- May 08, 2019
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- Category:Surveillance Camera and Access Control
What Not To Do When Implementing Your Business Security Cameras
Business security cameras are one of the best tools out there when it comes to deterring crime
In spite of the rapid advances in technology and the complexity of the cameras available on the market today, surveillance cameras remain fairly straightforward with regards to their application. However, depending on how the business owner or security team approach their surveillance system, there are ways that human error can lessen the efficacy of the cameras.
Whether you have had a security camera system at your company for years or you’re just starting to explore the idea of installing security cameras, there are a few common mistakes that you’ll want to avoid making if you want your system functioning effectively. Here are four mistakes that companies often make with their security camera systems and how you can avoid making them yourself.
- Not Having a Thorough Understanding of Your Company’s Security Needs
Due to the fact that security cameras seem relatively self-explanatory, companies sometimes rush into purchasing and installing them without first seeking a comprehensive understanding of what their security needs actually are. This can lead to key security gaps being overlooked, security cameras being placed in ineffective locations, and other issues that prevent the security system from working the way it needs to.
To avoid this issue, your primary strategy should be performing a security needs assessment prior to installing cameras. You can do an assessment yourself, or you can choose to work with a professional security camera installation company if you’d like an outside perspective on your security needs. Based on the results of the assessment, you can then make informed decisions about how to fill in security gaps, address risks, and ensure that your company is protected. Even if you already have a surveillance camera system at your business, it is still worthwhile to do a baseline security assessment if you haven’t already. The assessment will give you a reference point to begin evaluating whether your current system is actually meeting your needs and may help identify areas where you need to expand or upgrade your cameras.
- Not Using the Right Security Camera for the Job
In light of the ever-expanding number of security cameras available to purchase, this has become one of the most common mistakes out there. Many business owners purchase cameras without a full understanding of the types of security cameras out there, the different features, and what makes certain cameras more effective for particular jobs.
Doing some research ahead of time will help you avoid this problem. If you did a security needs assessment, then you’re already one step ahead. Using that information, you can begin to identify what your camera needs might be for each area of your business. Maybe you have an interior restricted access corridor where a Point-Tilt-Zoom (PTZ) camera would give you the best coverage, but your exterior doors need cameras equipped with night vision. Or perhaps you need a camera that can read license plates in one of your parking lots but standard fixed security cameras for the interior of your business. Each type of camera is designed to do a specific job, and knowing how to capitalize on that will help ensure that your security camera system gets the job done right.
- Not Having a Suitable Storage Plan for the Footage
No matter what kind of security cameras you have, there is going to be a lot of footage that somehow needs to be stored. If you’ve got analog cameras, that footage has to be physically recorded onto some type of storage system, while with IP cameras you might be looking at digital storage. Regardless, the more cameras you have, the more storage you need, and many companies don’t have a cohesive and thoughtful plan for processing and storing footage.
To make sure this doesn’t impact your company negatively, you’ll want to establish a storage plan on the front end. Factors to consider are the amount of storage space needed based on the number of cameras and amount of footage coming in, whether you need the footage to be accessible remotely, the length of time that you’ll store footage before deleting or recording over it, and the cost associated with storage. Having a set plan and protocol for storing the footage from your business security cameras will help prevent any surprises down the line.
- Not Having an Evaluation Strategy for Your Security Camera System
This final point is often overlooked when businesses think about putting in a security camera system. Without an evaluation strategy, there is no way to know whether your surveillance cameras are still working the way you want them to as time passes. That can open your company up to increased security risks without you even realizing it.
There is no one-size-fits-all evaluation strategy for security camera systems, but there are a few tips that might be helpful. First, you should schedule evaluations at regular intervals. The exact timeframe is up to you, but you should think about doing an evaluation at least once a year. As part of the evaluation, you should do a brief review of the security assessment to determine whether there have been any substantial changes to the company that might require changes to the security camera system. Lastly, your evaluation should include a recap of any technology advancements in relation to security cameras so that you can make an informed decision about when you need to upgrade your cameras.
Conclusion
A high-quality business security camera system is one of your greatest assets when it comes to company security. However, it’s critical to be intentional about how the system is applied and maintained in order to get the greatest benefit from it. To avoid common mistakes that diminish your security camera system’s effectiveness, you should remember to do an initial security needs assessment, ensure you use the right cameras for the specific job, establish a storage plan ahead of time for security footage, and develop an evaluation strategy to monitor whether your system is still meeting all of your needs and functioning properly. If you do all of that, you’ll be well on your way to having a security camera system that is functioning at maximum capacity and keeps your business safe around the clock!
About the Author
As datanet IT, our experts specialize in working with clients to design tailored security solutions. If you want more information on the business security camera systems that we offer, feel free to reach out to us today and we’re happy to work with you to ensure your company is protected! If you wish to be contacted about a security camera install, please fill out this form.