Choose the right security systems for your business, advises the Wiltshire-based installer AlertSystems.
If you own and manage your own company you’ll understand the true meaning of the phrase sleepless nights. Just as you’re starting to drift off, involuntary thoughts of emails, invoices and staffing issues have a tendency to work their way into your brain. Whilst installing a decent CCTV system can’t guarantee to eliminate these inevitable niggles, it can provide you with peace of mind over the security of your business. To choose the right product however, you’ll need to consider a number of factors.
Probably the best place to start when deliberating over the type of CCTV system that best suits your business is by looking towards your budget. It goes without saying that investing in the security of your business is protecting it financially, but if you’re a small start-up business with just a few staff and fairly modest property, then analogue CCTV is a good starting place. Reliable and good value for money, it’s fairly easy to install without the need for involvement of IT or network departments. On the other hand, if you can afford a little more, investing in High Definition (HD) IP Network Megapixel Cameras will see you reap the benefits. A far cry from the blurry images of Crimewatch in the nineties, these systems offer superior image quality with megapixel resolution meaning that faces are clearly identifiable, even in low lighting.
The size of your property should also play a part in your decision. If you need to cover a fairly large area, then again High Definition (HD) IP Network Megapixel Cameras might be the best choice. These can be viewed and controlled by remote devices like smartphones, laptops and tablets and you can even integrate them with other security applications.
You may also want to think about where your business is located. Did you compromise on location to secure a lower rent? Even if the area you are located in is considered to be fairly safe, this doesn’t protect you from one- off incidents. If you can’t rely on street lighting, or you’re in a particularly exposed position, then thermal imaging CCTV is a good option. This form of security is able to detect people in the darkest of nights, regardless of what the Great British weather can throw at it and has the obvious benefit of being able to monitor intruders who are unaware they are being observed. This is also what makes thermal imaging CCTV so widely used for protecting large secure installations like harbours and airports.
Those who run or manage a business with a car park on the other hand, whether this be sports and leisure centres, clubs, pubs or hotels should think seriously about the prospect of ANPR. Having come on a long way since its introductions, this is suitable for any business with a need to monitor and control vehicle movements. A security provider like AlertSystems can also install ANPR speed cameras with built in sensors that accurately measure the speed of a vehicle between 5 and 120 mph, which is ideal for keeping on top of health and safety issues.
Whichever form of CCTV you settle on, it’s worth bearing in mind the value of CCTV monitoring. This works by transmitting images to the Remote Video Response Centre where a trained operator will evaluate the images and take the appropriate action, if necessary contacting the emergency services.
Once you’ve had a more measured reflection on what you need from your security system, it may also be worth looking into different forms of security such as Access Control, Intruder Alarms and External Deterrent Systems.
About the installer
AlertSystems are based in the Wiltshire county town of Trowbridge. Visit http://www.alertsystems.co.uk
