If you are considering a business security system, the first thing you will need is a high-quality CCTV (or video surveillance) camera system. This is the foundation of your commercial security system and will allow you to monitor everything that happens within the four walls – and outside of - your business. What do business owners and key managerial staff need to know about commercial video surveillance cameras before, during, and after installation? We have all your answers here.
What are video surveillance cameras?
Closed-circuit television cameras (or CCTV cameras) record video footage and send it to monitors and recorders via a closed circuit. Since video surveillance cameras only transmit video over a single channel, the footage remains private to you and anyone in your business authorized to access it. Today’s video solutions can also send footage to a web browser or smartphone app, allowing you to view recorded footage on these devices and watch live camera streams remotely. There is a wide range of different video surveillance camera types and configurations available on the market, depending on what your business priorities are for implementing a security system.
Why are video surveillance cameras used?
Commercial Video Surveillance Cameras are generally used to implement or strengthen corporate security by monitoring an area of the business. They may monitor indoor spaces or outdoor ones, such as building perimeters, parking lots, and entrances to your facility. Using security cameras allows a business to remotely monitor all corporate facilities, deterring crime and capturing images of any crime that may occur. Once high-quality video footage is obtained, it is easy to identify perpetrators and pursue them, or at least make sure they do not enter your business again.
Some common uses of video surveillance cameras include:
- Deterring criminals
- Collecting video evidence
- Making business-related decisions
- Monitoring businesses for crime
- Keeping track of projects
- Keeping records of events
What are the different kinds of video surveillance cameras?
Modern surveillance cameras come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and configurations to provide the right camera for your security needs. Different camera types are suitable for different spaces and purposes. Here is a list of the most popular types of security cameras used to protect company assets and personnel.
Bullet Cameras: Bullet cameras are cylinder-shaped cameras that mount on a ceiling or wall. These are versatile cameras that are good for monitoring an area over long distances, thanks to their long-range and great zoom capabilities.
PTZ (Pan Tilt Zoom) Cameras: PTZ cameras offer the ability to remotely control cameras using a computer program or a smartphone app. This makes PTZ cameras handy for tracking specific people or vehicles across a designated area. You can also program PTZ’s to regularly cycle through a 360-degree view of an entire area of interest.
Dome Cameras: Dome cameras are orb-shaped devices that are built for capturing complete views of wide areas. Dome cameras are durable and tend to be less noticeable than bullet cameras.
Fisheye Cameras: Fisheye cameras provide a concentrated look at a wide-angle by strategically warping the field of view. Fisheye cameras are great at capturing an overall picture of a large area.
Turret Cameras: Turret (also referred to as “eyeball”) cameras resemble dome cameras, but they have a ball-and-socket joint that allows them to precisely redirect their field of view from one fixed location. Turret cameras have their lens and IR LEDs in front of the glass on the housing, whereas in dome cameras, the lens and sensors are contained behind the glass.
Which resolution should I select?
The more detail you require from your security footage, the higher the resolution your surveillance cameras should be. It is important that your cameras capture enough detail that the faces of individuals in the monitored area are clearly visible. If faces are blurry, it may be difficult to identify people in the video. Camera footage is broken into pixels, which are tiny dots on the screen that make up the image. A 1MP camera has 1 megapixel (1 million pixels), giving it a high resolution.
In security cameras, anything over 1MP is generally considered high definition. Many businesses choose 2k CCTV cameras, which use 4MP sensors to provide a clear image at a reasonable cost. Today’s video surveillance cameras are available in a wide range of resolutions: You can get a 4k 8MP camera for ultra-clear footage, or even go as high as 32MP, although the need for resolutions this high in typical commercial settings is rare.
NVR vs DVR: What is the difference?
Commercial surveillance cameras send video footage to be stored in a recording device, which is either a digital video recorder (DVR) or a network video recorder (NVR). You can use these devices to access and view stored videos. If your security cameras are Internet Protocol (IP) cameras, you will probably use an NVR connected via Ethernet or a network cable. DVRs are often used with HD over Coax cameras, which use a coaxial cable and are usually not as compatible with mobile viewing as IP systems.
NVR systems are a better choice for businesses in need of modern and flexible security systems. Since these devices connect to the same IP network, they can be installed and can communicate with each other pretty much anywhere in your building. Buildings with existing coaxial wiring and analog cameras should consider installing a DVR, whereas businesses building a security system from scratch should opt for NVRs. These offer compatibility with higher resolution cameras and are simple to link with your mobile device.
Should I use wired or wireless cameras?
Wireless security cameras are a popular option among today’s businesses thanks to their convenience and ease of installation. Many high-quality wireless video surveillance cameras are being released by large manufacturers as companies use technological innovation to enhance security surveillance. Leveraging wireless surveillance cameras means you eliminate the need for traditional cabling, which can involve expensive and invasive trenching or drilling through walls.
What are some key features modern video surveillance can have?
Today’s video surveillance systems have a lot of features you can choose from to enhance business security. Video analytics and facial identification are increasingly popular features available in many modern security cameras. Some of today’s cutting-edge surveillance camera systems use artificial intelligence (A.I.) to identify the faces of everyone who comes into the camera’s field of view. Cameras scan facial features and compile a database of individuals and recognize them every time they enter your facility. Facial recognition has wide-ranging uses for commercial security. For example, when flagged individuals enter the building, such as people who have committed a crime in your business in the past, an alarm will sound and you can receive instant alerts alerting you of their presence.
While helpful these systems have been banned in some parts of the U.S., most notably in the City of San Francisco. Talk to a security professional to ensure that your business follows all local rules and regulations related to facial recognition.
Object Recognition
Other cameras do not tell the faces of different people apart, but they can distinguish between a person, an object, a vehicle, and other things in and around your business. This is useful in detecting suspicious activities, tracking events, and gaining more complete control over your business security system. Cameras with object recognition reduce false alarms by telling the difference between a threatening intruder and an animal entering the camera’s view, for instance.
LPR
License plate reader (LPR) cameras can be used to scan and catalog every license plate that enters a camera’s field of view. Some license plate readers simply use high resolutions and shutter speeds to capture clear images of license plates, while other more sophisticated cameras read the license plate number and store it in a database of license plates. Vehicles with blacklisted plates may be automatically denied entry into an area, or your system may send security alerts to your devices or even to law enforcement when applicable.
Cloud Compatibility
Cloud-based video surveillance systems have a range of advantages over traditional analog systems. Cloud cameras can pair with mobile apps to allow you to view live and recorded camera footage on your mobile device, regardless of your physical location. You can receive programmable security alerts and notifications, so if someone breaks into your business you will know the moment it happens. Also, when you store video footage in the cloud, it eliminates the need for you to maintain and manage a physical server, which may pose incremental costs, inconvenience, and security risks. Cloud storage is an easy, accessible, fully encrypted, and increasingly popular way for businesses to store their footage.
What else should I consider when buying video surveillance cameras?
Night Vision: If your cameras record unlit areas overnight, they need to be properly equipped with night vision capabilities to ensure everything in the field of view is clearly visible. There is a range of CCTV night vision types on the market, including infrared and even thermal imaging. Even excessive lighting and glare can obscure camera images, so make sure your cameras are equipped for the unique lighting of the area.
Power and Wi-Fi: Initially you need to make sure you have the power source and internet connection necessary for a new video surveillance system. Many camera systems are wireless these days, but they still require a power source to plug into, as well as internet connectivity. Some facilities such as construction sites lack the bandwidth needed for this type of security solution, in which case there are other options available, including solar-powered cameras.
Data Security: Video surveillance systems may be targeted by hackers or even intruders who steal business footage by taking the physical servers. To combat this, security cameras should always be updated with the latest security protocols, and any physical servers should be guarded with high-quality access control. Opting for cloud-based surveillance cameras lets you store footage in the cloud, meaning it is protected with full encryption.
Outdoor or Indoor Cameras: If your security cameras are outdoors, especially in areas vulnerable to wind and rain, dust, or other debris, you will want to invest in rugged outdoor security cameras that are built to withstand these types of conditions. Many indoor cameras will not be properly equipped for sustained outdoor use, while many outdoor cameras are too large, bulky, and expensive to place indoors.
Can you view video security footage from a mobile device?
Thanks to recent advances in security technology, more and more businesses are switching to IP camera systems that let you view security camera footage from a mobile app or web browser. Many of these cameras can connect to your already-existing internet connection, meaning they do not need to be wired to a computer or server. Cloud-based video surveillance systems often pair with mobile apps, letting you check video footage on your phone anytime, anywhere.
It is easier to set up mobile viewing if you have IP cameras with an NVR. However, there are some options for businesses that already have a DVR system and want to set up mobile viewing. For example, you can use “plug-and-play” capabilities to remotely view footage by logging into a server provided by a camera manufacturer. However, with the range of high-quality cloud-compatible security camera systems on the market, it is becoming increasingly common for businesses to switch over entirely to IP surveillance.
How can I protect my surveillance cameras?
You want to keep your company information out of the hands of hackers and other bad actors. That is why it is important to regularly update your security system to the latest software release, and make sure to change the password periodically. Leaving your system with the same password for too long or choosing a password that is too easy to guess exposes your system to hackers. If your surveillance system components come with a default password set by the manufacturer, you should reset that as well. Buying encrypted cameras is a good choice, as these cameras protect any signals sent over multiple channels with secure encryption that protects against hackers.
Hardware and wiring
There are several things you can do to keep your video surveillance hardware and wires in good shape. You should ensure any outdoor cameras are protected from the weather, which means either placing them in a sheltered area or making sure they are weatherproofed enough to handle the exposure. It also helps to keep cameras out of reach of any potential intruders or vandals who may try to tamper with them. Some intruders even try to cut security camera wires, which means it is crucial to make sure all wires are out of reach and covered up. Professional video surveillance system installers know how to choose the right conduits for protecting your security camera wires, as well as where you can put cameras to prevent damage to the system.