Commercial businesses such as car dealerships, mutlifamily apartments, office spaces, and industrial parks constantly utilize outdoor security cameras. Many property owners and property managers purchase and install their own surveillance cameras to protect their outdoor assets, employees, and the property itself. In the short term, it may seem like a viable solution. However, there are several shortcomings when property managers decide to install and monitor their own security camera system.
4 Self-Installation Mistakes with Outdoor Security Cameras
Multitasking
Some customers have unrealistic expectations for their surveillance cameras. What is your objective for your outdoor security cameras? Will you need to identify a suspect’s face with surveillance video? Is this camera for general security coverage or to see license plates? One security camera cannot perform all of these tasks adequately at the same time. A better alternative is to have multiple surveillance cameras with different objectives. This action can help produce better quality security video.
Surveillance Camera Height
Many property managers and owners want to place outdoor security cameras at the highest point possible. They believe that the highest placement will lead to a wider field of view. There is a negative aspect to that way of thinking. Surveillance cameras placed at the highest point are not able to provide high-quality security video for identification.
PTZ Surveillance Cameras
Many people are excited by a PTZ (pan-tilt-zoom) camera’s capabilities. They are able to move the surveillance camera around and focus on different areas of a property. Unfortunately, many PTZ camera users forget to move their outdoor security cameras back to the home position. As a result, the outdoor security camera may focus on a low priority area. One recommendation is to have a dedicated PTZ surveillance camera operator. The trained security operator can scan an area and return it back to the dedicated home position.
Lighting
Lighting is a security solution that is constantly overlooked. Outdoor security cameras need sufficient lighting conditions to capture quality surveillance video. It’s very apparent with nighttime security. Sometimes, customers place their outdoor security cameras too close to bright lights. It overexposes the surveillance video and as a result, the security video is not usable.
ECAM is the leader in remote video surveillance in Canada and the U.S, with over 500 employees, 15 offices, and 3 redundant live video monitoring control centers. ECAM’s proactive video monitoring watches over 20,000 IP and CCTV security cameras. Our security solutions feature advanced technology and can detect and deter crime while reducing security guard and other expenses. Our remote monitoring service can reduce or even replace security guards at a fraction of the cost. A remote surveillance operator can see suspicious activity, activate a speaker warning, and call the local police.
Please call toll-free (855) STEALTH or contact us today for more information to protect your outdoor assets. Visit the Stealth website to see real arrest videos at construction sites, multifamily apartments, shopping centers, office buildings, warehouses, auto dealerships, and other commercial real estate properties.
