What Is a Surveillance System Solution, and How Is It Useful?

Crime is a near-constant threat that business owners have to deal with. From robberies to inside jobs, malicious people can damage your property and assets in many ways.

That’s why you must keep up with your security protocols and stay one step ahead. And it all starts with video surveillance.

Having video surveillance equipment to monitor your premises 24/7 is now a bare minimum in doing business. Without it, you expose your company and make it an easy target for crime.

Let’s start this article with this important question — what is video surveillance and its role in a surveillance system?

What is a Surveillance System?

A surveillance system is a network of cameras, sensors, and other support devices that monitor a specific environment. It often runs around the clock and stores its feed on local storage for future viewing.

The primary purpose of a surveillance system is to provide situational awareness. In other words, it gives the business or property owner constant visibility on their premises to ensure security and safety.

That can help deter typical crimes such as robbery and trespassing. But it can also be used as evidence for any disputes that occur in your premises. For example, you can use it to prove if your employees are correctly clocking into work or following company policies.

Surveillance isn’t just for the office, however. Versatility is one of the strong points of a surveillance camera, meaning it can be used in parking lots, public roads, and other outdoor venues.

Benefits of Surveillance Systems

Now that you know the basics of surveillance, let’s answer the following question: “What are surveillance system solutions useful for?”

Increase Safety and Security

If you ask someone, “What is a surveillance camera’s purpose?,” the probable answer would be security. Digital video monitoring allows you to constantly observe your office or building, especially critical areas like entrances, backdoors, and vaults. That will enable you to catch any wrongdoing in these locations.

Some surveillance systems can also be configured to send alerts when someone is detected in an area. That allows law enforcement to act quickly to a security threat even before it happens.

However, the real value of video surveillance is that it acts as a deterrent. If a would-be thief notices a camera in your office entrance, they’ll be less likely to break into it for fear of getting caught on camera.

Boosts Productivity

Surveillance cameras are effective at deterring not only criminal actions but also unproductive activities.

For instance, simply having a camera can dissuade employees from participating in time-wasting activities like using personal phones, taking unauthorized breaks, or lingering excessively. It encourages them to devote more time to productive work.

In retail businesses, surveillance systems can also be used to monitor the performance of customer service staff. Management can see if they follow protocol during customer interactions and use these insights in further training.

Provides Valuable Evidence

A video surveillance recorder is perhaps one of the best sources of evidence. Because a surveillance camera captures an area constantly, it can serve as a visual record of events, activities, and incidents as they unfold. For example, law enforcement can use the footage to recreate a crime scene or identify possible suspects or witnesses near it.

Or consider that public video cameras can record a car accident as it happens. That way, traffic police can review the footage to see which driver is at fault. It is also helpful evidence for insurance claims.

Streamlines Operations

Video surveillance is a powerful tool for constantly optimizing a company’s operations and processes. For instance, factories can install cameras on their production lines and other critical equipment. 

That allows engineers and plant managers to monitor the manufacturing process from a centralized location. It can even alert them of problems in production so they can be fixed promptly.

Integrating video surveillance with access control systems can also automate employee verification through visuals. That can streamline access management and minimize security breaches.

Top Features of Video Surveillance Solutions

Now that we’ve answered the question, “What are surveillance system solutions useful for?,” let’s look at the essential features to look out for.

High-Resolution Imaging

High-resolution imaging can enable cameras to capture images with greater clarity, defined edges, and more visible details. That is important for several reasons.

One, it allows for easier identification. High-resolution cameras can capture facial features, license plates, signs, and other details that would be blurred in lower-resolution cameras. That is particularly important in law enforcement and security.

Another benefit is that high-resolution cameras can cover larger areas without sacrificing quality. That is ideal if you’re surveilling a larger room or warehouse. It also gives you the ability to zoom into farther objects.

Motion Detection

This technology enables cameras to identify any movement in their field of view. Once it senses movement, the camera can initiate an action, such as sending an alert or auto-recording the scene. Motion detection is ideal as an early warning system for areas without any attending person — like your front porch at night or a warehouse after office hours.

Motion detection is also an efficiency feature. It allows the camera only to record when it detects movement, thereby using only energy, bandwidth, and storage space for relevant footage.

Night Vision

Night vision is a technology that enables surveillance cameras to see in extreme low-light conditions. That is critical because most businesses must monitor areas with minimal light, such as a dark office or your backyard at night. 

It ensures they don’t miss any important events, regardless of conditions. Night vision is vital in mission-critical applications like traffic monitoring, search and protection, and wildlife observation.

Remote Access and Control

This feature enables an operator to monitor and manage the surveillance system from another location. This feature is helpful for businesses that have multiple properties and offices. 

That way, everything can be monitored by the security team from a centralized hub. It also reduces the need for monitoring equipment.

Another benefit is that remote access can deliver faster responses. For example, your surveillance camera can be configured to notify the police so they can get to the site immediately during security incidents.

Components of Digital Video Surveillance Systems

Now, let’s look at the essential components of a surveillance system.

CCTV Cameras

When people ask, “What is a surveillance camera?,” they usually refer to a CCTV camera. Closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras are perhaps the most essential part of a surveillance system. They are the “eyes” that allow it to monitor and capture events.

CCTV means that the video signals from the camera are not broadcasted publicly but transmitted to a limited set of monitors or recording equipment. That ensures privacy and security.

Cameras can be fixed in a location and angle or have PTZ (pan-tilt-zoom) and varifocal capabilities. The operator can remotely adjust the latter to change its field of view or depth of field. Consider where the security camera is installed to get the most visibility.

Traditionally, CCTV cameras are wired directly to the monitoring and recording systems. But increasingly, more of them can connect wirelessly for flexible placement.

Digital Videos

This refers to the components responsible for capturing, encoding, transmitting, and storing video data in a digital format.

One critical piece of equipment here is the Digital Video Recorder (DVR). It converts analog video signals from the cameras into digital files and stores them on a hard drive. 

For systems that use wireless cameras, a Network Video Recorder (NVR) is used instead. A DVR also offers playback options for offline viewing of CCTV footage, which the user can access with Video Management Software (VMS).

Sensors

Sensors are devices used for measuring specific environment metrics other than visuals, which is the responsibility of the camera. They can then trigger particular actions when thresholds are met.

For example, some cameras have light sensors that adjust camera settings depending on the ambient light in the room. You can also have cameras with infrared (IR) sensors installed for detecting heat signatures.

Other standard sensors in surveillance systems include glass break sensors for detecting possible break-ins, environmental sensors for noticing changes in humidity or air quality, and pressure systems to detect movement in driveways.

Cabling and Connectors

Cabling and connectors transmit data, video signals, and electricity between various system elements. Without it, the system is essentially useless and lifeless.

However, not just any cable or wire will do. The surveillance system needs cabling that can withstand wear and tear. Cameras for outdoor use must also resist extreme weather conditions such as rain, snow, heat, and cold.

You'll often encounter five general types of cabling in surveillance systems – coaxial, Ethernet, fiber optic, power, and HDMI. Each of these has specific roles to play. For instance, HDMI is the standard for transmitting high-resolution audio and video. Coaxial is designed for transmitting signals over long distances.

Get a Top-Notch Security System from Signal Solutions

Let Signal Solutions set you up with one of the best San Francisco Bay Area surveillance systems. We use the latest equipment from reliable manufacturers like Axis Communications, Milestone, and Brivo.

But unlike most resellers, we also have the experience and know-how to install them on your property. We can even help design support systems like structured cabling, in-building cell boosters, and wireless networking.

Our knowledgeable staff, quality workmanship, and timely service set us apart from the competition. It’s why high-tech businesses and small startups have trusted Signal Solutions since 1987.

We are data and AV specialists who are always ready to take on the next project. Learn more about our commercial security camera installation today!