Whether you are starting a new small business, updating physical infrastructure of your company, or trying to make sure your staff and valuables are safe, it might be overwhelming to try to parse through the different options for video security systems.
Forbel Custom Security Solutions outlines some major factors you should keep in mind when selecting a video surveillance system for your business. Here’s a look at a few:
First of all, they say that you have to make sure you assess how sharp and clear the image quality will be and whether the camera you are selecting has “optical zoom.”
Beyond this, you have to make note of the recording frame rate of a potential security camera. The lower the frame rate, the choppier the footage will be, the security company says.
When it comes to camera models, it’s a very personal choice. You’ll have to sift through the various options to determine what suits your business’s needs. Some examples are bullet cameras, dome cameras, pant-tilt zoom cameras, thermal cameras, and panoramic cameras.
You also have to pinpoint if you need cameras that have indoor or outdoor compatibility. If outdoors, you’ll need one that is weatherproof and one that might need to withstand dirt or water. The company suggests you check for Ingress Protection (IP) ratings for your potential camera before making that purchase.
Make sure you assess the audio sensors that may or may not be part of your commercial security camera. Many on the market don’t pick up audio well, so it determines what your specific needs are. Some manufacturers will enable the camera to record audio. Also check in on local laws and regulations tied to whether audio recordings are illegal in your given state or municipality.
Motion detection is another important feature to assess. Cameras that are on the more advanced end of the spectrum will have video analytics software. Having quality analytics that can assess and classify oncoming vehicles, people walking by, or people fighting outside your business, for example, are important to have in 21st century security systems.
Wired or wireless? That’s a question you will want to answer as well. Wireless systems might be best for individual homes, whereas wired surveillance cameras make more sense for businesses.
As with most aspects of modern security, cloud storage capabilities are crucial. Storing security data in the cloud is often augmented with physical storage as well that you install on a server. The more storage capacity the better so that you can access footage remotely and have a needed back log of recorded data.
No matter what, invest in the best video security system possible. In a separate piece for Digital Trends, Erika Rawes answers the question of “are security camera systems worth it?”
“Yes,” she writes. “Security camera systems can provide peace of mind, but they can also promote safety for customers, employees, and business owners. They may even help lower insurance costs in some cases.”