Choosing the right video surveillance system

Find out if a video surveillance system is right for your property and find out how to choose the right one.

When it comes to security, sometimes you need more than just locks to do the job. If you have a business that requires a solid amount of protection, you've probably considered video surveillance systems.

The advantage isn't just for the police to be able to track an intruder once they've left the scene.

• The psychological effect of a video surveillance system can prevent intruders from entering in the first place, as they may decide to opt for an easier target once they determine you've installed such a system.

There are other advantages, too.

• A video surveillance system can actually end up saving you money, as you'll probably need less manpower to enforce security in the space if a single person can monitor the entire premise from a central location.
• It can help with insurance, too, as you might get a cheaper rate, and when it comes time to prove a loss, you'll have the evidence in hand.

When setting up your video surveillance system, one of the first things to consider is the location of choke points in your building.

• These are the central avenues of traffic through which people must pass to navigate around your building.
• Think central hallways, staircases, elevators and the like.
• You're not necessarily always going to see everything everyone does, but you must be sure to see every single person who enters and exits the space.
• Set up your cameras in such a way that it's impossible to get through the area without being seen by at least one camera.

Camera type

When you've got your game plan together, you need to figure out what actual cameras to use.

• There are many types of cameras out there, from moving to fixed, standard to infrared, and analog to digital.
• You have to evaluate what matters most in your space and choose accordingly.
• It's nice to be 100 per cent certain, but by keeping it simple you can save a lot of money and reduce the overall complexity of the system, making it easier to maintain and monitor.

Monitoring system

You also have to decide whether you're going to have someone constantly monitoring the system, or just have a central computer or recording equipment that collects all the video for later review.

• Obviously having a person on hand can mean catching would-be perpetrators in the act, but it's more expensive, consumes more space, and requires a response plan in the case of a positive detection.