Guide to Protecting Your Business with Effective Security Camera Placement

What would you do if you found yourself in a situation where your store was robbed and you could not protect yourself, your customers, your employees, and your assets? What if you were losing employees because of the business being held up or broken into.   What if you were losing employees because cars are broken into or property is going missing?

It’s just not possible to constantly monitor your entire business premises at all times. There are simply too many places where bad things can happen, and you can't be everywhere all the time.

Thankfully, business security cameras can keep watch around your facility to give you and those you care about the peace of mind you deserve.

Unfortunately, not everyone in this world is honest, and anyone can be a victim to theft. In fact, the people who work for you are more likely to steal from you than anyone else.

According to the Retail Council of Canada, employees steal, on average, $2,500 in cash or goods before they are caught, whereas customers steal $175. This means it’s important to have a quality security setup inside your facility to protect you from losses.

And even if you have loyal, honest employees, there are many other threats to businesses in your area.

Other Reasons to Install Commercial Security Cameras in Your Business

A top-quality security system is the best way to protect your assets, customers, and employees. These setups do more than keep a close eye on your property and the people around you. They can also:

• Provide evidence-quality video images

• Provide early notification of an incident

• Keep an eye on outdoor merchandise and the parking lots

• Ensure your customers and employees feel safe

• Monitor the health of anyone entering your building with thermal screening

• Compliments the other layers of security that may detector for fire, flood, intrusion, gas leaks or access to your building via access cards or keyfobs

Where Are the Best Places to Install Security Cameras?

We are not suggesting you have a surveillance system facing all desks in every office or corner of your building. When setting these systems up, it is essential to consider why you are installing them and where you can place them to get the best view of the space you need.

Some of the Best Places to Install Security Cameras in a Business

Here are a few of the most popular places to install security cameras many Canadian businesses are already implementing.

• Entrances and exits: All entrances and exit points are vulnerable. Although you might assume the front door is less likely to be the focus of a burglar, stats documented by the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors show that 34% of break-ins will occur at the front entrance.

• Parking lots: Most people keep valuable items in their vehicles, which makes them easy targets for theft.

• Warehouses: These are high-target locations where a company can quickly lose money if not secured.

• Receiving door areas:   It is common for these areas not to be monitored all the time.   The receiving door area may also be left unlocked for deliveries.    It is a huge security risk to leave the receiving door area unlocked and not monitored with a video surveillance security camera.

• Points of sale: Ensure your cashiers, customers, and self-checkouts are monitored and kept secure.

• Reception: The reception desk is a common place for angry customers to access your employees and for money to go missing from unsecured drawers.

• Exterior perimeter: Be proactive in preventing vandalism and possible break-ins, catching criminals before they can act.

• Secluded areas: Anywhere you can't check on regularly should have a security camera keeping watch to deter criminals and provide evidence in case a crime does occur.

• Unstaffed locations:  Some facilities do not have staff in them all the time.  Security cameras are a cost effective method to confirm activity at the site.

• Key infrastructure:   who can access to network infrastructure or who can access electrical or telecommunication rooms?   Security Cameras are a cost effective tool to ensure the security of your business.

In short, any place you feel needs protection could benefit from having a security camera.

What Should You Consider Before Purchasing a Business Security Camera System?

Before purchasing a security system for your company, it’s important to know why you want protection in the first place.

Advanced security systems come in all shapes and sizes and should accommodate your specific needs. 

Some things to think about before purchasing security cameras include:

• Where is there risk?
• Is it slip and fall?
• Is it customer facing?
• Is it physical assets?

• How many cameras do you need?

• What is your budget?

• How much storage is available on the system? How long does the footage last?

• Do the cameras have night vision?

• Are the cameras durable and weatherproof?

• Are your security cameras monitored (real-time footage)?

• Does the security system alert emergency services?

• Is the camera set up with audio capabilities?

These factors could mean the difference between having an effective or ineffective security system.

Protect Your Business With High-Quality Security Cameras

In order to give your business the protection it needs, it’s important to ensure your security system is both high quality and set up effectively with optimal camera placement. Even the best cameras will be ineffective if not placed correctly.

With an advanced setup from A1 Security Systems, you can rest assured your assets are safe 24/7.