Commercial surveillance cameras are renowned as being one of the most effective deterrents a business can deploy, to keep crime, intrusion and vandalism away from your business.
Whether your business involves storing stock, handling cash, or using valuable equipment, maintaining a high level of security at your premises is vital.
Just the sight of exterior or interior CCTV security cameras on the premises is often enough to prevent the crime from happening in the first place. If a crime is committed, CCTV footage can often provide valuable evidence to bring the criminal to justice.
When used to the maximum, the benefits of commercial CCTV systems extend beyond simple stock protection and catching burglars in the act.
What are the Benefits of CCTV for your Business?
Security
CCTV cameras are an excellent deterrent to potential offenders. Given the choice between breaking in a business premises that has CCTV surveillance and one that doesn’t, they’re far more likely to target businesses that have poor security and knowing they could be caught on camera could make them think twice.
It should be known that not all cases are theft; there are those that involve criminal damage too – just by placing an outdoor CCTV camera on your premises will reduce vandalism and damage to your property.
Loss Prevention
The main security issue most businesses have is theft. Whether it’s from shoplifters or employees, theft can cause businesses substantial financial loss.
Many retailers install CCTV to deter in-store shoplifting ; criminals will be less likely to steal from you if they notice a security camera, and your staff won’t have to worry about being robbed because most criminals will see a CCTV system and decide against shoplifting from your premises.
Unfortunately, in some cases, employees can be found responsible for property theft. Therefore, a security system helps you to create a safer working environment where your stock and property are fully protected.
The protection that CCTV provides comes in many forms. Not only are businesses looking for safeguarding from theft, vandalism and violence; CCTV camera footage can also help protect your business from fraudulent insurance, personal injury and misconduct claims.
Health and Safety at the Workplace
As an employer, it is important to protect the health and safety of your employees.
In places where members of the public are dealt with on a regular basis such as receptions, retail premises and public services, verbal or even physical abuse could pose a problem. A CCTV camera system provides an extra layer of security which can help your employees feel reassured, as it can help deter aggressive behaviour towards them. Also, if an employee is working on their own it can assist with putting their mind at ease about their personal security and safety.
In industrial and manufacturing premises, should an accident occurs whilst operating dangerous machinery, CCTV footage will provide a clear indication as to the cause of the accident. The footage can be used to provide invaluable lessons to employers and staff to highlight changes that need to be implemented at the place of work to minimise the risk of repeat incidences.
Where to position cameras
How many CCTV cameras you install at your business premises will depend on several factors, including the nature of your business, the size of the property, the objectives of the cameras/system and the available budget. There is no one-size-fits all approach to designing an effective CCTV camera system. You should select the location, resolution and number of cameras by the objectives you have set for the CCTV system.
As a basic requirement, business owners and managers will usually require cameras to be installed to monitor any entrances or exits at their premises. If possible, coverage will extend around the perimeter of the property, covering all blind spots. If this is not practical for your business, ensure that any vulnerable areas such as doors and windows are covered.
Internally, businesses are advised to focus their CCTV systems on key zones such as stock storage areas, showrooms, shop aisles and cash registers.
When planning your installation, consider whether a static or PTZ (Pan Tilt Zoom) camera would be the best choice for a location. PTZ cameras are a type of dome camera that allow you to control the pan, tilt and zoom operations of the camera lens remotely. The main benefits of PTZ cameras are the ability to monitor large areas with a single camera and they also offer 360-degree views of the area they are installed within. A mix of both camera types, static and PTZ, is the approach recommended by security professionals.
There are a range of solutions available and you cannot take a one size fits all approach. It’s important to define the purpose of CCTV and make sure the cameras you have bought are capable of meeting those needs.
It’s always recommended to have a professional team set up and install your CCTV cameras as they are experienced in identifying potential problem areas, as well as ensuring you get the greatest scope of view on active cameras.
Remote Viewing
Being able to monitor your business premises remotely using mobile devices at any time and from any location, offers business owners the ability to check-in on their business 24-7 and spot disturbances quickly and easily.
You can also have your CCTV system integrated with other parts of your security system like intruder alarms and access control, allowing authorised users to receive notifications on their smartphones whenever certain events occur. The user can then immediately log into the CCTV system using the app, check the live footage and even remotely control cameras using pan and zoom functions to clarify a situation before taking the appropriate course of action.
Conclusion
Highlander Security Systems offer a wide range of high-quality analogue, IP, and HD CCTV systems for many clients including large warehouses, hotels, restaurants, pubs, offices, all sizes of shops, petrol stations and many others.
We will tailor your security system to suit your needs. Initially carrying out a free security survey of your premises before we then design and install a bespoke surveillance system ideally suited to your environment.
At Highlander Security Systems, we can look at different home security options to suit your security needs and budget. From home burglar alarm systems to home CCTV systems and everything in between, we provide a wide range of security services to help secure your home or business. To discuss your home or business security, or to find out more about the services we offer, please get in touch with us today.
