8 Tips for Choosing the Right CCTV System for Your Business

Purchasing the right CCTV system is one of the important decisions that small and large businesses, and even non-profit establishments, have to make.

However, as surveillance technology evolves, CCTV systems are bringing establishments much more benefits than just security. As a result, picking the right system for your company can provide more profound advantages than ever.

Here are eight important points to keep in mind before deciding which surveillance system to get for your business.

1. Cheap Isn’t Always Smart

It is always smarter to invest in good quality, entry level CCTV system that lets you add more cameras as your company grows. Reputable CCTV brands will have a range of recorder and camera options from trusted brands like Axis, Samsung, Honeywell and more. While units from these brands are a tad expensive, you can guarantee superior quality. You will also get longer warranty period compared to small unbranded cameras, which may likely offer six-month warranty at best and may rarely include professional installation as part of their service.

2. Your Purpose of CCTV Installation

Determine the reason(s) why you want a CCTV system in the office. Know your priorities as this will help narrow down your options according to the features of the CCTV systems. Are you always out of town and need your CCTV to help you monitor all office activities? Are you in retail and need surveillance cameras to prevent theft inside your establishment? Having a clear objective would help in choosing the most suitable system for your business.

3. Look for Smartphone Compatibility

Again, if you are someone who is always on the go, it would be highly beneficial if your CCTV system can provide security information directly to your smartphone. Many leading security companies offer real-time streaming of CCTV camera footages through smartphones, as well as sending text alerts when security is breached. This guarantees that you are in control even if you are away from your office.

4. Decide Whether Static or Moving Cameras

There are CCTV cameras that once you have installed them, they only give you a view of a single angle or location—these are called fixed cameras. There are also cameras that allow you to remotely rotate them, giving you a 360 degree movement and view of the location where they are installed—these, on the other hand, are called pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) cameras. For additional security, you can add motion detectors to these PTZ cameras, commanding the camera to focus on the area where it detected motion. Depending on your needs, choose the one that’s suitable for the area where the camera will be mounted.

5. The Lighting Condition

Test the cameras to see which ones work effectively in your office’s lighting condition. Areas inside and outside the office have different lighting situation throughout the day. For instance, are there backlights that can create glares, such as those in bars and clubs? Strobing and laser lights can affect the clarity of footages recorded by CCTV cameras. For conventional offices, consider where the cameras will be installed. Is it near a light source or in a dim room? Indoor or outdoor?  Your goal here is for the cameras to record clear images and footages despite the lighting condition of the space.

6. Ask a CCTV Professional for Advice

Before choosing a surveillance system, seek advice from a security professional. They can help assess your office and show you footages captured by different types of CCTV cameras to help you get a clear picture of the video quality and pricing before committing to a certain package. Research online for reputable names in the industry and do your homework on the different CCTV cameras available in the market.

7. Consider a Scalable System

Your chosen system should be able to accommodate growth as your company grows. You might start with a few cameras around the premise, and then add a few more units and add options like night-vision feature and mobile alerts later on. Get a CCTV system that you can upgrade as your business’ security needs change.

8. Discuss Maintenance Costs

Before finally agreeing on the installation of the system, discus the system’s repair and maintenance costs with the provider. Some service providers charge monthly for managing your security system and for making sure that emergency personnel are available in case of an unforeseen event. Find out the costs upfront and the monthly fee you will need to pay, so you can be sure that you are not overspending on your security.

Deciding on the right CCTV for your office is an important part of your company’s security system. Compare available devices, systems, packages and service provider before choosing the best one for you.

*This list is compiled in no particular order.*