Smarter Business Video Surveillance Solutions
Modern business video surveillance systems serve a variety of essential functions, including loss prevention, employee safety, and asset protection. Whether you’re protecting a retail space, office, or warehouse, the right surveillance setup can provide peace of mind and real-time awareness.
A comprehensive IP-based surveillance system typically includes multiple components — from high-definition cameras to Network Video Recorders (NVRs) that store your video footage. However, two key elements make the biggest impact on user experience: image quality and ease of use. Fortunately, today’s open platform systems give you the flexibility to integrate best-in-class products from multiple manufacturers, allowing you to build a solution tailored to your specific needs.
What Most Businesses Overlook
One of the most common misconceptions about surveillance cameras is that they capture everything happening within their field of view — even if the camera isn’t directly focused on a specific area. That’s not the case.
When we design and install surveillance systems, we start by asking what areas you want to monitor and what kinds of incidents you’re hoping to capture. This allows us to determine the appropriate number and type of cameras to place throughout your property, ensuring nothing important is missed.
Understanding Camera Focus and Coverage
Surveillance cameras don’t have the dynamic focus capability of the human eye. Think of them like binoculars — when you adjust binoculars to zoom in on distant objects, you lose the ability to clearly see what’s nearby. Likewise, if a camera is set to capture a wide field of view, it sacrifices detail at a distance. Proper placement and focus are crucial to balancing coverage and clarity.
Are PTZ Cameras Worth It?
Pan-Tilt-Zoom (PTZ) cameras offer dynamic movement and zoom capabilities, but they come with limitations:
- Cost: PTZ cameras are typically four times more expensive than multi-sensor cameras.
- Coverage Gaps: Even when programmed to track movement, PTZ cameras can miss activity happening outside their current field of view.
- Manual Operation: Full functionality often requires manual control, which can be time-consuming and impractical for many businesses.
In most cases, multi-sensor cameras offer a more effective and budget-friendly alternative, delivering broader coverage without the complexity and cost of PTZ systems.