From grainy surveillance footage to crystal-sharp visuals, security cameras for businesses has come a long way. Responsible business owners increasingly rely on high-end video recording equipment to protect their enterprises and become even more successful in the future.

With the suitable cameras in the right locations, you can identify a license plate number from 100 feet, detect a trespassing intruder, count people who enter your store or check heat maps of your venue to see where your customers spend most of their time.

Here is why you should consider professional security camera installation, how it can preserve your assets, and how to choose the best equipment for your needs.

Why are security cameras for businesses important and valuable?

A business without video surveillance is an easy target for criminals. The absence of security cameras on your business property can increase the likelihood of the establishment falling victim to crime at some point.

As a business owner, you want to prevent breaking, theft, and vandalism and curtail all acts of trespass, especially after operating hours. A high-quality surveillance system tailored to your needs is installed to achieve this goal.

Professional surveillance cameras help employees feel more secure at work. If your staff finishes their shifts late at night, high-quality security cameras –especially in crime-ridden neighbourhoods–are necessary.

Furthermore, employees who don’t have to worry about their safety are also likely to be more productive.

It’s important to remember that professional staff creates greater customer satisfaction and provides the groundwork for a reputable business, so proper employee management is crucial in operating a successful business. Security cameras are multi-purpose tools, as they serve not only to protect your business from criminal activity but can also provide valuable feedback concerning employee productivity and conduct.

Discourage crime attempts before they even happen

Did you know that casinos are the most challenging businesses to rob? People might even consider robbing banks, but it’s a suicide mission in casinos.

Anyone who has ever robbed a casino has been identified. In the last three decades, there was maybe a single person who got away with robbing a casino, but there was never such a thing as an unidentified thief.

So why do people think casinos aren’t easy to rob? The reason is simple yet powerful: security. Besides the manpower, there’s also surveillance, high-definition security cameras (CCTV), upgraded IP cameras, and more. The sheer number of cameras in casino buildings is so overwhelming that it’s highly successful at keeping thieves at bay.

Regardless of your business type, it would be best if you considered following this example. Guards at your store and/or other ventures can help, but they are only human and are prone to missing what a hawk-eye camera never will.

How do security cameras for businesses protect you and your staff?

Whether you own a warehouse or a garage, have commercial properties like condos, offices or distribution centers, or you own a retail store, a restaurant, or a bar, the security of your premises is surely your number one priority. Cutting costs on safety isn’t advised for any enterprise.

Here are some advantages of having security cameras for businesses:

  • Prevention of theft and robbery;
  • Real-time video recording;
  • Reduced security-related costs;
  • 360 vision: no such thing as isolated areas;
  • Admissible evidence collection: a reliable source when collecting evidence of crimes;
  • Peace of mind for you, your customers or clients, and your employees.

Camera systems are easy to install, as they don’t require giving your business a total make-over. They are also effortless to work with. There’s no need to be tech-savvy to make the most of your investment.

Here are the five effective examples illustrating why security cameras are a wise investment for all business ventures.

1. Security cameras for businesses deter break-ins, theft, and other criminal activities

If you’re wondering whether or not surveillance cameras decrease occurrences of theft and robbery, the answer is a resounding yes. Surveillance cameras safeguard thousands of businesses by recording crime attempts, job accidents, and incidences.

If you discovered your property had been broken into, wouldn’t you like to have the evidence recorded on a hidden DVR so that you could turn that data over to the police?

The clear video images surveillance cameras capture can also be tremendously helpful, as they can provide indisputable evidence that remains admissible in a court of law. Additionally, insurance claim adjusters often use surveillance cameras in their investigations and are a major deterrent of employee theft.

According to the statistics, approximately 75% of all crimes are property-related, and about 48% of business loss is due to employee theft. Surveillance cameras have proven over time that they significantly reduce these numbers. Countless trespassing cases can be successfully prevented simply by a surveillance system.

A surveillance camera can deter theft and breaking and entering, and help ensure privacy since most individuals feel uncomfortable in the presence of a camera and will not linger about. Additionally, countless people are using security cameras to safeguard their inventories and to increase their overall security and safety.

Many surveillance cameras are motion-activated and function at extremely low ambient light level intensities. Such cameras can film in total darkness, capturing images with remarkable detail and clarity. In an area with insufficient light, a trespasser can be completely unaware of the presence of a security camera, which despite the lack of luminosity, is recording them perfectly.

2. It’s easy and cost-effective to protect your business with HD security cameras

Many entrepreneurs fail to realize that implementing specific security measures improves their ability to create a successful establishment.

To illustrate how powerful security cameras can be in protecting your venture, let’s use an example of a restaurant business. If you watch your restaurant with HD security cameras, your customers will have a visible assurance of venue security. Their safety is not a concern will allow them to relax and enjoy the time spent in your establishment.

However, you must remember that privacy is an important factor as well. Keeping an eye on your employees and all that transpires in your restaurant is a good idea. Still, some customers might feel uncomfortable if they believe they are being monitored. Therefore, placing surveillance cameras in strategic positions where customers cannot see them is essential.

Also, some countries require restaurant owners to notify their customers if they have installed security cameras.

The advancements in surveillance camera technology allow you to watch your restaurant from a remote location, wherever you might be. The surveillance images or videos, as well as audio if the camera has this capability, are sent to your computer through an Internet connection.

HD surveillance cameras will record high-quality videos so that you can watch exactly what is happening at your restaurant in real-time. The surveillance footage can even be watched on your smartphone. This translates to seamlessly managing your business from outside your office.

Besides protecting your place of business, security cameras will also help you increase employee productivity, decrease misconduct, and deter break-ins, even if you are enjoying a margarita on a sandy beach several thousand miles away.

3. Security cameras help reduce employee theft

For a business owner, it isn’t easy to keep an eye on employees at all times. You are busy with various aspects of running your venture, and constantly observing your staff is not practical.

Hiring someone else to watch your employees can be an even bigger headache, as you’ll have yet another employee to account for and monitor. On the other hand, a surveillance system will never call in sick or require any benefits or salary.

Today, it is advantageous for a business owner to purchase a multi-camera surveillance system and have it professionally installed at cash registers and places that are difficult to observe. Surveillance video recordings are also often admitted as expert evidence in court cases. This means that it’s not just the employer’s word against the employee: with surveillance footage, there is no ambiguity involved.

The employees will know that if caught, it means a criminal record and a possible jail sentence. This makes security cameras for businesses a fantastic deterrent against employee theft.

By installing a good quality surveillance system, you will have peace of mind, knowing that while you can’t watch all your workers at all times, all their activities are being recorded. Any suspicions can be corroborated or laid to rest by simply accessing the digital video recorder footage.

4. Security cameras for businesses successfully prevent shoplifting attempts

Any retailer wants to reduce incidences of shoplifting as much as possible since loss prevention means increased profit and financial stability.

A retailer might consider several security options, such as employing clerks or security guards to monitor the premises. However, this also leads to additional expenses. A simple surveillance system can help your business to not only catch potential shoplifters in the act but also to prevent shoplifting from happening in the first place.

The best option is to use CCTV security cameras, which often deter shoplifters from even attempting because they are well aware of the possibility that they are being monitored and recorded. With CCTV cameras, a retailer has full control over a shop’s surveillance as they monitor the entire store from a single location. Security cameras make hiring additional personnel redundant and a cost-effective solution.

Because the law protects the rights of individuals, a retailer can be legally liable for accusing a customer of a retail theft if that accusation appears to be false. Therefore, a proprietor must be certain that the action has taken place. With the proper placement of CCTV cameras, that certainty is provided, as the retailer will be able to catch the shoplifter in the act.

CCTV cameras also provide sufficient evidence to assist in prosecuting the shoplifter since the act is recorded on video. The evidence also ensures that the company can take legal action should they deem it necessary.

5. Surveillance helps avoid unwanted retail losses

Retailers are often vulnerable to stealing attempts during the hustle and bustle of a busy day. The confusion and distraction caused by large crowds is an opportune moment for criminals to commit theft.

One driving stimulus that motivates retail theft is the decline of the economy. This risk factor is compounded by the growth of Internet classified ads and auction sites that make it easy to sell stolen goods. There is always a demand for all sorts of items online, and the traditional targets of expensive electronics or high-end apparel are not the only victims.

A major way to help prevent retail theft is to install surveillance cameras. The mere presence of these devices is enough to discourage petty thieves. Strategically installed cameras, prominent warning signs and a dependable alarm system, increase the possibility of protecting your store from unwanted losses.

By removing the opportunity for a “clean” steal, retailers make potential thieves warier of committing a crime.

Consumers are not the only threat to retail theft. Employees who know the ins and outs of your store may be tempted to take advantage of certain opportunities. They have the luxury of stealing at any time, and the familiarity of the setting adds to their comfort and ability to succeed in this act. Hidden cameras placed strategically around the retail environment will greatly discourage employees from taking advantage of the people who employ them.

In short, removing the cloak of invisibility and opportunity from shoplifters and employees goes a long way in protecting a business's bottom line. Proper use of security cameras terminates the allure of petty crimes. Surveillance cameras are an insurance policy for protecting your business, and the money spent on security will be covered in saved merchandise.

Where to use hidden surveillance cameras?

A hidden camera can be advantageous when you don’t want individuals to know they are under surveillance. There are many situations when hidden cameras can be more beneficial than visible ones, such as covering entry and exit points, monitoring traffic, observing TV guests, monitoring employee performance, and many more.

Hidden surveillance cameras can be wired or wireless. Wired cameras are directly connected to a DVR or VCR, whereas wireless cameras transmit signals to receivers connected to a DVR or VCR.

With advancements in technology, hidden surveillance cameras are getting more popular as they are becoming smaller and more powerful. At this point, they can easily be concealed in common objects such as smoke detectors, alarm sensors, lipstick and pens, to name a few.

Securing the entry and exit points with hidden cameras

Hidden surveillance cameras are widely used at entry and exit points of public places like shopping malls, schools, colleges, offices, hotels and restaurants. Video recordings obtained through hidden surveillance cameras can be produced as evidence in court cases.

Using hidden cameras to monitor traffic and TV guests

Hidden surveillance cameras can be used to monitor cars and vehicles at traffic signals and for entertainment purposes, such as in television reality shows. These types of shows use technology to catch participants in unpleasant situations.

Hidden cameras for investigating and academic purposes

Journalists use hidden surveillance cameras for investigative purposes, and this type of device can be installed in examination halls to prevent academic dishonesty.

Other hidden surveillance camera applications

Hidden cameras are often placed in offices to observe employee performance. The police use this method of surveillance to monitor suspects under investigation secretly. Hidden cameras can also be installed in airports and train stations to prevent terrorism.

How to choose the right surveillance cameras for your business?

Many different types of cameras are at your disposal, depending on your specific needs. To make the best choice, you need to understand the basics of security cameras and consider aspects like system visibility and wiring options.

Many types of security cameras are available in the market, and meticulous research is needed to find cameras that not only fit your budget but are also suitable for your business and adhere to your standards.

Visible vs hidden security cameras

One of the factors you may want to consider before purchasing a specific security camera is if you want it to be visible. Hidden cameras can be much more compact–the smallest of which is comparable, albeit larger than a pinhole–allowing them to be placed in all kinds of items. Due to their miniature size, they are incredibly difficult to detect and can also be very expensive, but they are still capable of monitoring and recording all kinds of activity.

The alternative to hidden cameras is the standard visible video surveillance cameras, which tend to cause criminals to reconsider their actions because they are aware they are being recorded. This product will potentially avert theft and other illegal activities and is commonly used in retail, especially where small items are sold.

Consider using vandal-proof security cameras when installing a surveillance system in a neighborhood where felony is commonplace.

Wireless vs wired security cameras

The advantage of a wireless camera is that it can be installed in places where wired cameras cannot. However, wired cameras are generally more reliable when transmitting signals and usually have a better video/audio output.

Since they employ more receivers and transmitters to operate properly, wireless cameras are the more expensive choice. Alternatively, wireless cameras are much easier to install compared to their wired counterparts and, as a result, may incur a lower installation cost depending on the job's complexity.

Professional security system installation for your GTA-based business

There are many reasons modern business owners invest in the security of their premises. The primary one is surely loss prevention, but a security system can also be used to improve employee performance, prevent acts of vandalism, and serve as evidence in court cases such as liability lawsuits.

Overall, investing in reliable security cameras for businesses will save you thousands of dollars over the life of your security system.

Panopticon engineers provide a free site inspection, consultation and quote for your security project–with no obligation on your part–and can inform you of costs vs benefits concerning your options.

Call us at 416-613-8828 or request a free assessment using the contact form on our website. We will help you choose the best cameras for your needs, providing professional installation and maintenance for your security system.