As a business owner you want to do everything in your power to protect what you’ve worked so hard for, right? So how do you do that? Some might hire security personnel to stand guard and keep an eye on their facility, which can get expensive. Others may opt for reinforced locks on their entrances. But the best solution to truly protecting your business is a comprehensive security system that includes a surveillance system. Surveillance is a key component in defending your facility. If you have a security system that has a burglar alarm but no camera system, what happens when someone breaks-in, gets away, and there’s no footage of the incident to help catch the perpetrator? A surveillance system can help prevent not only burglary, but employee theft, workplace violence, and vandalism.
You might think that camera footage is useless, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth. Camera footage isn’t as grainy and unreadable as it may have been in the past. According to Hank Monaco who is the vice president of marketing for a video surveillance system provider, “today’s cameras are infinitely better than what was being offered 10 to 20 years ago.” Thanks to advancing technological improvements there are a wide variety of cameras including high-definition which offers clear readable images.
As experts in the security system industry, our team at Perfect Connections, Inc. understands the importance of protecting a business from criminal activity, and how surveillance equipment can play an integral part in that protection. Our team has been providing comprehensive security systems to business facilities throughout central and northern New Jersey for the past 23 years. Our belief is that a comprehensive security system should be customized to each individual business and should include surveillance, access control, fire and burglar alarms, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and alarm monitoring.
So how effective can a surveillance system really be? If over half of United States employers utilize some form of surveillance in the workplace, it must be working. Having a surveillance system isn’t always about crime prevention either, it can provide business insight that you can’t get anywhere else. From keeping an eye on inventory to observing your employees behavior, you can get a grasp on the inner workings of your business without feeling like you have to hover. Employees that are aware they are being recorded can actually make them more productive and enhance their performance. Video surveillance can help prevent employee theft and outside burglary; the chances of being caught increase and generally people don’t want to take that risk if they don’t have to. Aside from keeping an eye on your employees, video surveillance can actually help protect them and your customers by tracking suspicious visitors and behaviors. Depending on your system, you could also have remote monitoring capabilities added. This would allow you to access your cameras through an app on your mobile device from virtually anywhere. Knowing you can check in on your business when you can’t be there adds a peace of mind you can’t attain from anything else.
How do you know what types of cameras and how many your business needs? This is a question for your security system specialist. Never fall for a provider that offers you pricing and equipment without ever having stepped foot on your facility. To be adequately covered an initial security assessment should be performed in person by a professional. Some basics to be conscious of are the different types of cameras and how footage is stored. Two widely used camera types are Analog and IP (Internet Protocol). Analog cameras require a monitor or TV to view footage which is stored in a DVR (Digital Video Recorder). IP cameras work much like our computers do sending data over a LAN (Local Area Network). There is a wider range of resolution options for IP cameras than there are for Analog. Footage from IP cameras is often recorded and stored in a cloud system. An added benefit of an IP camera is the ability to remotely access each individual camera which you can’t do with an Analog system. With Analog you would have to log into the DVR system to access recorded footage.
While there is no fool proof system, having video surveillance as part of your comprehensive security system can help prevent catastrophic loss and assist in the aftermath of an unfortunate event. For example, look at the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013. The suspects were caught on surveillance cameras and the surviving suspect is now facing trial. Without video footage police would have had to rely on eye witness accounts which aren’t always as clear. Criminal behavior is an unfortunate reality but we can be better prepared by implementing security technologies in our daily lives. As camera technology advances the demand for more surveillance will rise. Especially with progressive technology like “smart” surveillance that would provide more analytical insight into human behaviors, crowd counting, and even body heat recognition. According to a ReportsNReports analysis the size of the global market for “smart” surveillance was around $13.5 billion in 2012 and is estimated to reach $39 billion in 2020.
Most business facilities will likely not require “smart” surveillance equipment yet, but who knows what the future will bring. With the vast array of cameras available in today’s market your security systems expert will be able to find the type that suits your business best. At Perfect Connections Inc. our experts have been providing comprehensive business security solutions throughout northern and central New Jersey since 1992. We are committed to customizing a system specific to your company’s needs.
If you live or run a business in Central or Northern New Jersey and would like information on any of the topics discussed above, please call 800-369-3962 or simply CLICK HERE.
Image Credit: Image by Jonathan McIntosh-Flickr-Creative Commons