CCTV Cameras for Small Business

The Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) Camera is the new icon of the modern small business security system. They play an important role in the prevention of crime both within the office and in the parking lots. Recent studies have shown how the installation of CCTV cameras in places of business has lead to a decrease in corruption, stolen office supplies, and an increase in worker productivity. The areas where these cameras can be applied include shopping malls, schools, colleges, banks, offices, etc. In small businesses these types of cameras have primary importance in preventing internal corruption. The rapid advancement in this technology has made cameras and recording equipment affordable to most small business owners with minimal hassle of installation.

Working 24/7

One major advantage of security cameras is that they can work 24 hours a day 7 days a week. A computer monitoring system stores the video captured by each of the camera without any human assistance. This makes it is very easy to track any kind of fraudulent incident whether it is day or night. The data recorded by CCTV cameras can act as solid evidence in security related cases.

In small business institutions, placing the cameras in employee offices can assist in boosting efficiency. Employees are forced to work on the assumption that the boss can watch them any time during the day. This can be an effective tool for the modern management system. IP based cameras have become a widely used in this field. These cameras allow management access video from any point on the company LAN or WAN.

Two categories of camera

There are two categories of CCTV cameras; spy and standard. They differ in their size, shape, technology used, resolution, and cost. Spy cameras are usually small in size and generally have a lower resolution compared to standard cameras. In most offices, standard cameras are used as a deterrent to help prevent theft from both internal and external sources.

Spy cameras are usually used in business to stop internal theft. Unlike the standard cameras that are a theft deterrent simply by their visibility, the small spy camera is used to catch employees in the act. These cameras can easily be placed in ceilings, walls or disguised as common objects as books or decorative pieces. Many businesses find these cameras vital in controlling internal theft of expensive equipment or intellectual property.

With the budgets of most small businesses getting tighter, the need to control costs is paramount. In this environment, the low cost and ease of use of modern CCTV security systems quickly pay for themselves.

Deter burglars with electronic home security

A subject close to the heart of every home owner is protecting their property from intruders and unwanted visitors. As with many things the best form of offence is defence and in this case it is infinitely more preferable to dissuade the potential intruder from breaking into your home by the use of deterrents. What we are trying to do is make our property a much less inviting proposition than our neighbours. Of course we do not want our neighbours to become victims either but their criminal will choose their house which offers least resistance and it is up to us to make sure our house is not the easiest one on the street.

It’s easy to get the basics right and it doesn’t have to cost a lot of money. I’m sure you already have locks on your doors but you need them on your windows to, and make sure they are good ones. Good luck that can withstand a crowbar even for only a minute might keep the burglar out. I know from my own experience when my house was broken into he had attempted to get in through one window but the lock held. Unfortunately the next one he tried didn’t.

And outdoor security light is essential; make sure when it comes on it illuminates potential points of entry such as doors and windows. Once we have the basics in place we can move up the ladder in terms of security and unfortunately, cost. An alarm system is next on the list. When the alarm is installed it is connected to doors and windows. When the alarm is activated if any of these doors or windows are opened or the glass is smashed and the alarm sounds. It’s essential to connect all the doors but connecting all the windows can be very expensive. You can lower the cost by choosing the most likely point of entry for a burglar. The security company that installs the alarm will be able to help you with this decision. This can cost a lot of money but as long as you have a plainly visible alarm box and siren and then you will have a deterrent even if the alarm is not the most sophisticated.

If you want to go a step further outdoor security cameras mean the criminal can be caught on film. However this is starting to get very expensive unless you use fake security cameras. As long as they are real enough to fool the burglar he might get away with it.

An outdoor security camera is exposed to a lot harsher conditions than a regular device would if it were installed in a more controlled environment. To ensure that everything works seamlessly and is able to withstand the most malicious vandals it is important to protect every aspect of your outdoor security camera system. This means using a housing enclosure to protect the cameras, carefully considering the environment when installing the cameras and properly developing your cable management strategy.

Camera housing units are going to be just as valuable to an outdoor security camera system as the cameras themselves. That is because without the housing, most cameras do not have strong enough casings to protect themselves against the myriad of threats that it will face especially at night when the lights are low and the bad guys are lurking.

How the camera is setup makes a big impact as well. The viewing angle that best captures surveillance of the area is not the only consideration to keep in mind. Sometimes that has to be compromised if it puts the camera within reach of vandals. It is usually a good idea to put the camera high or hidden so most people would not know that they are being watched. Installing a camera inside a wall so that only the viewing window is exposed is also a good idea whenever possible.

This leads us to cable management. Ideally the cameras are installed inside the wall or at least flush against a wall so the cables are already protected within the wall. Exposed cables pose a very critical weakness and make your entire security camera system vulnerable to being disabled or data tapped. When it is not possible to hide the cables within walls, there are cable conduits that should be used. These products allow the cables to run through while the casing protects them from tampering. It also offers a way to keep everything nice and tidy.