How IP CCTV Camera Helps Make Businesses Secure?

Small and medium businesses (SMBs) across India are diving deeper into the ocean of expansion, but realizing that scalability comes at the cost of more significant risks is the first step towards this movement. With IP CCTV camera solutions, SMBs can find themselves encompassed in a protected environment that pushes for their success. 

As the owner of an SMB, you may think your business’s size and relative anonymity 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 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 to 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 installing a reliable IP CCTV surveillance solution via a reputable e-surveillance company 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 cameras technology and options for you.

CAPABILITIES OF CCTV CAMERAS

A IP CCTV camera 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.

These CCTV camera solutions can be integrated with other recording devices (sensors, alarms), monitoring agents (computers, laptops, mobiles), and a virtual storage setup(cloud) with direct accessibility (platform dashboard).

These cameras offer several features that can help you gather and review the footage. 

As a customer, you get complete control over how your facility is secured. But, before you make a decision, ensure you think about all the factors that will affect your business in the long run.

Some factors you should consider are:

1. Video storage

Do you need the video stored locally, or does cloud CCTV 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 anywhere.

Local storage might be the preferable option for owners who depend more on their recruited staff or have their reservations with sending away their data onto the cloud. However, one must remember the potential security threats to locally stored data (data manipulation, tampered recorders, or even theft of devices. 

2. Resolution of video footage

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

3. 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 a wide-angle lens covering a large expanse, or do you want a camera that is tightly trained on a specific site, such as a checkout counter?

Depending on the type of area and its extent to be monitored, the weather conditions, and other suitability criteria, you can choose the right camera for your facility. With a variety of CCTV camera types available in the market, you can find the right one (as long as you’re sure about your requirement). 

4. Sensor-driven automated video recording

An IP CCTV camera is modified to reduce the amount of useless footage it records. The video recording begins when triggered by a motion or other sensor, ensuring that the site stays secure without overutilization of cloud storage space. This becomes especially beneficial for businesses that do not operate round the clock and thus do not require continuous monitoring all night. 

5. 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. Your camera should be housed in a solid outer casing and preferably wireless so that it can transmit video without the need for a physical connection to the network. 

Read why dome cameras are the most suitable cameras for your enterprise. 

Analog vs. IP Cameras

Surveillance systems can be of two types, depending on the camera used. An analog camera as part of an analog surveillance system is connected to a Digital Video Recorder (DVR). This recorder 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 more. For surveillance staff 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 CCTV 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 more affordable over time. Their videos have high 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 danger of going the way of the dinosaur – extinct. Suppose the analog manufacturer stops hardware and other support for the solution you invest in today. In that case, you may find yourself having to replace it with the more expensive CCTV surveillance system a few years down the road.

IP CCTV camera 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 an NVR can also stream videos to handheld devices. Their footage can be stored and retrieved from the cloud, making 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 CCTV 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 sound 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, extensive project management capabilities, and superior-tech infrastructure, i.e., IGZY.

It’s not just about security. Our cloud camera solutions for enterprises 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, and space management.

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