterrent and automatically feel safer than in a business where there are no cameras at all. Whilst not everyone likes the presence of CCTV cameras in public places, most people would say that such systems make them feel more comfortable.

7 Simple Reasons Why You Need a Network Security Camera for Your Home

Pros

1. Easy to install: Most of the network cameras on the market are plug and play and/or have very simple to follow instructions for both the hardware and software end.
2. Comparatively cheaper than other security systems: Instead of paying a highly trained technician to install a complex CCTV system, and pay him on an ongoing maintenance arrangement- you can have a network camera security system that can stand on it's own against CCTV and traditional security systems.
3. Works with your existing computer network: If you already have a home network, then the network camera works with your settings, so you don't need to pay more for the proper security infrastructure.
4. Provides peace of mind: watch your home, watch your childs room, watch your vacation home, watch your pets while you are on vacation, etc
5. See remote areas: as far away as across the globe, or your own front porch from a centralized area. Can even remotely view your children at the nursery (depending on the nurseries policies though this is becoming more standard)
6. Flexibility: Prefer not to be tethered to the security control panel or hire a full time security professional to monitor things, then get security alerts which you can view from cell phone, laptop, or PDA device, and provide multiple users access to the various security assets.
7. Receive alerts via email when detects motion, either when someone visits your home, or when your children leave home to hang out.

Cons

1. May have poor image quality depending on model and configuration, and wireless cameras in general have poorer image quality on the lower to mid range.
2. For more bells and whistles, like sound recording, scheduled emails, and motion capture, it varies greatly from model and software description.
3. Generally, outdoor surveillance equipment is more costly, especially if you want the ability to remotely pan/tilt, zoom in, zoom out, and want a waterproof camera. However for a home system this is probably not as urgent as opposed to for a business situation.
4. Drains computer network resources, so if you don't have a speedy computer, then there's a chance of a slight slow down in your collective resources.

Remember that despite the cons, the benefits outweigh them as they provide great security results at a lower installation and maintenance cost than traditional Closed Circuit Television systems.