Five Things to Look For In a CCTV Camera System

Before you even consider other factors, your specific needs will determine what CCTV system you are looking for. There are various reasons why one could need CCTV, including for anti-theft purposes or to monitor employees/customers. Depending on what you need, you will be able to choose between larger more visible cameras, which function as a crime deterrent just by being there, or smaller hidden cameras, which allow you to see how your employees or customers act when they think they aren’t being watched.

One needs to consider the environmental conditions that the CCTV cameras will be exposed to in order to make the best decision when buying. There are plenty of different products suitable for different environments and you may even need a combination of different cameras. Certain cameras are cheaper but they only work effectively indoors in well-lit areas. For outdoor use, you will need a waterproof camera and maybe even a UV filter (if there is a lot of glare in summer). Dust-proof housing is also useful in areas where there is a lot of dust, as this can also affect video quality when it’s needed.

Depending on the size of your business, you will need more or less CCTV cameras. They can get expensive and not all businesses can afford to cover every square inch of their premises in cameras. Luckily, there are ways around this. Instead of buying multiple cameras to cover the same area, you can buy a slightly more expensive camera, like a 360-degree dome or pan-tilt-zoom camera, to provide a larger recording area. This is very useful for businesses that have a small premise or that have areas that are easily viewable from the roof. Supermarkets with large aisles, usually need at least one camera per aisle, so it all depends on the physical layout of your business.

The worst decision you can make is purchasing all the CCTV cameras you need but not getting ones of sufficient recording quality. When you need to use the footage, you will find it blurry and it will be difficult to identify any unwanted characters. In order to prevent this, cater your CCTV system to your specific needs. Speak to a security specialist and find out exactly what will suit your space. You don’t need to spend more than you have to, but it is important to not try to cut corners in this department.

The final need is for a sufficient recording management system. This also depends on your needs, whether you need to store videos for long periods of time, whether you need Wi-Fi access, or if you need other specialized features, like digital notifications when activity is detected or facial recognition. The more advanced systems cost more but they come with features that put the security in the palm of your hand — literally — through smartphone integration.

Please visit out website at First Contact Fire and Security in Southampton UK.