CCTV Camera for Secured Business Operations with Analytics

Posted On: December 29, 2020

As the owner of a small or medium business (SMB), you may think the size and relative anonymity of your business prevents it from being targeted by criminals, but you would be wrong. SMBs are especially vulnerable to threats such as theft, because they are short-staffed, and have limited budgets for security.

According to a recent article by KPMG about the state of physical security in India, organization level risk perception related to physical security is dismally low — in the bottom quartile.

If your business is one of those, not budgeting for security can come to bite you in the heels later. It would be good to do a risk assessment on your business so you understand the threats unique to your situation, then decide which types of protection are most required, and budget for them.

One easy fix to any SMB’s security needs is the installation of a reliable CCTV surveillance solution via a reputable e-surveillance partner like IGZY.

Surveillance solutions of today are sophisticated systems, offering an array of features and it is easy to get bewildered by the options.

In this blog, we decode CCTV technology and options for you.

CAPABILITIES OF CCTV CAMERAS

A CCTV system in its simplest form consists of a camera covering an area of interest and a monitor that receives the feed from the camera through a coaxial cable.

CCTVs offer several features that can help you gather and review the footage. Some factors you should consider are:

Video storage

Do you need the video stored locally or does cloud storage appeal more to you? Local storage requires someone to be on the premises or connected to the network to monitor the feed, whereas video on the cloud storage can be accessed from anywhere.

Resolution of video footage

There are two camera types -the old generation of Analog cameras and the new age IP cameras that typically have better resolution and functionality.

CCTV cameras that are static vs. Those with the ability to zoom, tilt or pan

Do you need the ability for your control room staff to zoom in on specific persons or areas of interest? Do you need wide-angle lens covering a large area, or do you want a camera that is tightly trained on a specific area such as a checkout counter?

Sensor driven automated video recording

Video recording begins only when triggered by a motion or other sensor. This helps cut down the amount of footage recorded, e.g. at night or holidays when there is less traffic to the business.

Night vision capabilities

Your business can be monitored at night if the camera you choose comes with night-vision capabilities, or even the ability to record detail during low-light conditions. Advanced cameras use infrared or heat vision technology and can record even when it’s pitch dark.

What is your goal with the CCTV cameras?

Do you want the cameras to be discreet, or do you hope to deter crime by making it clear that your business premises are under video surveillance?

Wireless vs. Wired Cameras

Which one do you prefer? How do you plan to mount it? A wireless camera mounted inside a metal cage can be very effective, i.e. a miscreant can’t simply snip a coaxial cable or lob a brick to render your camera useless, rendering it completely useless. Your camera should be housed in a solid outer casing, and preferably wireless, so it can transmit video without need for a physical connection to the network.

Analog vs. IP Cameras

Surveillance systems can be of two types, depending on the camera used. When the camera used is an analog camera, the system is an analog system — the camera is connected to a Digital Video Recorder (DVR), which is responsible for compressing, converting the analog feed to digital, and storing the converted footage feed. The DVR also controls the camera’s capabilities, such as its tilt, coverage, scheduled operations, and so on. To view the stored footage, monitors are required. If the DVR is connected to a router and modem, the footage can be broadcast over the internet.

An IP (Internet Protocol) camera does away with the need for the DVR. The camera captures video digitally and can transmit the digital over the internet.

IP cameras compress and digitize the videos themselves. Most IP cameras store the video on SD cards. Some IP cameras can connect to Network Video Recorder (NVR) and they can stream video to smart devices.

ADVANTAGES OF IP CCTV CAMERA SYSTEMS

Analog camera systems are cheaper to set up and get running. IP cameras used to be significantly more expensive than analog cameras but have become cheaper than before. Their videos have higher resolutions, so you’ll need larger bandwidth and storage to accommodate this infrastructure.

But do not let cost be the primary driver of your security decision. You may want to consider the long-term effects of choosing an analog camera system. Analog systems are in serious danger of going the way of the dinosaur — extinct. If the analog manufacturer stops hardware and other support for the system you invest in today, you may find yourself having to replace it with the more expensive IP surveillance system a few years down the road.

IP systems also usually have a larger field of view i.e. a larger area is covered with fewer cameras, which means you will need to invest in fewer devices. IP cameras connected to a NVR can also stream videos to handheld devices. Their footage can be stored and retrieved from the cloud, which makes it possible for members of your security team to monitor and review footage even when they are not in your office or connected to the network.

IGZY’s high definition IP cameras provide wide-angle access and its multi-view feature helps you track every area of your business, all while live-streaming video to your devices. For businesses, IGZY offers 30 days of video storage on the cloud.

GAIN PEACE OF MIND WITH IGZY

Investing in a good CCTV surveillance system is a once-in-a-lifetime decision, so it’s vital that you choose a reliable partner right in the beginning with proven industry expertise, large project management capabilities, and superior-tech infrastructure i.e. IGZY

It’s not just about security. Our surveillance solutions bring to light previously unnoticed SOP failures and help solve problems in crucial areas of cost reduction, compliance audits, maintenance and operations, business efficiency, hygiene control, space management, etc.

With IGZY as your surveillance partner, you gain so much more than just peace of mind.

Originally published at https://igzy.com on December 29, 2020.