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Surveillance Cameras are getting smarter and cheaper by the day. If you don’t have one now, then you should seriously think about getting at least one. Cameras and their recorders have a huge number of functions and applications. One of the toughest challenges is deciding which one suits you best. 
At the bottom of the scale you have dummy cameras. They are easy to install and because they require no recording device they are the cheapest option. But, if you want surveillance footage then you need to choose from the large range of active cameras that are available. The decision comes down to a few questions: Do you need to see the persons face? Do you need to see in colour? Do you need to see who is visiting at night? Your unique situation will determine the type of camera and lens you need to have installed. Don’t make the mistake of designing a surveillance system using only a single camera. You won’t get the coverage you need to give you effective security. A standard resolution camera should give you a clear picture of your subject. Choose a higher resolutions camera when you need to have highly detailed viewing or playback. Lighting is a key factor when choosing a camera. Low light cameras are generally more effective when you have security lighting or area lighting close by. You will also find that a lot of cameras used in lowlight applications, change to black and white to improve the resolution. Infrared cameras are available when there is no light and most work well over very short distances like doorways. All infrared cameras are black and white or at least at night. So keep this in mind when you choose an infrared solution. Other options like mini dome cameras or full bodied cameras come down to aesthetics. Digital Cameras can produce fantastic pictures, particularly on fully digital systems and the difference to analogue camera images is obvious when you compare the two images side by side. For more detailed information and checklists, please refer to our online Special report available from our home page. The incidence of Security Cameras is fast becoming part of our everyday landscape, whether you are visiting a public building, a shopping center or even private homes, security cameras are watching peoples’ every move more often than not. Security cameras have improved significantly with the rapid increase in technology and more and more people are discovering the benefits of the wireless video security camera. 
While wires are still predominantly used, the wireless video security camera is a great option and can also be much easier to set up. If you are considering a wireless video security camera you need to decide between two basic types. The first type comes as a package that includes a transmitter and receiver. The advantage is that the cable usually used with a television camera can be replaced by the transmitter and receiver, with the camera aligned to the transmitter. The receiver then is connected to the recording and viewing object. For those of you wanting to spend a little more, the second version operates like an IP camera. This is less messy way to use a security camera as they come equipped with a wireless network adaptor and allows the operator to “look in” via computer, virtually from anywhere on the planet, provided they have internet access. Further benefits of a wireless video security camera are their portable capabilities. Being able to move them around to suit specific needs makes them more logical. For more detailed information and checklists, please refer to our online Special report available from our home page. The first step in choosing a CCTV system is to determine the following:
The type of security camera you choose will depend upon whether they'll be indoors or outdoors, during the day and/or night, and where they will be mounted. Professional DVRs allow for network or remote monitoring of CCTV video. With video distribution across LANs, WANs, and the Internet, the DVR is also used for business systems monitoring.
The most important aspect of a CCTV system layout is the location of the DVR. It is the lifeline of the CCTV system, so it must be kept in a secure location, preferably in a lockbox. For more detailed information and checklists, please refer to our online Special report available from our home page. Security Systems and Alarm Systems are vital in the prevention of crime against you and your property and are far more cost effective than having to replace stolen property or repair damage to your buildings. A statistical fact is that most burglars will break in at the rear of a property, and rarely through the front. Burglars are also likely to head straight for the main office area or master bedroom. External alarm boxes will also act as a deterrent, as burglars will not know whether it is a bell system or monitored by someone who will alert Police. The value of a professional security and burglar alarm system is immense. The police say that most burglars are opportunistic and look for the easiest and weakest target available. A monitored burglar alarm system sends a signal to an Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC) in the event of an alarm, which in turn is passed on to the Police. Alarm Panels are the brains of the systems. And again there are many panels with many different features. All good alarm panels will have a dialer function, a backup battery supply and ‘end of line’ or tamper monitoring. The simplest panels are your on/off noise makers. Great for homes and small businesses, and in most cases they will be turned on and off via a code pad or a remote control key fob. They can accommodate a number of users so everyone can have their own code (This is great for tracking just who is coming and going). You should also find that your alarm is capable of running a siren or two and making out going phone calls when an alarm is activated. Alarm panels for larger businesses, and smart homes for that matter, have lots of features and applications. These systems can control lighting, grant you door access, separate areas of a building, can be controlled over the phone, and can interface with other home and business management systems. For more detailed information and checklists, please refer to our online Special report available from our home page. Access Control means that you know who is coming and going on premises, and that they have a valid reason for being there. This can be a major risk area for you if you have a lot of staff, a lot of stock coming and going or if you have high end products. The most basic access control system is a single door controller. These systems typically use an Electromagnetic Lock (magloc) or an Electric Strike to keep the door locked. 
For example, if you approach the door with the correct access code (PIN code) or a valid swipe card or key fob, the controller will unlock the door for you and let you through. Whether you opt for a code pad for pin code entry, or card readers for swipe card or key fob entry, there are a few external factors to be considered. Card readers are also available with varying reading ranges. Are your visitors approaching in cars? Are they likely to be carrying luggage or be rushing to get to surgery? The reading range can make life easier for your users but, as with everything, there is extra cost with extra function. From a CCTV point of view, interfacing with your access control system will allow you to take more specific footage of people as they pass through doors or zoom in on a subject when certain conditions are met. It is also common for alarm systems to be interfaced with access control systems. Access systems can use alarm technology to monitor the status of a door; open or closed. It will also monitor how long the door has been open and set off an alarm signal if the door is open too long. For more detailed information and checklists, please refer to our online Special report available from our home page. Alarm Monitoring is crucial to getting a quick response to any surveillance and security breach, and the response needs to be instantaneous! Within Australia, it is important to only use an alarm monitoring station that is graded and registered by the Australian Security Industry Association Limited (ASIAL). Alarm monitoring stations are graded according to their internal security, their monitoring system integrity and their alarm action time. Building services and construction are graded on a scale from A to C ("A" being most resistant to attack). Operation, equipment and staff are graded on a scale from 1 to 3 ("1" having the highest performance). The most secure and technically capable stations are designated Grade A1. A key performance indicator of the Standard is the Alarm Processing times of all signals received in the Alarm Response Centre. The process required a comparison of a random sample of event history against the response times criteria detailed in the Standard. The sample included 141,337 events (i.e. hold-ups, alarms, battery fails etc) with a success rate of 99.995% against the Standard's criteria of only 95%. For more detailed information and checklists, please refer to our online Special report available from our home page.  |