5 tips for setting up a good CCTV system for your business

With employees or customers moving in and out of your business compound, as well as valuable information or goods being kept within your premises, installing a CCTV (closed-circuit television) surveillance system is a good idea to keep everything and everyone safe.

A good CCTV camera system can help you to effectively save costs, for example, reduce the need to hire security guards to monitor certain areas, decrease the number of cameras needed to cover the same area, or spend less on increasing the size of your surveillance system. As such, it is important that you make thoughtful considerations about what type of CCTV cameras to get and where to set them up before you purchase. Here are 5 tips that can help you set up the best CCTV system for your business in Singapore!

1. Identify the purpose

Aside from capturing video footage of a committed crime, CCTVs can also function to deter criminal activity. Factory compounds, for instance, might benefit from using highly visible bullet CCTV cameras to prevent break-ins. However, office compounds might choose more subtle dome cameras to maintain the aesthetics of the space.

Also, consider whether your CCTVs will be used for real-time surveillance on-site, or for less frequent viewing away from the office. While older CCTVs are sufficient for monitoring suspicious activity on the premises, newer CCTVs offer remote viewing – meaning that you can view footage in real-time or playback old footage on your smartphone, laptop, tablet and other devices.

2. Consider the area to be surveilled

Depending on the size of the area that needs to be surveilled, use specific types of CCTV cameras to set up the most efficient surveillance system. Dome cameras are able to record a wider angle than most other CCTV cameras, which make them the ideal choice for monitoring large areas. For longer distances and outdoor areas like parking lots or external factory compounds, bullet cameras provide the best surveillance due to their powerful zoom lens.

The type of CCTV camera that you choose also depends on the type of area under surveillance. For example, static cameras are best suited for entryways, providing consistent monitoring on the in and outs of people on your business compound. However, when it comes to within a room, you may choose to use pan, tilt, and zoom (PTZ) cameras that allow you to scan the space and follow suspicious activity if necessary. These cameras are often installed in commercial spaces like museums.

3. Gauge lighting conditions

It is important to assess the lighting conditions in the area that is to be monitored by CCTV as strong glare or dim lighting is likely to disrupt the quality of the recorded video footage. Should your CCTV camera be facing the sun directly, the glare would turn the image white and make it impossible to view what is being recorded. Backlit settings will also cause the image to turn dark – such as if an indoor CCTV camera is pointing in the direction of a window with bright light filtering in. As such, make sure that the CCTV cameras are positioned so that direct light or backlight is avoided.

Aside from positioning your cameras well, you can also use day/night cameras to record clear images despite varying light conditions. Day/night cameras are able to record clearly both during the daytime and nighttime, as well as with direct sunlight, glare, reflections, or dim lighting.

4. Choose a scalable system

Getting a scalable system will save you a lot of trouble in the long run. Compared to analogue cameras, digital or internet protocol (IP) cameras require less wiring, making it easier to expand the number of cameras in your system.

Read more about analogue and IP cameras here: Guide to Choosing and Using CCTV Cameras in Singapore

5. Get professional help

Altogether, there are many factors to consider when installing a comprehensive CCTV system. As choosing the right CCTV cameras will significantly improve the effectiveness of your system as well as help to save costs, it is best that you consider consulting a professional CCTV surveillance company even after you do your research. A trusted vendor will examine your business compound and propose CCTV solutions to best fulfil your security needs.

One Stop Office Solutions is a leading provider of CCTV surveillance systems in Singapore, having installed elaborate CCTV systems for esteemed government agencies and established multinational corporations in the country. We are dedicated to providing you with the best and safest CCTV solutions for your home or business. Get in touch with us!