What Companies Must Know About Commercial Security Cameras

Wednesday, 24 June 2020 15:01

If you own or run a business, you are faced with daily operational challenges, human resources headaches, and all kinds of difficult situations. There may not have been a time more challenging to be in your position as you try to navigate operating during a pandemic. You also get to experience daily victories and triumphs that you can enjoy with your team. It can be a roller coaster, but most wouldn’t have it any other way.

With so much on your plate, you probably do not want to think about security and surveillance cameras any more than you absolutely must. Besides the cost incurred by purchasing, installing, and operating them, you want to believe in and trust your customers and staff. Unfortunately, too often business owners do not consider cameras until something bad happens on their property and they are wishing they had video evidence.

In this difficult season, safety and security are priceless. The question is can you afford not to have the peace of mind of knowing your business has eyes on it at all times? At Integrity Security, we have been helping businesses throughout northwest North Carolina, the Foothills, and Piedmont protect what matters most, their employees, customers, and property. We want to help you answer questions about security and surveillance systems and determine what works best for you.

In this article we will discuss:

Why you need security or surveillance cameras
Where you should install your cameras
What will factor into the cost of cameras
Why you cannot afford to avoid cameras

As you read, if you have additional questions, do not hesitate to contact Integrity Security.

Why You Need a Security/Surveillance Camera System

What is the difference between security and surveillance camera systems? Security cameras are on a CCTV (closed-circuit television) system, wherein cameras are installed at key locations, transmitting a signal to a single monitor set of monitors. A surveillance system utilizes cameras to record footage for future investigation should problems arise. Both systems can go a long way to helping investigate crime and deter it.

Cameras help protect what matters most in a number of ways, including:

Your Employees and Customers: From small storefront businesses to large manufacturing warehouses, wherever people interact, there is the possibility for bad and illegal behavior. Cameras help ensure whatever happens to your employees and customers is recorded, but more importantly, their presence deters anyone from engaging in bad activity in the first place.
Your Property and Finances: Unfortunately, disgruntled or unappreciative employees and others may attempt to steal from your business. If the right person engages in the wrong activity, it may be difficult to trace without video evidence. When this happens, cameras serve as powerful eyewitnesses in identifying suspects.
Your Time and Efficiency: The presence of cameras can also encourage and facilitate good work ethic and reduce time-wasting. It is a way for you to maintain a presence in the room even if you are away or in a different portion of your facility.

When people think about theft, they might imagine elaborate heists or frightening armed robberies. Unfortunately, a significant amount of business revenue is lost each year due to employees stealing from their employers. Here are a few of the absolutely alarming statistics:

There is almost $50 billion stolen from U.S. businesses each year, amounting to 7% of all annual revenue
75% of all employees have stolen from their employers at least once. Half of those have stolen twice or more
Employee theft accounts for upwards of a third of all bankruptcies
It takes 2 years, on average, to detect theft and fraud – long enough to do significant damage to your bottom line

As sad as it may seem, the reality is you need cameras to protect your company, whether it is from employee theft or other potential criminal activity on your property. They are one of the best means by which you can protect what matters most.

Where You Should Install Security Cameras

There is a tension between wanting to make sure you have optimal coverage with security cameras without spending more of your revenue than you absolutely must. The key to finding the right balance is determining where you need the coverage the most.

Where Not to Place Cameras

There are municipal, state, and federal guidelines and regulations regarding where you can and cannot place cameras. You cannot install cameras in areas where there is a reasonable expectation of privacy, such as bathrooms. Make sure you check with your local officials. Your professional commercial security and surveillance camera installers will know the latest info and expectations.

Where to Place Cameras

Areas Where Customers Gather: If you have a dining room, lobby, reception area, or anywhere else customers may gather and spend time. These areas typically have the highest concentration of traffic with people you do not necessarily know. Your customers will likely appreciate knowing you are taking steps to ensure their safety.

Parking Decks and Parking Lots: Visible cameras in these spaces will help significantly reduce the occurrence of crime. Unfortunately, without cameras, you, your employees, and your customers are especially vulnerable.

Entrance and Exit Doors: These areas are your first and last lines of defense against someone walking into your business with malintent or walking out with your property.

Behind Bars and Cash Registers: The presence of cameras will help reduce poor customer interactions, protect your employees against the occasional unruly customer, and discourage food and drink waste. Of course, in the worst-case scenario, the footage from these cameras will go a long way toward solving a theft of the cash register.

Warehouses and Loading Docks: Unfortunately, if employees or vendors were going to steal from you, the warehouse and loading dock areas would be vulnerable. No one wants to think the worst of their team; however, with cameras in place, this activity will be deterred significantly.

What You Can Expect to Spend

There is no easy answer to how much it will cost to install cameras on your commercial property. For a small to medium-size business, it is reasonable to expect to spend around $3,000, though this will depend on a variety of factors, including:

Coverage area: The size of your facility and where you need cameras will factor considerably into the overall cost. You do not, however, want to make this investment without ensuring every vulnerable area is covered.
Cameras: The type of cameras, the number you need, and their function will also make a difference in the overall cost. Different types of cameras provide varying video and audio quality. You will need to talk to experts to determine what will work best for your business.
Your local security and surveillance camera installer will be able to help you get the best price.
System: Whether you are installing a CCTV system or surveillance cameras will factor into the overall cost.

Every commercial property is different. Some businesses may need more coverage in a warehouse or parking lot, while others need it in the bullpen and breakroom. You may not know what you need until you speak with expert commercial security and surveillance system installers.

What It Will Cost to Avoid Cameras

It can be difficult to wrap your mind around sinking so much of your bottom line into preventing potential theft or solving criminal activity on your property; however, can you afford to avoid it? With so many businesses declaring bankruptcy due to theft and fraud, it is a significant risk to not do everything you can to prevent it.

In addition to theft, someone might be more willing to commit a crime against another person on your property without the watchful eyes of cameras. This will hurt your company’s reputation and could cost a significant amount of money in legal fees. However, it may be worse to know it happened. While cameras cannot physically prevent such a crime, their presence makes even the worst person think twice before they take such a negative action.

With eyes on your commercial property at all times, security cameras help create peace of mind for you and your coworkers. When installing security cameras from Integrity Security, we assess your property to help ensure the maximum amount of video coverage for the best price.

With security cameras from Integrity Security, you can have the comfort of knowing your property is being monitored at all times, without worrying about monthly fees. You can access your cameras and other security products through our smartphone and tablet apps. Before you decide to install cameras yourself, make sure you reach out to Integrity Security.

We will provide a free estimate on protecting your company, employees, and customers with security cameras. We can get you the best prices on equipment and installation, as well as answer your questions about cameras.