CCTV Systems Help Manage Your Business

As CCTV systems move into the home market, many businesses are wondering if they still provide the best security and surveillance for their business uses. CCTV camera systems are still among the most economical and best tools to help small business owners manage their businesses and prevent loss. If you’re not sure whether a security camera and CCTV system could help your business, consider these points.

Shrinkage – the amount of your profit lost to theft – equals approximately 2% of retail sales, according to leading industry experts. That means if you’re doing $100,000 a month in retail sales, you’re losing about $2,000 a month of your inventory to theft.

The recession has caused a spike in theft, including employee theft. In 2009, the Centre for Retail Research noted that retail theft had risen around the world by an average of 5.5% -- but in North America, shrinkage rose 8.8% to its highest rate in history.

Shrinkage takes a $114.8 billion bite out of the world’s markets. That’s probably a lot less significant to you than the few thousand dollars a month you could be losing to employee theft, inefficiency, shoplifting and other preventable losses.

Despite the alarming rise in retail loss due to theft, as a whole the retail industry is spending less on security camera systems and other CCTV systems for security. A bit counter-intuitive, isn’t it?

A single CCTV camera can help you cut down or virtually eliminate a major source of retail loss – point of sale loss. There are many different ways that you can lose money at the point of sale, and many of them can be foiled by a security camera at the register. They include under-ringing, where clerks simply don’t scan everything in an order, usually for friends. While it may sound like a relatively small loss, industry experts estimate that it costs retailers between $8 and $10 billion a year. A CCTV system can let you keep your registers under surveillance, and if you make it known that sales are being recorded, a CCTV system serves as a deterrent as well.

A well-placed security camera can make it easier to catch shoplifters, but placing more than one CCTV camera to capture trouble spots from different angles can be more successful. Organized retail shoplifting is becoming more and more common, and a typical trick is for one person to block the view of the camera while a second person lifts the item. By having more than one angle on the most common trouble spots, you make it more difficult for a team to pull off their theft.

CCTV systems have fallen in price just as retail theft and shrinkage is rising. Don’t take a chance with your store’s bottom line. Invest in a good security surveillance system and watch it pay for itself.

CCTV Systems Help Manage Your Business

As CCTV systems move into the home market, many businesses are wondering if they still provide the best security and surveillance for their business uses. CCTV camera systems are still among the most economical and best tools to help small business owners manage their businesses and prevent loss. If you’re not sure whether a security camera and CCTV system could help your business, consider these points.

Shrinkage – the amount of your profit lost to theft – equals approximately 2% of retail sales, according to leading industry experts. That means if you’re doing $100,000 a month in retail sales, you’re losing about $2,000 a month of your inventory to theft.

The recession has caused a spike in theft, including employee theft. In 2009, the Centre for Retail Research noted that retail theft had risen around the world by an average of 5.5% -- but in North America, shrinkage rose 8.8% to its highest rate in history.

Shrinkage takes a $114.8 billion bite out of the world’s markets. That’s probably a lot less significant to you than the few thousand dollars a month you could be losing to employee theft, inefficiency, shoplifting and other preventable losses.

Despite the alarming rise in retail loss due to theft, as a whole the retail industry is spending less on security camera systems and other CCTV systems for security. A bit counter-intuitive, isn’t it?

A single CCTV camera can help you cut down or virtually eliminate a major source of retail loss – point of sale loss. There are many different ways that you can lose money at the point of sale, and many of them can be foiled by a security camera at the register. They include under-ringing, where clerks simply don’t scan everything in an order, usually for friends. While it may sound like a relatively small loss, industry experts estimate that it costs retailers between $8 and $10 billion a year. A CCTV system can let you keep your registers under surveillance, and if you make it known that sales are being recorded, a CCTV system serves as a deterrent as well.

A well-placed security camera can make it easier to catch shoplifters, but placing more than one CCTV camera to capture trouble spots from different angles can be more successful. Organized retail shoplifting is becoming more and more common, and a typical trick is for one person to block the view of the camera while a second person lifts the item. By having more than one angle on the most common trouble spots, you make it more difficult for a team to pull off their theft.

CCTV systems have fallen in price just as retail theft and shrinkage is rising. Don’t take a chance with your store’s bottom line. Invest in a good security surveillance system and watch it pay for itself.

Advantages of CCTV Systems for Small Retail Stores

Small retail stores face high shrinkage rates for a number of reasons, not the least of which is the smaller staff and the difficulty of keeping an eye on the stock at all times. If you own a small store that’s usually only manned by one, or at most two, employees, you know how difficult it is to provide security for your space. CCTV systems offer a number of excellent advantages for small retail stores.

Cost

While you can spend thousands of dollars on a security system, a small store can easily install a decent CCTV system with more than one security camera for just a couple hundred dollars. The price point on CCTV cameras and systems has come down considerably in the past few years, thanks to advances in technology. You can recover the cost of installing a CCTV security camera in just a few months of reduced inventory shrinkage.

Employee Security

Most security experts recommend obvious, visible security cameras in small retail stores because they discourage robberies. When you have a small convenience or retail store, armed robberies are a constant fear. A security camera can help deter robbers from striking your store, which keeps your employees safer.

Discourage Shoplifters

For the same reason, obvious security camera installations tend to discourage shoplifters. People are less likely to attempt to steal from you if they know that you’re recording them in action. And if you are robbed, the recordings and footage from your CCTV system can help convict the thieves and help you get restitution.

Monitor Employees

No one likes to confront the fact that some employees steal, but it’s a reality of retail life. A CCTV camera can help keep employees honest – they’re far less likely to give “discounts” to their friends if all transactions are being recorded. And if you are dealing with a dishonest employee, a concealed surveillance camera can help you discover the thief and give you the evidence you need to confront him.

Help Resolve Customer Complaints

Customer complaints about employees are among the most difficult situations faced by small retail business owners. Do you believe your employee and support him – or go with the old adage that the customer is always right? A security camera capturing point of sale transactions and other encounters in the store can allow you to review the situation and find out the truth, then deal with it appropriately.

You’ll find CCTV systems of all sizes and types for sale at many online security stores. Research the best ones for your use and add some security to your store for your sake, and that of your employees.

How to Choose CCTV Systems

Home and business owners who are concerned about safety often opt for CCTV systems as part of an overall security strategy. CCTV systems consist of one or more security cameras linked to a monitoring system. Some may also include a recorder that saves the images to a tape, DVD or other recording device for later playback.

Advances in manufacturing and technology have lowered the prices on good security cameras and security systems, bringing them well within the budgets of most homeowners, but choosing the right CCTV security camera and recorder can be confusing. A step-by-step process can help ensure that you get the right type of CCTV security system for your needs.

Evaluate Your Needs

Before you can start making decisions about wired or wireless CCTV systems, indoor or outdoor security cameras or whether you should choose an IP camera, you need to understand exactly what you intend to accomplish. How many areas do you want to cover? Will you need a separate surveillance camera for each area? Will the cameras be indoors or outside? Do you need low light capability? Do you want to be able to view your security feed from a remote location (an IP security system) or do you simply want to record and review surveillance tapes? Finally, what’s your budget for your security system? The answers to all of those questions will help you make decisions about the security system specs as you start shopping.

Choose the Type of Camera You Need

There are many types and styles of cameras, but your biggest decisions will be whether you want a wired, wireless or IP security camera. They each have advantages and drawbacks.

A wired security camera is less prone to interruptions and distortions in the feed, but you’ll have to run wire from the camera to the monitor or recording equipment. Most wired security cameras are indoor/outdoor and have an infrared filter for night recording.  A wired surveillance camera is harder to install and less flexible than a wireless system.

Wireless security cameras used to have a reputation of being “wonky” – very prone to interference from household devices and interruptions in delivering picture and sound to the recorder. Today, even an inexpensive wireless security camera can deliver crystal clear video and audio. The cost and the ease of setup have made wireless CCTV systems the most popular for DIY security system setup.

An IP security camera connects to your computer’s router like any other computer or networkable device, and allows you to access the camera feed from anywhere that has an internet connection. They can be set up to record directly to your computer, eliminating the need for a DVR or other recording or monitoring device.

Image quality is another important factor in the cost and usefulness of the CCTV camera you choose. Cheaper security cameras use CMOS chips, which produce poor quality video and don’t work well in very bright or very dim light conditions. CCD chips are someone more expensive, but the quality difference makes the price difference worthwhile. In general, the larger the CCD chip, the higher the quality of the image it produces – but even a ¼” CCD chip produces good quality video for most uses.

A color surveillance camera may seem like a good idea, but a black and white security camera will capture better detail in low light conditions, such as night-time monitoring. Some more expensive CCTV camera systems will switch between color mode and infrared black and white mode for night-time monitoring.

Once you’ve determined the basics of your needs, a dealer of CCTV systems can help you make the right decision about the best CCTV system for your use.

Five Ways That Businesses Can Use CCTV Systems

You may be looking at CCTV systems as a security surveillance solution for your small business, but a good CCTV camera and recorder system offers many other advantages for a business. While it’s true that a security camera system can help you stop people from shoplifting and help you keep an eye on your retail establishment, other business uses for CCTV systems may surprise you.

Protect Your Employees from False Claims

When you install a security camera that picks up your employee interactions with customers, many employees feel that it’s an invasion of their privacy. In reality, tapes from CCTV systems are often used to clear employees when customers make false claims against them. The security tape doesn’t lie, and you won’t be stuck having to decide between two different versions of the same story.

Keep Your Employees Safe on the Premises

If you own a bar, restaurant or convenience store that’s open late at night, your employees may have to walk to their cars in a deserted parking lot. Many owners of establishments that stay open late place a surveillance camera trained on the parking lot to deter attacks or vandalism to their employees’ cars.

Monitor Employee Productivity and Performance

A CCTV camera allows you to look over your employees’ shoulders and pinpoint problems and issues. On the one hand, this can help you identify problem behaviors and habits, including catching employees who are breaking rules or cheating you. On the other hand, a surveillance camera can help you identify work flow problems and other issues that make your staff’s lives more difficult.

Protect Your Employees in Case of Holdups

Visible surveillance cameras protect your employees in many different ways. Among other things, robbers are far less likely to rob a store that has an obvious security system in use. In case of a robbery, tapes from your security camera can help identify thieves and establish what actually happened. And because there’s a security camera recording, you can emphasize to employees that they should not attempt to stop the thieves -- you’ll have the camera footage to help with identification.

Check in on Your Premises from Home or a Remote Location

With an IP-based CCTV system, you can easily check in to monitor what’s happening on your business premises from home or anywhere else that has access to the Internet. The ability to check your premises can give you peace of mind and allow you to quickly check for any problems if you’re alerted to an alarm or other issue at your store.

CCTV Systems in Child Care Settings

Caring for other people’s children is more than a business. It’s a trust. You are responsible for the most precious thing in another person’s life – and you are responsible for the lives of those children in your care. It’s vital to have your eyes on those children every moment that they’re in your care. Increasingly, daycare centers around the nation are turning to CCTV systems to provide video coverage of their operations in order to protect both the children and their staff.

Security cameras and CCTV systems may seem like an awkward mix with a daycare setting, but many of the top daycare centers in the country are using them – and marketing their use of surveillance cameras as a cutting edge technique. Placing a CCTV system in your daycare center provides a number of advantages for your business and your clients.

Protect children from intrusion. Some of the most horrific acts of violence in the past few years have targeted daycare centers. A CCTV surveillance system can keep your building safe from intruders and vandals and protect your children from harm.

Keep track of all children. A CCTV system makes it easier to keep track of where each child and staff member is located in your facility. This can be especially useful if your charges include little “wanderers”. You can easily locate the “missing” child without deploying half of your staff to hunt for him.

Give parents peace of mind. Many daycare centers set up wireless CCTV systems with IP cameras and give the web address to the parents of the children in their care. This allows parents to check in on their children at any time and reassure themselves that their child is being well cared for.

Protect your employees. Video records of your care can protect your daycare center and your employees from false accusations of abuse. You can easily review the footage from your CCTV camera installations to see exactly what happened.

Considerations for CCTV systems in Childcare Centers

Place cameras in public areas only. Keep them out of dressing rooms and bathrooms to respect privacy concerns.

Make sure that all your parents are aware of your use of a security system and video surveillance.

Security cameras on the playground and classroom areas help you monitor the children in all public settings.

A CCTV camera in the parking lot provides additional security for your staff and protects their cars from theft and vandalism.

Keep a security camera trained on exits and entrances to get clear pictures of everyone that enters and leaves your facility. The footage can be invaluable in protecting your children from intruders and identifying them for police if necessary.

Whether you run a daycare center in your home or operate a larger childcare center, a CCTV system can be an invaluable aid in keeping all of your charges – both children and staff – safe from intruders and violence.

Options for Home Security CCTV Systems

Home security systems have come a long way from the basic burglar alarm that makes a lot of noise when someone opens a door they shouldn’t have touched. Today, CCTV systems are cropping up in state of the art home security systems and allowing homeowners to keep an eye on their properties when they’re away from home. There are many options for homeowners who want to protect their homes by taking advantage of the latest advances in CCTV camera technology. Many of them are easy enough for the typical DIY homeowner to set up. If you’re familiar with the various CCTV systems components on the market, you can easily create your own configuration and tailor a security system that’s perfect for your home.

Security Cameras

Security cameras are the eyes – and often the ears – of your home CCTV system, and there are literally dozens of styles and options available to choose from. They include wireless and wired cameras, security cameras designed to be used outside and others with special lenses and lighting to be used for areas that have little natural light. You can choose from black and white CCTV cameras or color ones, choose fixed security cameras or those that swivel, rotate, pan, tilt and zoom so that you can focus in on important happenings while you’re surveying your property.

When choosing the right security cameras for your CCTV system, keep in mind that they must work with the software that runs your DVR or that is running on your PC. You should also be aware of the number of frames per second (FPS) they can capture and the resolutions at which they can film. Those factors will determine how much detail your security cameras capture.

DVR or PC

In addition to your security cameras, you’ll also have to choose the medium by which you’ll display what your cameras are watching. You can choose to display live footage, record surveillance footage for later viewing or do both. Your CCTV security cameras can record directly to a DVR or record to software running on your PC. If you choose an IP-based CCTV system, you can broadcast the images being recorded by your cameras over that address and log into it from any web-based browser to view what’s going on at home.

Choosing CCTV cameras, a monitor and DVR for your home security system is the first step to protecting your home. A good CCTV system allows you to monitor what’s happening when you can’t be there so that you can respond appropriately in case of an emergency or a break-in.

Choosing the Right CCTV Systems for Your Needs

Onsite surveillance is one of the most valuable types of security you can provide for your place of business or your home. CCTV systems with security cameras can provide any level of security surveillance that your property needs. It just takes a little research to choose the right CCTV cameras and system to suit your needs. These tips on designing a CCTV security system and choosing security cameras and equipment can help you make the best choices for your property.

Determine where you need surveillance. One of the most important choices you’ll make is how many and what type of CCTV cameras you’ll need for your full system. Your first step in deciding the number of surveillance cameras you’ll need is deciding what you want to be able to watch.

In a home, you should have a camera covering the main entry points to your home – the front and back doors – as well as your driveway and any areas of your home that our out of sight from the windows.

In a business, you’ll want security cameras transmitting the view from any areas of the store or facility that aren’t observable from the counter. In addition, you should have a security camera trained on the point of sale, not so much to keep your employees under surveillance as to protect them from customer malfeasance. A security camera recording all transactions can provide valuable evidence if the drawer is short or a customer makes an accusation of mistreatment.

Decide whether you want to record or just watch. The increasing use of PC-based CCTV security systems makes it easier than ever to record surveillance for later perusal or to save in case it’s needed. Whether you choose a DVR security system or a PC-based system, you’ll find it’s considerably easier to record and store security footage than it used to be to store VHS tapes with security footage on them.

Decide whether you want a wired analog system or a wireless/network-based system. Each type of CCTV security system has its own advantages. Wireless security cameras offer flexibility and the ability to rearrange your security system configuration at need. Wired systems generally have better recording and better resolution than most wireless cameras. Depending on the systems and components you choose, you may be able to put together a hybrid system that will work with both wired and wireless security cameras.

Consider your budget. CCTV systems range in price from a few hundred dollars to many thousands of dollars. If you shop carefully, you’ll find security cameras, DVRs and other CCTV system components that fit your budget and your needs perfectly.

Outdoor CCTV Systems Enhance Your Security

Whether you’re securing a home or your business premises, you’re only partially protected if your security system starts at your front door. Outdoor CCTV systems are a valuable addition to your home or business security system. Even adding as little as a front door security camera gives you an added layer of safety by allowing you to view those that approach or knock on your front door. If you’re not sure about expanding your CCTV systems to cover the outdoors as well as inside your business or home, consider these important points.

A Visible CCTV Camera Provides a Deterrent to Burglars and Thieves

Simply putting up a security camera provides a deterrent to many would-be thieves and break-in artists. Burglars are far more likely to pass your home by if there’s a camera watching what they’re doing. Mounting a security camera where it’s easily seen buttresses your other security measures.

Outdoor Security Cameras Suit Your Budget

Visible security cameras are among the least expensive and most useful additions to your CCTV system. They’re available at prices ranging from as little as $50 to high res security cameras with bells and whistles that cost many thousands of dollars. You can easily find a CCTV camera that will suit your budget and your needs if you shop around.

A Parking Lot Security Camera Enhances Employee Safety

If you’re doing security for a business, placing a visible security camera to cover your parking lot enhances your business security as well as increasing employee safety. Your CCTV system can monitor the parking lot, ensuring that your employees reach their vehicle safety. This is especially important for entertainment venues where employees, servers and other staff may be leaving the building late at night.

CCTV System Monitoring Lowers Your Liability and May Decrease Insurance

Insurance companies look very favorably in security cameras and CCTV system use in both homes and businesses – so favorably, in fact, that they’re likely to reduce your premium for installing them. In either case, an outdoor security camera can provide evidence after an accident or a break-in that can lead to the recovery of stolen property, aid law enforcement in prosecution or help the insurance company assign liability properly after an accident or incident on your property.

If you’re setting up security for your home or business, or want to enhance your family’s or employees’ safety, check out the many types of CCTV systems and security cameras that are suited to outdoor use. Why stop protecting the people you love at the front door?

CCTV Systems Secure Your Business and Reduce Shrinkage

Retail businesses and restaurants often have issues with “shrinkage,” the innocuous euphemism for shoplifting and theft by both customers and employees. CCTV systems provide security footage and allow you to monitor your premises and prevent shrinkage by keeping a virtual eye on your store or restaurant even when you can’t do so. There are many types of CCTV systems for surveillance on the market, including those that are designed to be obvious and those that are designed for covert surveillance. You can choose from stationary security cameras, hidden surveillance cameras and cameras for indoors, outdoors and night surveillance, as well as from wired or wireless CCTV systems, whichever best suits your needs.

CCTV Systems Are More Affordable Than Ever

Many small store owners mistakenly believe that they can’t afford a CCTV system. In fact, the prices on security systems have come tumbling down over the past few years as technology has made it cheaper and easier than ever to install a surveillance camera just about anywhere you want – without having to break into your walls or run wires all over your stores. You can buy a security system that might have cost $1,500 to $2,500 just a few years ago for under $500 – and in some stores, you’ll recover that cost in just a month or two thanks to tighter security and the reduction in shrinkage.

Wireless CCTV Cameras Give You Incredible Flexibility

Wired security cameras can be awkward and expensive. You have to choose a configuration for your security system, hire someone to do the wiring and hope that you’ve got it all right, because once the security cameras are in place, you’re stuck with them. Wireless security cameras, on the other hand, can be placed just about anywhere you choose, as long as they can get a signal back to the DVR or PC you’re using as a receiver. Most wireless security cameras can transmit through one or more walls, so you can locate your surveillance cams in several rooms and out of doors without having to run wires.

Hidden Cameras for Surveillance, Visible for Deterrent

Today’s security systems offer you a choice between visible security cameras that can serve as a deterrent to thieves and shoplifters and hidden cameras that allow you to keep an eye on your premises without being obvious. No matter which you choose, you can configure them with a DVR or with a PC base station. If you choose a PC-based CCTV system, you can even check in on the premises from your home or office over the Internet.

If you thought that CCTV systems were too expensive for your operation, take another look. You’re likely to find that there’s a perfect security system available within your price range.

What to Know Before Shopping for Wireless Security CCTV Systems

CCTV systems are among the most important tools you can employ in your quest to provide for your family’s or business’ security and safety. Until recently, though, your access to CCTV security systems was hampered by the reach of wires and access to electrical outlets. But thanks to the great strides taken in wireless technology, your options for placing security cameras and receivers have expanded exponentially. In addition, advances in battery and power storage technology have also opened new vistas for battery-operated CCTV security cameras. Here’s what you should know before shopping for wireless CCTV systems.

Best Uses for Home Wireless CCTV Systems

Wireless CCTV systems and security cameras are the ideal solution for places where you can’t easily run a wire, but where you want to be able to keep an eye. Consider mounting a wireless security camera to monitor your driveway, front or back door, or the alley behind your house for security purposes. A wireless CCTV system is also ideal for keeping an eye on the baby sleeping in another room and monitoring kids at play out in the yard, as well as for monitoring and recording what happens in your backyard, garage or shed.

In short, if you’ve got a spot you want to watch but don’t want to run wires through the house or backyard, a wireless CCTV system is probably your best solution.

Considerations for Choosing CCTV Systems for Home Security

Before you start shopping for wireless cameras and recorders, you should know the answers to these questions. They’ll help you and the salesman figure out the best security camera solution, monitor and recording equipment for your needs.

How many indoor and outdoor areas do you want to monitor? How many cameras do you think you’ll need?

The general rule is that you’ll need one CCTV camera for each room you want to monitor, as well as one CCTV camera for each outdoor area – that is, one for the front of the house, one for the back, etc.

Will you need night vision cameras for any of your areas?

If you need to monitor an area after dark, night vision cameras are an important addition to your CCTV setup. Assess how much light comes from other sources in the area you want to monitor. It will help the tech person assess the best security camera for your use.

How many walls will the wireless signal have to penetrate?

Consider where you want to place your cameras and where your monitor will be placed so that you can figure out how far and through how many barriers the signal will have to travel. The further and more obstructed the signal will be, the more powerful your cameras will have to be.

Will you be recording or just monitoring? If you’re recording, do you have a PC for a DVR card, or will you use a separate DVR?

Going wireless gives you a lot of options for laying out CCTV systems, and allows you to move them when your needs change. If you’re looking at a wireless security system for your home, though, be sure to assess your needs before you buy so that you get the best wireless CCTV system for your needs.

CCTV Systems Terminology You Should Know

Shopping for CCTV systems for your home or business can be confusing when you don’t know the lingo used by the salespeople. It’s even worse when you’re shopping for CCTV systems on the web, where it’s harder to stop a salesman and ask him to explain a term you don’t understand. These definitions of common CCTV system and security camera terms can help you understand the various features of security camera systems and make an informed choice.

Automatic Gain Control is a security camera feature that helps keep a video signal at a consistent level of brightness. If, for example, the video is dark, AGC will try to increase the “gain” to bring up the brightness.

Aperture is the diameter of the lens that controls the light that reaches the image sensor. The larger lenses have smaller f-numbers. For example, a lens with an f-number of 2.0 will allow less light to reach the image sensor, thus producing a dimmer image than one with a 1.2 f-number.

Auto Iris Control is a lens with a motorized iris that automatically adjusts to the light level in the area being surveyed. They’re ideally used in areas where the light levels vary and it’s difficult to adjust the security camera lens manually.

Back Light Compensation helps correct an image with more light behind the subject being viewed. A security camera with back light compensation is invaluable for outdoor cameras where facial recognition is important, for example.

C Mount Lenses and CS Mount Lenses are industry standards to describe the number of threads/inch and other specifications that allow a lens to be mounted onto a camera. It’s possible to mount a CS mount lens onto a C mount camera with an adapter, but you cannot put a CS mount lens on a C mount camera. If you’re purchasing lenses and cameras separately, ensure that you choose pieces that are compatible with each other.

EXview HAD CCD is a Sony Corporation technology that improves light efficiency by including light waves that are near the infrared spectrum. HAD CCD sensors are far more sensitive to light than those in traditional security cameras. Super HAD CCD is a non-trademarked version of Sony’s high performance technology.

Infrared refers to the colors of light below the visible spectrum. An infrared illuminator on a security camera can help enhance the images broadcast for poorly lit areas without letting anyone know that the area is “lighted” for security. Infrared security cameras are ideal for indoor and outdoor night security camera applications.

White Balance is a technology in color CCTV systems that helps correct the differences in color caused by different temperatures of lighting. Without white balance, colors would look different than they really are.

An understanding of these basic security camera terms can help you make an informed decision when you’re trying to decide which CCTV systems are the best fit for your home or business.

Budget-Friendly CCTV Systems for Your Business

Security camera systems are a known benefit for any retail business. In the right place, CCTV systems can help you keep an eye on your stock, prevent loss due to theft, provide evidence to prosecute shoplifters and thieves and help your employees feel more secure when they’re alone at the counter. Many small businesses, especially small mom-and-pop corner stores, may believe that a CCTV system is outside their price range.

This is an unfortunate mistake, especially since those small mom-and-pop groceries are so often located in areas with high rates of crime. Without security cameras or a surveillance system, they’re more likely to be targeted by thieves who think that the stores are an easy mark. In truth, there are many budget-friendly security camera options that won’t blow a hole in your bottom line. If you’re in need of a security camera and CCTV system for your small business, these tips can help you find budget-friendly CCTV systems for your store.

Don’t Rely on Fakes

Many small businesses believe that they can fool thieves by putting up a fake CCTV camera. Most thieves are pretty savvy and will be able to tell that the setup is fake, so it won’t serve as much of a deterrent. And if something should happen, you won’t have a record of the event for evidence.

Choose a DIY CCTV system

One of the major expenses when you’re installing a security system is the actual cost of installation. Wired CCTV systems generally call for professional installation because of the layout. If you choose a wireless system, on the other hand, you can place your cameras where you want without having to worry about running wires to the receiver.

Consider a Standalone DVR System

A 4-channel standalone DVR security system will generally offer more than enough flexibility and coverage for the typical small store. If you shop online at a site that specializes in surveillance systems, you can find standalone DVR CCTV systems for under $300. Add a camera or two for about $100 each, and you’ll have a security camera system that provides all the coverage you need. You can expand it as you have more cash, or as needed.

Be sure to check the clearance and refurbished sections of online websites that sell CCTV systems to find the best prices. A bargain security camera system can help you get a handle on loss in your store and will quickly pay for itself.

CCTV Systems and Security Camera Options

Why buy a CCTV system? Security has never been more important. With crime levels rising and life growing more and more dangerous, you need all the security you can get, both at home and at work. CCTV systems provide an additional layer of security for your home and your family by allowing you or an alarm company to monitor what is going on in your home or business when you can’t be there.

CCTV security systems are becoming an ever-more popular option for people who value security. Whether you’re purchasing a home security system or one for a retail or commercial use, the most important part of most CCTV systems is the security camera. There are many different kinds of CCTV security camera options, so it’s easy to choose exactly the one that’s right for your use.

Today’s technology has provided many different styles of security camera, each suited for a different type of use. If you’re having trouble deciding which kind of security camera is right for you, this abridged list of basic types can help you start to plan the design of your CCTV security system.

Essentially, there are three different digital surveillance camera styles – the box camera, the bullet camera and the dome camera.

Box Cameras

The most common, and the oldest, type of CCTV security camera, is the box camera. Box cameras are square or rectangular shaped housings that hold a lens and mount on hardware attached to a wall, counter or shelf. There are many different styles of box cameras available for use with CCTV systems. They include cameras with fixed and variable focus lenses and many levels of resolution. They’re the basic industry standard for CCTV cameras.

Bullet Cameras

Bullet cameras are the most versatile type of security camera available. Unlike bulky box cameras, bullet cameras can be mounted just about anywhere. There’s no need for a heavy mount or a shelf to hold the camera. Bullet cameras mount easily on the side of a house or business and just about anywhere else. The cylindrical shape is aesthetically pleasing, and denotes a strong security presence to help deter potential criminals. Many bullet cameras have infrared lenses, making them ideal for night-time security.

Dome Cameras

Dome cameras are designed to mount to the ceiling and cover a wide area. Many dome cameras can be hidden for concealed surveillance. When they’re visible, they’re unobtrusive and can serve as a deterrent for far larger areas than they actually cover because it’s impossible to tell exactly where the camera is pointed.

That’s just a very brief overview of the different types of cameras available for CCTV systems. For more information, check with your local security expert or with an online dealer of CCTV systems.

Advances in CCTV Systems

For several decades, CCTV systems made do with VCRs and VHS tapes for recording. Even now, many court systems are only equipped to view video from surveillance cameras if it comes in VHS format. But over the last ten years, DVR – Digital Video Recorders – have taken a larger and larger share of the market. Today, few people looking for CCTV systems would even consider one that’s recorded to VHS tape.

But if you think a CCTV system is up-to-date because it uses DVR technology, you haven’t been paying attention to the latest advances. While it took nearly 20 years for the security camera to evolve from recording to VHS to recording to hard disk, the advances in security systems since then have come fast and furious. The newest and highest tech systems not only record in digital format, they offer many other advances as well.

Wired or Wireless CCTV Systems?

One of the biggest advances in the CCTV industry is the loss of wires. Installing a CCTV system used to be a labor-intensive process that often included laying wire from the camera to the VCR or DVR. Nowadays, you can easily afford a CCTV camera that connects wirelessly to the recording media, giving you far more flexibility in designing and repositioning cameras.

Audio Security Cameras

You can also buy a surveillance camera that does more than watch – it listens, too. An advanced CCTV system often includes audio recording so that you can listen in as well as watch. The best systems are capable of real-time recording and seamlessly lip-sync the audio and video so that you can get a full picture of what you’re watching.

Color Recording

No more grainy black & white security recordings from the best CCTV cameras. Now you have the choice between a black & white or color security camera with your system. Color digital recordings can provide detail for daytime security recordings, especially indoors. Black & white still works best for nighttime security uses, but you’re not stuck with dimly lit security footage any more. Many CCTV camera systems include infrared lighting so that you can capture high quality footage even in low light situations.

Remote Camera Control

One of the most valuable advances in CCTV systems is the ability to control the entire system, from surveillance camera to recorder, remotely using PC software. Even small home security systems now offer this capability, which allows you to adjust focus, camera direction and even more from the office or anywhere you can access the PC on which the software is installed.

Learn more about the latest advances in CCTV systems by visiting an installer or manufacturer of security cameras and systems today.

Tips for Buying CCTV Systems

CCTV systems are a valuable addition to any home security system. Choosing the right system for your home, however, can be tricky if, like most people, you don’t know much about the technology. It doesn’t have to be complicated, though. Just keep in mind the basics of CCTV systems and figure out which kind of security camera and monitor system is right for your home or business. This basic overview of CCTV systems will help you choose the right pieces to put together a great system.

Appearance

Let’s start with the least important but most obvious factor first – looks. The CCTV camera with many systems is quite obvious and easy to see. If you’re buying a security system for your store or business, this may be an advantage – it does have a deterrent effect. Likewise, an obvious CCTV camera mounted outside your front door will make it clear to a would-be burglar that their exploits may be filmed for posterity. If, on the other hand, you want to be able to conceal your surveillance, there are many systems that feature sleek, small cameras that are easy to conceal, or that fit right into your décor.

Black and White or Color?

Color is not always your best choice for a surveillance camera. The majority of CCTV systems that film outdoors are black and white systems, sometimes with low light or infrared settings to capture images after dark. A color CCTV camera is more expensive, but will give you better detail and definition for indoor surveillance.

Wired or Wireless?

Wired CCTV systems are more expensive and harder to set up than a basic wireless security system. Unless you’re a skilled home handyman or use a contractor to install your system, you’ll have cables and wires running along walls and floors. Basic wireless systems are less expensive, but the coverage can be spottier and the pictures are often poor quality. The technology improves every day, though, so keep your eyes open for improvements that may make wireless CCTV systems much more desirable.

Resolution

The higher the resolution of the security camera, the better the picture quality will be. Unlike digital cameras, which measure resolution in megapixels, CCTV cameras measure resolution in lines, usually abbreviated as TVLs for TV lines. A basic security camera will offer 380 to 420 TVLs. Better quality CCTV systems include cameras that offer up to 570 TVLs.

Choosing among the many CCTV systems available depends on knowing what you need and how you’ll use the system. Talk with an authorized dealer to find out more about available CCTV systems that will fit your needs.

Advantages of Home CCTV Systems

It’s not unusual these days to find CCTV systems in stores, restaurants and manufacturing facilities, but is there any real advantage to installing a CCTV security system in your home? Ask your home insurance agent that question, and the answer you get will be a resounding yes. Home CCTV systems can be an important addition to your home security, and most insurers recognize their benefits to the point of reducing your insurance premiums when you install a home security system with CCTV capabilities.

Better Security with Home CCTV Systems

Most CCTV security systems work two ways – they transmit and record at the same time. This offers a double benefit in terms of security. On the one hand, you can actually watch what is going on in areas of your home that are monitored by a CCTV camera while it’s happening. This is handiest if your home is set up for monitoring with a security firm that offers home security monitoring, but it’s also handy if you just want to keep an eye on things – keeping an eye on your napping baby, for example.

The other benefit of home security video through a CCTV system is the ability to view the recording after the fact. Imagine, for example, that a thief breaks into your home while you’re out. Your video recording can be instrumental in helping the police identify the thief, and serves as evidence in the event of a trial.

A video surveillance camera also makes it easier for you to observe parts of your property that are not in easy view of your home. A CCTV camera mounted over the front door allows you to see anyone approaching the house, or to check who’s at the door without opening it. A camera gives you a better view of entire area than a fish-eye peephole, and can be set to scan the entire area periodically.

There are many different types of home CCTV systems available, including those designed for installation outdoors and those designed for covert installation. Some of your other options include PC-based home CCTV cameras, which can be integrated into your home security system through your computer, and stand-alone DVR CCTV systems, which can be plugged directly into your television set with a standard cable.

CCTV systems are far less expensive than most people imagine. Technology advances have made them cheaper to manufacture and put the basic CCTV camera and surveillance system well in range for most homeowners. If you’re considering improving the security for your home, contact a local CCTV security specialist to learn more about CCTV systems and installation for your home.

Frequently Asked Questions About CCTV Systems

CCTV systems are a familiar sight in retail spaces. Businesses use them to monitor customers and employees in order to prevent shoplifting and theft. Many businesses also place CCTV cameras at their entrances and overlooking their parking lots to allow surveillance and protect their employees, customers and premises. Over the past few years, though, CCTV cameras have become more popular as home security systems, especially in homes with young children. If you’ve been considering a security camera for your home but want more facts to help you with your decision, these answers to frequently asked questions can help.

What is CCTV?

CCTV stands for closed circuit television. A CCTV system includes cameras, monitors and a recording device such as a DVR, VCR or a PC hard drive. Its purpose is to monitor and record activities to provide security for people and property.

Why Use CCTV?

In a business, a CCTV camera is a visible deterrent against theft and vandalism because it’s a clear indicator that the premises are monitored and recorded. At home, a CCTV security system can help monitor your property, indoors and out, including letting you keep an eye on a sleeping baby, or monitor your home from a distance. In case of a break-in or other problem, recordings made by your closed circuit system can provide the information and identification that law enforcement needs to apprehend and prosecute the thief.

What Are the Main Features of a CCTV Surveillance System?

A CCTV system has three main functions: surveillance, recording and playback. a surveillance camera allows you to watch an area remotely via a feed from a CCTV camera. Generally, the footage from the camera is recorded to media to be stored in case it is needed later. In addition, a CCTV system includes one or more monitors on which the footage – live or recorded – can be viewed.

How Do I Choose the Right CCTV System?

Your choice of systems depends on your budget and your needs. If you just want to be able to see who’s at your front door and in your back yard, you won’t need more than a camera at each entrance which can be accessed via your PC. A system such as that would be relatively simple and inexpensive. If you want more extensive monitoring, longer storage or more access, you’ll need a more complex and more expensive system.

Generally, it’s to your benefit to have your security system professionally installed, but many installation professionals will happily install CCTV systems bought through a discount dealer, which can save you considerably. If a CCTV security system sounds right to you, contact a dealer of security systems to learn more.

CCTV Systems Improve Security

Can a CCTV security system increase your profits? CCTV systems, closed circuit television cameras with monitors, can allow you to monitor your property and help head off problems, but it can also help stop entitled employees from siphoning off your profits into their friends’ drinks.

If you own a bar or tavern, you don’t need an industry survey to tell you that you lose as much as 35% of your possible profit due to “shrinkage” –the euphemism for what you lose in productivity thanks to employee theft, poor work habits and pure incompetence. Bar owners, for example, are often at the mercy of bartenders who pour free drinks for friends, over pour drinks for favorite customers or make a drink for the hot blond with Grey Goose instead of Smirnoff. It may not seem like much to the bartender, but when it happens shift after shift, it can take a healthy bite out of your weekly profits.

You may, however, be surprised to find out that poor work habits can account for a bite nearly as big as theft does. Most employees guilty of “wastage” don’t really mean to cost you money, and they’d be surprised to realize how costly their little mistakes can be over time. Many bar owners are startled to learn, after purchasing a CCTV surveillance system, just how much of their potential profits end up poured down the drain as “mistakes” or when a pitcher placed under a tap for filling overflows because the bartender is distracted.

Cameras mounted where they can record the goings on behind the bar can help you pinpoint incidents of waste and outright theft so that you can deal with them through better training or through disciplinary actions. That alone can increase your profits by a surprising margin. Even more importantly, a video surveillance system at the door can help establish facts when you’re facing legal questions, such as proving that IDs are being checked at the door appropriately, or that a patron was drunk before entering your business. For even more security in cases that might endanger your license, you can combine a CCTV camera with a DVR to record the ID itself.

Why let nearly a quarter of your profits slip away in “complimentary” drinks, pocketed tickets and spilled beers? Check out the range of CCTV systems available for your bar, tavern or nightclub to see how cameras and monitors can help you keep more of the profits to which your business is entitled.