All About Video Surveillance

Lately, security has been a major topic in society. Internet security, data security, personal security, and just about any other type of security you can think of show up regularly in the nightly news circuit. Most of the new threats to our securities revolve around data. In some situations, thieves can exploit this information to completely wreck a person or company.

We typically think of these type of security issues as cyber attacks, but did you know that many data thieves obtain information through physical attacks? Hackers can access stolen electronics and piece together vital information from stolen documents utilizing illegal databases. In this day and age, while we are mostly focused on internet security and cyber attacks, it is also important to remember physical securities as well.

Video surveillance is technology that has been around for a long time, but has continued to develop extensively over the last few years. Not only has the quality increased, but overall, it is cheaper. There are also many different types of systems which are ideal for many types of budgets and/or situations. In fact, there are so many options that the process of choosing the right one can seem overwhelming.

With this in mind, we here at ARCO Lock and Key have put together some information to help you make important decisions about your video surveillance system.

Connectivity

Many companies offer wired and wireless options for cameras. Wireless systems can work great in smaller spaces and allow for changing camera configurations in the future. However, in larger spaces, interferences with connectivity and other data problems could compromise the effectiveness of your system. So, while laying wire may be difficult and more permanent, in some cases it may be a better option.

Storage

Whatever type of system you have, make sure you have a DVR that can process and store all the information you need. This means that it has enough input channels to accommodate the number of cameras you have and enough memory to store the data sent by those cameras. There are many variables that influence the ideal amount of memory, but some important ones to consider are: camera resolution, the frames per second (FPS) of your video, the length of time you will keep data on file, and the compression protocol of your stored video.

Another important factor for your storage device is accessibility. Hardware based security systems use the DVR as the central hub of the system and as such, these DVRs are equipped with various broadcasting options. Whether you’ll want to access your video feed live via the internet or some other network can sometimes be controlled here. PCs with installed DVRs offer more options with software based controls, but they may be more difficult for individuals with minimal computer experience.

Cameras

It is important to make sure that your cameras are high enough quality to capture the data that you need to be effective. Lower resolution cameras are always cheaper, but they aren’t always able to capture clear details. Things like faces, numbers, or other important information can be completely lost in low resolution. Along these same lines, it’s important to make sure that your camera can capture the FPS that you need. The lower your FPS, the more choppy the motion in the video will appear. However, keep in mind that FPS has a huge effect on memory and storage. Additionally, if your cameras will be operating in the dark, it is important to make sure that they have some sort of night vision feature.

ARCO

Here at ARCO Lock and Key, we aren’t just lock experts; we are security experts. We are up-to-date on all the latest security system technologies and techniques. If you have questions about surveillance systems, electronic lock systems, or any other type of monitoring security devices, don’t hesitate to give us a call.