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Security Cameras

Security cameras are an essential security measure that can often be overlooked. You can use them for many purposes:

  • To monitor staff or visitors at a retail store
  • To protect your home from intruders
  • To keep an eye on pets when you're away.

With so many uses available for these devices, it's easy to see why most people have them installed in their homes or businesses. But there are some mistakes that new users make that can hurt the effectiveness of these devices.

 The following list will help you boost the effectiveness of your security camera system by avoiding common pitfalls:

 

Poor Placement

When you're buying a security camera, make sure you are considering where the camera is placed. Poor placement can result in a severely impaired field of vision because it's looking at an area that is partially obstructed by another object. This will not only make it difficult for your camera to capture images but may also fail to detect motion within its line of sight. For example, if you have outdoor lights that obstruct the camera's view, you won't know when someone is hiding behind them or trying to break into your home while they think the coast is clear. Please make sure there aren't any other obstacles in front of your camera that could block its line of sight before installing it in place. This could especially be the case when using a wifi nanny cam where you would want to watch over your baby, so placement is crucial.

 

Not Getting the Right Camera

When looking for a new security camera, it's easy to be tempted by modern dome cameras that show off their luxury. After all, they look nice and give your home or business a touch of class. But don't be fooled into thinking these are the only types of cameras available! Here at GBS Distribution, we have an advanced selection of IP cameras to help protect your home- from indoor webcams to weatherproof outdoor bullet-style models with powerful night vision capabilities. Your security setup shouldn't look like a Monet painting, so try to avoid buying unnecessary decorative equipment, as this could end up costing you more in the long run. This is especially true if it eats away at your bandwidth or is destroyed during an attempted break-in. A solar security camera may also be worth considering as it could end up saving a lot of costs.

 

Not Getting the Right Hardware

Security cameras come with different features that can help keep your home or business safe. Suppose you're looking to monitor employees at work. In that case, it's easy enough to choose one without motion detection capability since there isn't any need for the camera to pick up movement inside the building. But if you're using this type of equipment in an outdoor setting, you want to make sure the camera has motion detection capability. This will ensure that your camera is only made aware of movement when it needs to and so cuts down on extraneous alerts.

Failure To Back up Your Cameras

If someone were able to break into your home or business, would they be able to get away with it? If they were to wipe out your camera's recording device, there might be no evidence of the crime. Video surveillance cameras should always have a backup in case something like this happens- not just an expensive DVR system, but also a separate video recorder to make sure you never lose footage of what happened during and before a break-in.

 

Security Lighting

Having well-lit areas around your home or place of business is an excellent deterrent for criminals. Security lighting is another effective way that you can boost the effectiveness of your security cameras. It will draw a criminal's attention away from the camera and towards an area where they are more likely to get caught. Security lights not only make it difficult for criminals to remain hidden, but they also make it easier for homeowners or business owners to see what is going on around their property. Security lights can also provide peace of mind for homeowners. They can be set up with motion-activated zones that will only turn the light on when someone approaches your home or business, and the bright light will discourage potential criminals from trying to break in. Security camera systems such as Vivint and Brinks Security Systems provide security lights with their home or business monitoring systems.

Choose the right location for your security cameras.

The best way to boost the effectiveness of your security cameras is to choose the right location for them. Make sure to place them in areas where they can cover as much of the property as possible. You should also make sure that the camera lenses are pointed in the right direction so that they can capture clear images of anyone who approaches or enters the property.

Keep your security cameras well-maintained.

It's important to keep your security cameras well-maintained so that they continue to function properly and provide you with accurate footage. Be sure to check the batteries, clean the lens, and make any necessary repairs on a regular basis.

Keep your security cables protected from tampering and vandalism.

If a criminal vandalizes or tampers with your security cables, then they can stop working – keeping you from having the quality footage that you need to apprehend the person in question, if necessary. You should also try to ensure that your security cameras aren't easy targets for potential criminals by making sure that they're securely mounted on buildings, posts, walls, etc.

Be aware of where you place your camera monitors.

Make sure not to leave your camera monitors in places where unauthorized persons can access them so easily because doing so may reveal important information about your surveillance system to potential burglars and other criminals who might be interested in breaking into or vandalizing your property.

Use motion sensors to activate your security cameras.

One great way to boost the effectiveness of your security cameras is to use motion sensors to activate them. This will allow you to capture footage of anyone who approaches or enters the property – even if they're not actively trying to steal something or vandalize anything.

Install outdoor security cameras.

If you're concerned about the safety of your property, then it's a good idea to install outdoor security cameras. These can help deter criminals from attempting to break into your home or business in the first place.

Secure your camera footage.

Make sure that you take steps to secure your camera footage so that it can't be accessed or tampered with by unauthorized persons. This can help to ensure the safety and integrity of your footage in the event that it needs to be used as evidence in a criminal investigation.

Use security cameras with night vision capabilities.

If you're worried about crime happening at night, then it's a good idea to use security cameras that have night vision capabilities. This will allow you to capture clear footage of anyone who approaches or enters your property even in low-light conditions.

Track camera activity logs.

Make sure to keep track of all the activity that occurs on your security cameras so that you can review it later if necessary. This can help you to identify any suspicious behavior or activity that may have occurred on or around your property and possibly help you to identify any suspects.

Review camera footage regularly.

If you want to boost the effectiveness of your security cameras, then it's a good idea to review their footage regularly so that you can monitor what's happening on or around your property at all times. This will allow you to stay aware of anything suspicious that may be occurring – even if it's happening away from public view.

Be careful when purchasing cheap security cameras.

Be sure to carefully compare the prices, features, and capabilities of your potential security camera systems before you make a final purchase. This will help ensure that you get the best value for the money that you do spend on a surveillance system.

Keep in mind that a person's appearance isn't a reliable form of identification in itself.

Many people share similar physical traits with others, so it's possible that an individual could have committed a crime while wearing clothes or other clothing accessories that covered up their face or otherwise obscured their appearance from being captured in clear detail by your security cameras. In these situations, it would be difficult for law enforcement officials to use your footage to identify a potential suspect from the footage alone.

Label your security cameras for easy identification.

When you have multiple security cameras installed, it can be difficult to keep track of which camera is capturing footage of what area. To help remedy this, be sure to label your security cameras so that you can easily identify them when reviewing footage.

Use a reliable and secure video surveillance system.

When it comes to using security cameras, it's important to ensure that you're using a reliable and secure video surveillance system. This will help to protect your footage from being accessed or tampered with by unauthorized persons, and it will also help to ensure the overall safety and efficacy of your security camera system.

Conclusion:

If you want to make the most out of your security cam, it is essential to take these steps. Not only will they help ensure that your camera captures all of the footage needed for an investigation or prosecution, but by following this advice, you can also cut down on false alarms and potential vandalism at home or work. With these tips in mind, you can help to boost the overall effectiveness of your security cameras and maximize your level of protection against crime. Implementing even a few of these tips can make a big difference in the overall safety and security of your home or business.

Do any of these sounds like something that might help boost your safety? Which one do you think would best suit your needs? Let us know! We'd love to hear from our readers about how we can better serve them with everything Security Camera-related.