INTRODUCTION
Whatever the nature of business, safety and security – whether physical or virtual, of its constituent elements like practices, staff, information and physical property is no longer an afterthought but a vital aspect that’s almost intrinsic in most major planning and execution decisions.
Of all physical security options a business can consider, CCTV surveillance systems are among the most robust and efficient options – in terms of ease of use, deployability, deterrence and general value for money.
An important factor to note that physical security is more important than CCTV alone. A CCTV system or camera, on its own, will not provide the security that business premises ought to have. As far as deterrence is concerned, an individual with criminal intents may not be put off by the presence of CCTV cameras if they think they have a chance of committing an offence and getting away with it.
It’s thus important for a business owner or manager to ensure that physical security at the premises is as good as it can possibly be before investing in a CCTV system or cameras.
The level and efficiency of physical security is a major factor in not only slowing down a criminal act, but in a criminal deciding whether or not to carry out a crime, regardless of the presence of cameras.
Major reasons for a CCTV system / Cameras for a business;
Safety & Security
Arguably, the major reason for CCTV cameras in business premises.
It’s widely accepted that cases of break ins and robberies around and in premises with premises with visible security cameras installed decrease by a margin considerable enough to warrant their existence. Their mere presence is a huge deterrence, to both outsiders and staff.
In premises with dedicated monitoring staff, potential security and safety incidents can be averted e.g. rowdy customers threatening staff, at parking lots and offloading bays, etc.
Supervision
Large businesses (with a lot of staff or covering large geographical areas/ multiple floors) use cameras to keep track of, not just staff but other individuals like delivery drivers, contractors, visitors, etc.
Conflict resolution
Cases of in-house conflicts e.g. thefts, altercations, accidents, etc. are easily resolved by using CCTV footage replays.
Access Control
Depending on the complexity of the acquired system, facial recognition cameras can be used to admit and deny access to staff all over the premises depending on security clearance configurations.
While the importance of CCTV systems for businesses cannot be overstated, it’s common to find that majority of CCTV systems & cameras currently in use by business establishments just barely fulfil their intended purpose, that is, they fail to provide the evidential quality needed for investigations and conflict resolution.
Ill-considered and poorly installed/ positioned cameras often result in wastage of time and effort in trying to retrieve and analyze data, which is a major frustration point for business owners and managers.
It would be disappointing to come to a conclusion that investment in a CCTV security camera or system in favour of traditional physical security (good locks and guards, for instance) has failed to render any discernible or additional security to the premises.
With a little foreknowledge and prudent planning, a CCTV system can prove to be valuable asset for the business, its employees and customers, without infringing on their rights and privacies, a major concern especially for staff.
There are basically three ways a business can approach an install
A DIY Install: Buy the system/ cameras and do the Install in-house.
This could be a cost saving measure, especially for businesses that have or have access to IT personnel. But the fact remains that the business owner or the staff member(s) undertaking need prior basic knowledge in CCTV systems and cameras or need to invest in such knowledge.
Additionally, the business owner needs to have or have access to tools and equipment required for the install (ladders, harnesses, power tools, etc.) Complexity of the tools and equipment depend on the configuration/ layout of the premises e.g. size, height, etc.
There are many downsides to this approach. The first is safety. CCTV systems involve working with electricity/ electrical systems. Amateurish cabling and wiring is a potential injury, fire and even death hazard. Additionally, mishandling of power tools and equipment could also result in injury.
Less severe but still costly downsides include shoddy jobs, substandard hardware and no warranty or support agreements that could prove to be costly to maintain over time.
2. Buy the system/cameras and engage an installer.
It’s imperative that the business owner/manager have prior knowledge of CCTV systems and how they work, including general costs and prices of associated hardware. If not, then investment in such knowledge cannot be overstated.
It’s a fairly cost saving measure, even though the business might have to bear the costs faulty or substandard hardware, not to mention agreements like warranties, support, etc.
Additionally, depending on the level of knowledge by the purchaser, there is a risk of buying cameras ill-suited for the particular layout or dynamics of the premises e.g. lens range – for width and distance, night vision, weather proof ability, etc.
3. Have a professional installer handle every aspect undertake every aspect of the project.
This is usually the most advisable approach, especially with larger establishments and for more complicated systems.
The attendant benefits like replacements on faulty hardware, professional workmanship, warranties and support agreements almost always outweigh the money spent on paying for installation/ labour charges.
What to consider before installing cameras
Having a list of factors to consider before even purchasing a CCTV system or engaging an installer, would not only save money but would in the short and long run ensure that there is no mismatch between the expectation of what a system ought to do versus what it actually does. This would also reduce conflicts between the business owner/ manager and an installer, contentions which, in the case of large installations, could lead to lawsuits by either party.
Purpose
In businesses cameras are used mainly for two purposes;
Security & safety
By far the most common reason for CCTV systems in business premises.
A lot of them would be weather and vandal proof, since they are mostly outside on walls and metal posts and directly or indirectly in harm’s way, vulnerable to vandals and to the elements.
Some other features would include long distance night vision and wide dynamic range.
Monitoring & supervision.
Large businesses or those that cover larger geographical areas or with a lot of staff tend to employ cameras for supervision and tracking of not just employees but also contractors and visitors, e.g. warehouses, farms, multi-floor offices.
Cameras used specifically for monitoring might have extra features like two-way audio, track and trace, wireless connectivity, pan & tilt and facial recognition which could be used in conjunction with access control systems.
A lot of times cameras are used for both purposes simultaneously though.
Infrastructure
Especially for larger businesses with an already established network system, it’s crucial to understand whether the CCTV system will piggyback on the existing Ethernet network (in the case of IP camera systems) or be installed to run separately and independent of the network.
It more cost effective to incorporate IP cameras onto the network. It saves on cabling and labour charges but the costly downside would be an overwhelmed network that could bring business processes to a standstill (if not well planned).
A site survey and analysis by a qualified installer should be able to provide information to aid in not just the type of install to do but what type of hardware/ system to procure.
The Law
Depending on the local laws where the business is located, laws and guidelines governing privacy concerns ought to be considered.
For instance in many urban centers, a CCTV camera’s view might cover areas beyond the business premises, i.e. parts of public roads, parks, other business premises, etc. This means that owners might be subject to the Data Protection Act (DPA).
In some cases, they might even have to be registered with local authorities.
Additionally, specific signage that notifies (the public, visitors and neighbours) that CCTV cameras are in use to aid in the prosecution of a crime committed against the premises may need to be placed conspicuously.
CCTV cameras mounted for instance, mounted higher than 2.5m above the ground and protruding more than 1m from the building or beyond the perimeter wall into public space might require special permission from local authorities.
Budget
Analogue CCTV are cheaper to buy and install than IP cameras. Installation of analogue systems at a basic level can be attempted by a lot of inexperienced installers unlike IP systems that require specialized knowledge (and tools).
The available budget will also help a business owner/ manager to prioritize which areas to cover and which to leave to chance. For security purposes, priority areas are entry and exit points, common areas and valuable/ restricted areas.
Keeping in mind that price doesn’t always equate to quality, it’s always advisable to go with less units of expensive but high quality hardware rather than more of cheap substandard hardware. More would be spent in the in the long run on replacements and maintenance of cheap systems.
There’s also a choice of going with regular cables or costly armoured cables, depending on how vulnerable they would be when run.
Size
Size of the premises determine what type to go with. Consider a farm or a large expanse of open space e.g. airport, yard. Such a site would be better served with long range wireless cameras because cabling could be extremely time consuming and costly or in some cases impossible.
Analogue systems, though cheaper, could prove to be more costly for expansive establishments due to the amount of cable needed to run all the lengths. An IP system cabling on the other hand, if well planned, can be segmented and re-distributed, incorporated into the existing network and connected wirelessly. Several Ethernet topologies can be utilized to achieve the goal.
Immediate environment
Business premises next to public roads, parks, alleys, etc. would need to invest in sturdier, industrial grade cameras as they are susceptible to being vandalized. To reduce the probability of them being vandalized, they would need to be mounted higher, out of reach. In which case, they need to have long range vision otherwise they would be useless at such heights.
Other activities around the premises should also be considered. Proximity to places with heavy industrial machinery or military bases might introduce problems like electromagnetic interference that would affect the working of wireless cameras and overhead coaxial cables.
Topography/ nature
Rocky or uneven surfaces would pretty much eliminate the option of underground cabling.
For a heavily forested site, it would be perilous to have overhead cables snaking around trees, especially if these cables carry power. Falling twigs or birds and animals could snap them and cause an electric short circuit, potentially causing a fire.
In whichever case, when outdoor cabling is needed in such environments, it’s advisable to go with armoured cable, which is pricier but way more suited to withstand abuse and the vagaries of the weather.
What to look for in a CCTV Security System Package
What features to look for in a CCTV system depend on a myriad of factors, some of them being purpose for their installation, budget and the layout & dynamics of the business premises in which they are to be installed. Useful features are those that translate to direct benefits for the business owner / manager.
Image clarity
As much as CCTV system work best as a deterrence system, clarity of footage is vital incase its actually needed – otherwise the evidence would be inadmissible if the picture is too grainy or vague.
Thus, care should be taken when choosing the lens type and how they perform in conditions of low or no light, distance, etc. Higher resolution cameras deliver crisper images but the downside to watch out for could be high latency resulting in choppy images – a result of poor initial network planning before installation.
Data storage & retention
Some systems come with pre-installed storage – either permanent or expandable. Most however require storage media to be purchased on the side. Without storage, the system is merely a surveillance tool and could prove to be useless when video/picture evidence is required.
For a security system, special surveillance hard drives rather than regular PC hard drives ought to be used as they have the resilience to withstand constant 24-hour read and write. For stand-alone cameras, similar SD cards exist that are built purposely for high density CCTV recording tasks.
Capacity is also a factor to keep in mind. The higher the capacity the greater the amount of video footage retention time. It would be almost useless to have a security system retain footage for only a day, especially if it’s passive i.e. has no one actively manning and watching proceedings. .
Cloud storage is also another option. Most modern system allow for direct cloud backup of footage or images. Whether that would be cost effective depends on the dynamics of the business.
Recording & compression
Apart from storage, recording type and compression method determine the duration of footage retention.
Motion recording ensures that only instances where motion is detected are recorded thus saving storage space. Most modern system allow the user to not only enable motion recording but to customize parameters e.g. sensitivity, post and pre-record time limits, scope of motion, etc. The downside can be that useful events are missed either due to poor lighting, poorly set parameters, poor detection from poor quality cameras, etc. a good system should be able to allow for both motion and constant recording, just in case conditions don’t favour motion recording.
Compression is vital in that recorded footage is compressed so as to occupy the least possible space on the storage media, which are then decompressed when the footage is transferred to separate media for viewing. The better the compression method the less precious space footage will occupy on the hard drive plus make video playback faster. The most common storage formats for CCTV are H264, H265 & H265+.
Support
It’s vital to acquire systems from credible manufacturers with at least an online presence, for issues like updates, parts and general technical support.
When engaging an installer, it’s also important to look at agreements like maintenance agreements, warranties, and technical support – either remote or onsite. This is especially important for larger complicated systems / businesses where in-house technical capabilities might not be enough to fully maintain the system.
Security
Low level security systems can be installed in a quick plug-&-play fashion without the need to create user accounts and other security credentials. They’re easy to set up but are also a breeze to hack into.
Secure systems require security credentials to be parameterized before use. The same goes for remote access apps and platforms. Secure systems don’t allow other remote users to access the system without express authorization from the admin account. This is critical for a business owner/manager when trying to keep track of which individuals/departments have access to the system.
Remote access
Almost every modern CCTV system allows for remote access. Each manufacturer has their own platform and app to use for their systems but it would help to find a system that has an app that’s not just straight forward but secure and updatable.
Low level systems tend to have open source apps and platforms that aren’t specific to any system and tend to be very insecure.
Durability & resilience
A good system ought to be able to handle conditions of the environment in which it’s supposed to work in.
Outdoor cameras ought to withstand the elements like rain, direct sunlight, dust and occasional hits from twigs and pebbles. Indoor cameras might be less physically robust but that shouldn’t mean fragility. Ability to withstand e.g. power failures and fluctuations without internal components like storage media and lenses being fried is an important factor.
Channels / Input capacity
The system ought to have enough input channels if not slightly more to cater for future expansion. It’s more prudent to have extra channels on an NVR unused than to have to buy a new NVR to add one vital camera.
Additional features
As with other technical systems, CCTV systems can come with a slew of features, some useful and some impractical depending on the environment the system is being deployed in.
Different cameras achieve their potential in different setting. Long range lens cameras are suitable for outdoor scenarios like driveways, parking lots or being mounted up high but would deliver a substandard image or view in a constrained place, like a room.
Same goes for short range, wide view cameras suitable for a room but nearly useless for a long driveway or a parking lot. Features like vari-focal lenses could help adjust the camera to suit the particular setting. Other features like zoom, pan and tilt, long distance night vision could also be a consideration.
Maintenance of an installed system
Playback & storage
This is probably one of the most vital checks to perform periodically. It can be frustrating (and potentially costly) to have a fatal incident occur and have no way of reviewing footage for proof and ascertainment because the storage medium wasn’t recording in the first place.
Once a week, a quick check performed by the manager can ensure that the hard drive is healthy and events are being recorded.
Passwords
In a lot of DIYs or installations by inexperienced installers, it’s common to find either default passwords or commonplace passwords in use e.g. admin, 12345, 1-9, birthdays, name of owner/business, year of installation, etc. these should be steered well clear of.
It’s advisable to have a maintenance schedule to change passwords, especially when the system is accessed by several individuals/ departments. It’s especially vital when someone previously managing/ accessing the system is no longer supposed to.
Check camera angles often
Over time, cameras could to lose the view for which they were intended to cover through being moved, turned or twisted (intentionally or inadvertently). Checking and refocusing skewed camera angles would help, especially in cases where footage needs to be reviewed but the incident happened outside the range of view.
Also loose camera brackets, holders can have the camera sway in strong winds or be knocked off position by birds, falling twigs, rain, etc.
Lighting & obstacles
Certain cameras might have been installed in an area with sufficient lighting but over time, lights blew out, were changed/ relocated or post-installation structures like canopies, shades and walls becoming obstacles which cast shadows that make the camera ineffective, particularly at night.
Also regular cleaning of the camera lens would help. Over time, dust, cobwebs and cocoons would be found around and in front of the camera. Cobwebs especially affect the working of infrared light from the camera at night as it tends to bounce off back to the lens, therefore blinding the camera.
Cables
Over time cables can become exposed or hang loosely off the walls (depending on the how professionally they were installed in the first place). Hanging cables can easily snap and exposed cables can be frayed or cut by human or animal activity. A potentially dangerous situation would be cables that also carry power and video. Electrical shock and a fire are a potential result of the cable breaking.
Vendor maintenance agreements
For busy business owners and managers, keeping track of maintenance schedules for technical systems might be too much. They tend to be postponed or overlooked altogether leading to their deterioration and failing when they are most needed.
Thus it’s prudent especially for larger, more complicated systems to have maintenance agreements with the installer or qualified technical persons who would ensure potential faults are spotted and rectified in time.
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