How can your CCTV system make you money?

 At first glance, many believe that a video surveillance system is only a big investment. Whether in time, money or hassle, installing such a system can be costly since each parameter must be carefully studied. The position of the cameras must be perfect, in correspondence with a suitable housing, etc. Approaching video surveillance from this angle is discouraging for some, who unfortunately pay for it during a burglary and regret their choice. The more favorable but above all more realistic angle necessary to adopt video surveillance is however that of the savings of all types that your video surveillance system will make you make. Here are some examples of earning money through a video surveillance system:

 Savings on the price of insurance

 Your home is unprotected, insurance companies see it as a great risk of having to provide for your needs in the event of burglary or theft. These must be irreproachable in the event of a disaster of this type, your contribution will be much more expensive without a video surveillance system, than if you have a system that will greatly reduce the risk that your house will be visited, and therefore that insurance has to pay to compensate you.

  Protection against scams

 CCTV is not just a bulwark against burglars. It is also a system that allows you to multiply the evidence of what you have, what you do and who is at home. There are many scams among individuals or in stores, whether through quarrels between neighbors or with customers. A video surveillance system allows you to avoid unnecessary defense costs that undermine your daily life too often.

  Proof of damage to your home

 When you are a homeowner, you often find yourself facing structural problems with the house, which often appear over time. Whether it is creaking on the walls due to the clay plate located under your house, or creaking due to work done opposite, a video surveillance system allows you to play your images before and after, to rebuild or renovate the damage found free of charge.

  When to install a video surveillance system?

 Installing a video surveillance security camera in Chicago is an operation that must be carefully considered, planned and studied. Your supplier must have been the subject of research, in particular on its after-sales service. The type of system and the location of the cameras should also be the result of testing and research. Once all these steps have been taken, decided to finally invest in the video surveillance system that is right for your home, you still have to determine the period during which you wish to install a video surveillance system. When to set up the cameras and start studying the images? Not all periods are suitable for installing a video surveillance system. Even if it’s better to install one at a low recommended time than not at all,

  Do not install during winter

 Winter is a tough time for video surveillance. The cold, frost and humidity damage your cameras, which suffer and can be damaged from the start. In addition, winter is a season during which we naturally go out less. Newly installed cameras will therefore be mechanically less inspected.

Do not install under too mild weather

 Installing cameras during a week of good weather is not ideal. In fact, the light will be particularly good during this period. You will therefore install your cameras according to this light, which is not very representative of the light that your cameras will have to face during the rest of the year. So you can unwittingly install cameras in places where the light present on darker days is not suitable for your cameras.

 

Do not install before a long absence

 It can be tempting to decide to install your video surveillance system just before a vacation period so as not to be disturbed by the work. However, a video surveillance system installed before an absence will not be monitored. Thinking that it is in working order and enjoying your vacation, you may be surprised by a burglary facilitated by a flaw in your system that you have not detected.

 What is a good video surveillance system?

 There are multiple types of CCTV systems all different from each other. Whether designed for a main home, a second home, a hospital or even a park, video surveillance systems have characteristics specific to their uses. These systems, made for a certain use, must remain confined to their role to remain effective. An excellent video surveillance system for open spaces will be poor if it comes to monitoring a home for example. Purchasers of a new video surveillance system thus sometimes make the mistake of favoring quality, rather than adapting the system to the situation in question. Here are some objective criteria to determine whether a video surveillance system is good or bad.

  The quality of the cameras

 Cameras are undoubtedly the main components of your video surveillance system. Whether wide-angle or reduced field, a minimum quality is required for your images to be processed. Especially the reduced field cameras must be able to identify numbers or letters without difficulty.

 A quality recorder

 Cameras would be useless without a recording box allowing them to save their images. This therefore has all its importance, and must also obey a minimum quality standard. The higher its storage memory, the more expensive it will be. This aspect is to be preferred but also pay attention to its external appearance which determines its robustness. Central part of your video surveillance system, it must be faultless because if it stops working, your entire video surveillance system is shut down.

  Good after-sales service

 An aspect often overlooked by new buyers is that of after-sales service. Indeed, the quality of a video surveillance system is not only based on its condition at the time of purchase. Very good quality video surveillance systems require significant maintenance. A good after-sales service guarantee is therefore very important, and strongly determines the satisfaction that you will get from your system.

 Diagnose your video surveillance system

 CCTV systems are relatively expensive investments and require thinking about the many possibilities offered by distributors and technological progress. These investments can, if made with the help of a professional and in accordance with the needs of your house and your property, last for years and amortize your initial expenditure for a long period. A video surveillance system can, however, when it is badly installed or faulty, become a money well and problems. Regularly, you must check the operating status of your video surveillance system, to make sure that it still fulfills the role that you allocated to it. Here are some checks that will help you in your diagnosis.

  Check the external appearance of your system

 The optics of your cameras suffer because it is subject to the vagaries of the weather and the vagaries of time. Dust projected by the wind can indeed cloud the lenses, making your images unusable. Protective cases can also split and therefore, over time, no longer fulfill their role of protecting your cameras. An inspection of the general condition of your cameras is therefore the first step in diagnosing your system.

  Check the status of your recorder

 Your recorder is the centerpiece of your video surveillance system. Without it, no image recorded by your cameras would be recorded or therefore used later. So first check its condition, before checking the registration.

 Do a burglary surveillance simulation

 The best way to make sure your video surveillance system is working is to test it. Identify the sensitive points in your house that you would like to be sure to protect with your video surveillance system. Then pass in front of the field of each camera under several different lights before viewing the images. You will see if your cameras have moved and if their images record without problem.

Some tips to protect your business.

 Video surveillance is essential to protect all types of businesses, as it acts as a deterrent to crime and provides evidence to capture a suspect. To make sure your corporate video surveillance system is working optimally, here are some basic tips and advice.

1. Store video footage in the cloud

Cloud storage can help you increase the storage capacity and accessibility of CCTV footage. Cloud-based systems thus offer a solid alternative to traditional analog systems. It is indeed cost-effective, accessible (the sequences can be viewed at any time via a Smartphone, tablet or computer) and still flexible.

2. Protect yourself from hacking

Advances in technology have allowed hackers to gain access to video surveillance cameras. Today, many companies use IP cameras that require an Internet connection to operate. There are a few tips to protect yourself against piracy:

1.       Change the password of your video surveillance system very regularly

2.       Never keep default usernames and passwords as they can be easily found online, making it easier for hackers to access your system.

3.       Never connect your cameras to a public network

4.       Choose cameras with encrypted signals. Encryption masks information sent over the Internet, making it difficult for hackers to identify this valuable data.

3. Place cameras strategically

Strategically placed cameras will help you easily identify and react quickly to potentially dangerous situations. CCTV cameras are most effective when installed in sensitive areas, placed in sufficient light, or positioned to capture wide angles.

4. Make sure you know your rights

If you rightly attach particular importance to the security of your business, you must still take care to preserve the confidentiality of your employees and customers. So remember to inquire when installing the cameras to know where you are allowed to place them and which areas you can monitor. For example, you cannot monitor changing rooms, toilets, bathrooms, examination rooms, etc.

What crime in retail stores and how to stop it with video surveillance?

The retail industry loses very large sums of money each year due to the crime that seems to target it a little more each year. This is not only due to uncontrolled shoplifting, as there are also organized retail crime networks that steal very large sums of goods from stores around the world. Whether the product is stolen from a distribution center, in transit or from the store itself, losses continue to increase and these crimes will not go away anytime soon. However, a large percentage of these losses could be avoided with a simple prevention program, notably using video surveillance, an indisputable weapon against crime.

Shoplifting

One of the first threats to your business is shoplifting. Aside from ordinary people, there are networks of seasoned shoplifters who can make huge profits without anyone realizing it right now. Hiring more employees to keep an eye on customers is one way to combat shoplifting, but it can be extremely expensive and not always very effective. The best option is to install a video surveillance system that will deter thieves.

Vandalism

Vandalism is a major risk for retail stores. These acts of vandalism can be expensive and result in more property damage if not cleaned and repaired. Having an effective video surveillance cameras System in Chicago is then an obvious asset, to dissuade vandals or produce evidence if they persist despite everything.

Discounts between relatives

Even if you don't think much about it, a common crime is that of remittances made by employees to their friends or relatives. This crime is particularly difficult to spot, but video surveillance makes it possible to dissuade employees who feel observed and curb this practice.

Internal theft

Depending on the size of your business and your product offering, internal theft can be a major concern for your store, even if you do background checks and interview candidates several times. Some skilled workers can even chase flights for years without anyone noticing. The best way to combat internal theft is to install an access control system to your stock areas.

Make your building “intelligent” thanks to a video surveillance system

Equipping a building with a video surveillance system is a way to secure it, but also to optimize a large number of activities. This will save you time, money, but also customers and investment opportunities. Here are 5 ways to make a building smart.

Give it a centralized system

Most modern buildings are constructed using complex systems, which have led to effective day-to-day problem management.

Now, video surveillance has made functions such as security, fire alarms, HVAC systems, door stations, digital signage, parking management system and other systems much more efficient than before because automatically working with each other so that routine operations and incidents are dealt with instantly.

It is this ability that several independent systems have to work together and automatically, that will make your building truly intelligent.

Vehicle management

License plates can be automatically identified as soon as they enter the car park. This helps to recognize cars on the black list in order to alert security, but also to anticipate the arrival of an important client for example, which will allow you to anticipate your contacts and the handling of their arrival.

Increased energy efficiency

A smart system helps cut costs by automatically controlling air conditioning, lighting and other power systems. It can also detect a window left open for too long, for example;

 

 

Access control

This is a very effective feature. Face identification is used as an additional security feature of identity cards. In the event of an identity mismatch, the system will not give access to the holder, then send a video notification.

Evacuation in case of emergency

If there is an emergency such as a fire; digital signage, access control and video verification will be activated for evacuation assistance. This type of system can guarantee a minimum of breakage if an accident should occur.

How to optimize the placement of the camera for perfect visibility?

Once you have decided which locations to monitor, you should also define a strategy for placing and installing CCTV cameras in Chicago. Whether inside or outside your company, here are several tips to optimize visibility and ensure you have perfectly clear images of what you have chosen to record.

Where to place a camera outside?

Decide if you want the camera to be visible or hidden.

Visible CCTV cameras are an effective deterrent against burglary, but they are also targets of theft and vandalism. Some owners choose to visibly install a dummy fake camera and back it up with a slightly more hidden real camera, while others add hardware or a rugged housing around the camera to make it more difficult to damage.

Install cameras 2-3 meters above the ground.

This height is low enough to capture the smallest details but high enough to be out of the reach of thieves and vandals.

Do not point the cameras directly at the sun.

Bright light causes reflections and high contrast in your sequences, making the image difficult to read. Take into account the movement of the sun and orient your cameras accordingly.

Protect the camera from the elements. The best outdoor CCTV cameras are weather and water resistant enough, but not all of them perform well. Choose a camera suitable for your climate and place it under a roof or in another semi-protected area if you can.

Where to place a camera inside?

Hanging an indoor camera in the corner of a room usually gives you the greatest possible perspective. Pointing a camera out of the window can degrade its image quality. Many CCTV cameras have infrared (IR) light technology, which facilitates motion detection and allows the cameras to operate in low light conditions. Infrared light can be reflected on windows and other glass objects and darken your images, especially in the dark. If your images appear washed out or bleached, there is probably a reflection problem. If it is really necessary to point a camera through the window, position the lens as close to the glass as possible and / or backlight the outside area.

Video surveillance at the service of business optimization

 One utility of installing a video surveillance system often ignored but nevertheless colossal, is the use of a video surveillance system in order to optimize the sales of a store. This still little known technique is no less revolutionary. You cannot imagine how making a strategy like this can save you money. 

 Thanks to these cameras, you will be able to study the progress of your customers, in a store where the place where you position this or that type of product is a major issue. To determine which shelf or advertising layout is the most beneficial for your activities, you therefore need to install a suitable video surveillance system.

 Such a video surveillance system can inform you of the behavior of your customers such as:

 ·         Where does your customer go first when they enter your store?

·         Which departments are they most likely to visit?

·         What are the items that are most often viewed and then rested (due to too high a price, for example)?

·         What is the share of customers who leave your store without having bought anything?

  The answers to these questions will allow you to draw up a reliable diagnosis of your activities, and to directly remedy any problems with traffic or organization of the store. This will also allow you to better position your promotions. Place them in the most visited departments.

 Such a system will also allow you to monitor the activities of your employees and the relationship they have with your customers. This will help you prevent theft, endless breaks, poor storage or delays, while assessing whether some of your employees are chasing away customers because of their antipathy. The benefits of this type of installation are therefore multiple, and the additional gains will quickly recoup your investment. The interest of such a system also rests on the fact that it does not require any particular installation but only an adaptation or an extension of your already installed video surveillance system to prevent burglaries and thefts for example.

 What is the best video surveillance system?

 The best video surveillance system is the video surveillance system that best fits the needs of your infrastructure and the protection needed for you and your customers. A pharmacist will install a video surveillance system which will be perfect for his activity, but which will appear ineffective and useless to a property manager for example.

  When you equip yourself with a video surveillance system, call on professionals to assess the weaknesses of your home or business before even calling on a camera installation company, or call on a installation of cameras that will guide you by offering an analysis of your needs.

 How can a video surveillance system protect your hotel against lawsuits, scams and theft?

 Hotels are subject to a number of significant risks, the repercussions of which are particularly difficult to manage. Indeed, considered as secure places or as home extensions, customers are all the more attentive to the risks they run there. In addition, a hotel is an establishment particularly sensitive to its reputation. The slightest security breach can, as such, decrease its frequentation because of a bad comment on a travel site for example. Protecting your hotel by installing a video surveillance system is therefore essential, and will allow you to avoid scams, theft and burglary.

 The hotels are also infrastructures that offer several types of spaces subject to very different risks. The bath-shower or spa area will, for example, be subject to risks very different from the risks found at reception or in the rooms. Here are the risks to which your hotel is subject, and for which it is advantageous to install a video surveillance system.

  Risks of falls

 It is important that you pay attention to the differences in floors, floors and coverings and the dangers associated with them. Certain customers being aware of this inherent weakness in the very structure of an establishment of this type, placing video surveillance cameras will allow you both to identify the risk areas, to react quickly in case of slippery ground because wet for example , and being able to challenge an insurance scam and a fraudulent lawsuit.

  The aggressions

 Whether committed by your customers themselves or by people outside your hotel, assaults are common in hotels. Indeed, many very different people are concentrated in a small space by sharing parts of common lives there. Conflicts are not uncommon and sometimes lead to the questioning of management by the hotel or a misplaced reaction from its security service.

  Burglaries

 Even though most reservations are now paid by credit card, many people, especially those passing through, continue to pay for their rooms in cash. Burglars being aware of this, they also know that reception is not protected since it must facilitate the entry of customers. Place video surveillance cameras around your hotel.

 Following these tips should allow you to identify the protection needs of your hotel, which you will then communicate to a competent CCTV in Chicago Installation Company. This type of installation will reduce the risk that your reputation will be damaged forever, wherever you end up having to pay thousands of dollars in damages to repair a simulated fall.

 How to choose a video surveillance system for your business?

 When you buy a video surveillance system for a company, there are certain points that you must imperatively study to avoid making mistakes. Many CEOs or security officials buy poorly installed, improperly installed CCTV systems with cameras in the wrong place.

  What is the best video surveillance system for your business?

 The video surveillance system simply depends on the type of activity you want to protect.

 

If you want to monitor a clothing store for example, you will install video surveillance cameras to limit:

 ·         Theft by your employees

·         Theft of items by customers

·         The scams

·         Armed robbery

·         Theft of machines or furniture

 Installing video surveillance cameras will also allow you to check how your employees behave with your customers.

  If you manage real estate, priority will be given to the protection of residents and the integrity of your residences themselves.

 The main issue is then to identify the sensitive areas of your activities and to choose cameras adapted to their surveillance. For example:

 ·         A hotel or restaurant will need to be able to discern the numbers from a license plate of a vehicle parked in front.

·         A bank will have to focus its protection on hidden places in the building.

·         A church will have to watch over its most precious objects rather than its entrance.

·         It is in the interest of a hospital or a school to monitor the comings and goings.

 The reasons why the installation of a video surveillance system may be desired are, as we have seen, as numerous as the types of property or people to be monitored.

 Before you set up any system, you must therefore clearly identify your needs. A clear statement of your requirements will allow your vendor and installer to determine which systems are the most recommended. Here are a few examples:

 A wireless video surveillance system: effective if you want it to be discreet and if you want to minimize maintenance.

A video surveillance system by wires: more dissuasive for burglars and more reassuring for your customers.

Wide-angle cameras: in case you just want to detect a type of activity or passage.

Cameras with reduced field but whose resolution is very good: in case you want to be able to read numbers on a license plate or recognize a face.

 Read also: Are you looking for security camera systems in Chicago

 This list, far from being exhaustive, will be completed by your salesperson, with whom you should not go with an already precise idea of ​​what you need. Explaining your needs to them and letting them determine which system is most beneficial will be much more useful to your business.

Why should I install security cameras?

 

1. A CCTV can inhibit crime

 This is the main benefit of installing a CCTV system. Once the cameras are placed, you will be able to observe their effect on people. Even if they are positioned discreetly, it will be possible to notice the feeling of security.

  The mere sight of the camera watching them and the sheer thought of being caught red-handed are intimidating enough to make thieves think twice before trying anything.

 2. Displays all activities and scenarios

 It is extremely easy to work with security camera systems, as they can be placed anywhere, as long as there is a power source close by. They come in all shapes and sizes; some are small enough to be hidden in plants, pictures, frames, etc.

 Thus, once a Closed Circuit TV is set up, nothing and no one suspects will be out of the reach of the cameras. With this system, you will be able to monitor the activities of the people who visit your home and office, as well as the events in those places.

 3. Helps to gather evidence

 Having a CCTV system installed in strategic places is essential when you need to monitor people's actions and words or during a specific event. Modern security cameras are not only equipped with high-quality video, but also audio. Clear images and impeccable sound make recording a series of events more efficient.

 With a security camera, authorities can view the series of events as they actually unfolded.

 4. Images can be accessed over the internet

 A security CCTV system allows users to view videos from all cameras

 The Security systems in Chicago, in addition to allowing to view, monitor and record images from different environments simultaneously acts directly with the psychological deterrent factor, since the possible “criminal” knows that he is being watched and his images are stored by the system, which inhibits the action of invaders, predators, graffiti artists and malicious people.

 The importance of the camera system has ensured its fundamental role in security strategies and policies, whether at the time of acting as a psychological deterrent or as a tool in the identification and evidence for prosecuting criminals in the face of the crime committed.

 “The camera system, in addition to allowing viewing, monitoring and recording images from different environments simultaneously acts directly with the psychological deterrent factor”

 Another positive factor for the system is the way in which it ensures access control for people, goods and vehicles, allowing greater inspection of the security procedures practiced or not, by all people who transit the monitored area.