Everywhere we go now in stores there are cameras watching our every move. Libraries, office buildings and even homes are now seeking out and using security surveillance to ensure that their items are protected. This may mean tangible goods found in retail stores. It could be parking lots to ensure that people are protected as they walk to their cars. Home owners want to ensure that they are safe from intruders, fires and even floods. The world of security surveillance has become in high demand as more people want to protect themselves from harm. It is no wonder as crime still continues to rise and more people find themselves as victims. You may not know what security surveillance means and how it can protect you but this article will help answer some of the questions you may have regarding this important subject.

What is CCTV?

CCTV stands for Closed Circuit Television. With Closed Circuit Television an image, or images, is transmitted to a specific set of monitors. The person at the monitors can control the video camera to turn in whatever direction he or she wishes to view. You will see these cameras in parking lots, retail stores and banks. They are widely use as a security measure to try to prevent loss of property and to provide safety such as parking lots and cross walks.

What is the difference between audio and video surveillance?

The difference between audio surveillance and video surveillance is how they catch would be perpetrators in the act. Most times they work together but in the case of audio it may be used to monitor phone conversations and employees when they are at work. Video surveillance works with just a picture and no sound, audio is the reverse.

What type of equipment do I need to monitor my employees at work?

Well, that depends on what you suspect and is legal. You have to notify the employees that their actions are monitored at all time. You will need a security surveillance program installed that comes equipped with audio and video so you can both watch and hear what is happening. It can be a major issue with some employees as they feel their rights are violated. Some businesses are typically monitored and employees are aware of this fact when they first become hired. These businesses are: banks, casinos, hotels and retail stores.

What is a dummy camera?

So businesses cannot afford several cameras or enough people to monitor them all. Their solution is to put a dummy camera out for people to see. A dummy camera is not one that does not work nor is it intended too. The shoppers, players and employees are not aware of which cameras are which.

If there was to be anything that happened to my business or home, will the police be notified?

If you have a security system such as Brink’s Home Security, if you have a break-in or fire they will automatically notify the proper authorities. It is well worth the money. You want to be protected and a personal security system is paramount to keeping your home, office and business safe and secure.

Selecting either a home security camera system, or a camera to be used for a commercial reason, can be frustrating if you don’t know what you are looking for in protection. For instance, do you want a real or fake home security camera system, meaning, do you need a system that will actually alert the police, or do you feel that the aesthetic of having a camera visible on the premises is good enough to ward off predators? Are you interested in the way that a monitor is going to look? Do you want something that is obvious or discrete? Regardless of what your needs are, there is something that can come close to what you want. Cameras will come in three basic forms, hopefully learning the basics will help to cut down on some future decisions.

The first kind of home security camera is known as a dome camera. Obviously, this camera comes in the shape of a dome and it fits conveniently on the ceiling of your home or business. You will find the dome cameras often times in casinos where they are used to monitor the tables. You will also find home security at its most fashionable with the dome lens. There are dome cameras that can be placed outside, however, you must use a special armor type in order to do this kind of mounting. Sony carries two different types of dome security cameras and they are a leader in the industry. You can choose from the Verifocal dome camera, which has the highest resolution (420 lines) and an adjustable lens. You can also purchase Sony’s Infrared Armor dome camera, which acts as a hidden camera and is the most durable of all of the dome cameras. Dome cameras are the most popular security cameras because they are impossible to detect which angle they are viewing unless you are at close range. They come in black or white and they all have adjustable lenses.

The second type of home security camera is the bullet camera. The lens is long and resembles a rifle, which is where the camera finds its name. Bullet cameras are easily visible and can be mounted to a wall or a ceiling. They use a 12V DC voltage, and the power cable should be included when the camera is purchased. Most of these cameras will film in color and then change their resolutions to black and white when the light levels are lower. The resolution during the day is much better with the bullet security systems, but if you have an alternate form of lighting, like a streetlight, people can sometimes be seen from up to 70 feet away. The most popular brand of bullet security cameras is the SPECO CVC-6805SX, which is color and has a fixed lens of 4mm.

No one can be on call twenty-four hours a day for security, and most people cannot afford to hire a home security service to monitor their home or business. However, if you purchase the third type of home security camera, the infrared lens camera, you will feel like you are watching daytime footage. The camera comes with small lights that surround the lens, but they are not included in the night vision cameras, which can confuse consumers. Most people find that the color outdoor camera, made by Digital Peripheral Solutions (model number QSVC422 CCD) is the most reliable camera for the price. Remember that because of the extra lighting, so you will find that home security with these cameras do not do well when they are placed outside because decorative glass windows can create a glare. These cameras are also small but they will not do well being hidden because they produce a lot of light for maximum-security visuals.

People need to feel they have a secure home for different reasons and their measures of security, whether it is a home security camera or one that just sits outside of their business, will vary. However, some people feel the need to have the security of a camera simply because they cannot be in two places at once. If someone is approaching a building and spots a security camera they are less likely to want to take the chance of getting caught, and the possibility that a camera could save your home or business from being violated is worth any possibility of damage. If you research the options with security camera systems, you will find home security, as well as commercial security, will come in many different prices, models, and capabilities to pick and choose what you want.