The use of CCTV has become a staple in most security systems today. The fact that the systems have become very cheap means that even domestic users can afford to install them in their homes without incurring a huge cost. If you own commercial property, installing such a system therefore makes a lot of sense. Not only does it make it easy to monitor large areas using only a handful of staff, but it also helps with future enquiries and also acts as a deterrent. The combination of multiple benefits and low cost make the CCTV systems very good value for money.
However, this does not mean that you can afford to have a nonchalant approach towards sourcing the CCTV cameras and associated accessories. Some of the factors that should affect your decisions include:
Whether you need to access the system online
One of the benefits of current CCTV systems is the fact that they can be accessed online. This means that you and your security staff can keep an eye on the business without being there. However, for you to benefit from this, you will first need to buy the cameras that have this capability. In addition to that, you also need to make sure that you have enough bandwidth to support this. If your wireless network does not have enough bandwidth to support this, you might end up having a difficult time using this feature.
Fortunately, an increasing number of firms are manufacturing cameras that can compress the data, ensuring that the data sent out is not so large. This means that your bandwidth needs may not be so high.
The geometry of the office
Before going shopping for the CCTV system, you need to assess the geometry of the office, particularly if you are going to install them on your own. You should be looking out for the following:
• The size of the office: This will influence the number of CCTV cameras you should get.
• The number of obstacles: In a small office with a large number of obstacles, you might need more cameras to adequately cover the entire office space.
• Special areas of interest: There are some areas of the office you might have special interest in in terms of keeping it safe. These include areas such as safes. You might need to get dedicated cameras for such areas.
The lighting in the facility
The lighting in the office should also dictate how you go about buying the CCTV cameras. For instance, many offices depend on the CCTV systems at night, when there is no one in the premises. During such times, the lighting may be very low, which means that the images captured by the cameras might be too grainy.
There are several ways of tackling this. First, you could decide to improve the lighting in areas where you want to enforce more security. For instance, you could install more lights at the entrance points, so that the cameras can clearly make out anyone who tries to breach such entrances. The other option would be to get the cameras that are very good in low light scenarios. Either way, these are decisions that you will need to make before you actually go shopping for the systems.
The effects of the elements
The elements can do a lot to damage the cameras, particularly if they are installed outside. When deciding on which systems to buy, you might need to take into account the types of environments in which the CCTV cameras will be used. For instance, if you live in a very cold part of the world, you might need to buy systems that are designed to be used in such environments. Anything else might end up having a much shorter life. They might also force you to spend more than you should on maintenance.
Maintenance needs
Over the past few years, the technology used in manufacturing CCTV cameras has improved significantly. Most models are very reliable as a result. However, it’s still wise to do some research regarding the reliability of different brands before deciding on which one to buy. The goal here is to make sure that you don’t buy systems that will fail too frequently. This information is easily available online, particularly for the more established brands.
The complexity of the system
Before investing in any CCTV system, you need to assess how complex it is, and make sure that the degree of complexity is something you can live with. You should particularly pay attention to the software you need to use the system. Some of the poorly-made CCTV systems are usually bundled with software that is difficult to use. Using such systems means that the security of the entire premises will be compromised.
By taking all the above into account, you will be in a better position to identify and install CCTV systems that will boost the security of your premises maximally.
