Sooner or later, every company will realize they need the best cloud based video surveillance system. It could be a system they are installing for the first time or upgrading the existing ones with cloud storage – either way, they need something to increase monitoring and control. And while the security team is dealing with the features and benefits of various technologies, the finance team will be more interested in investment return.
It is a fact that modern video surveillance systems are straightforward, reliable and convenient. But are they profitable? How many thousands should a company pay for “simplicity”, “convenience”, “reliability”? In this article, we will find out how to choose a video surveillance system that can connect costs with benefits.
What to consider when choosing video surveillance
Whatever security system a company chooses, at a minimum, it should not be the loss-making solution. Let’s consider a common case in a small retail business. Recently, a clothing shop equipped itself with a surveillance system along with facial recognition service. In a short time, video surveillance helped them nabbed 15% more shoplifters. On average, the cost of damage from each thief was around ₹5000, and the number of the annual incident is 100. A 15% increase in security efficiency saves the business more than ₹42500 – this kind of amount can be taken into account while considering an investment for cloud based video surveillance.
Cloud video surveillance is not a one-time solution, limited to only a few features. Its benefits grow every year as companies expand. A top-class cloud based video surveillance will help an organization recognize people’s faces from the “black list” or loyal customers, control cash transactions, track working hours, analyze the flow of visitors – and all from one system. At the same time, companies have to bear the regular cost of cloud solutions, electricity, Internet, tariff plan, and that’s all.
What tasks need to be solved
This should be an organization’s first question while choosing a security system. The purposes of video surveillance will determine what features are needed and how many cameras needed to complete the task.
According to our experience, multiple companies have the same kind of requirements for video surveillance. Common camera practices include:
- Control of theft – Visible cameras are in themselves a deterrent and can easily spoil theft attempts.
- Recording of emergency – by looking at previous recordings, companies can find out the reason for the accident.
- Third-party monitoring -It allows security teams to monitor valuable objects from anywhere in the world.
- Employee Monitoring – Allows an organization to utilize contactless access to premises by face recognition, provide different access rights at the facility, control of the displayed goods.
- Cash transactions control – Helps prevent fraudulent actions of a cashier with video confirmation.
- Customer flow analysis – counting visitors; detecting queues; recognizing emotions, demographics and gender; working with loyal customers.
What are the system requirements
There are multiple security solutions company providing different camera requirements for different areas. For example, face recognition can be a vital factor for companies dealing with finances.
We also recommend deciding about the analytics before beginning the installation work. Nowadays, modern cameras come equipped with built-in analytical modules. Solution of this kind allows an organization to save on traffic, which is essential while deploying the system on-premises with limited communication channels. The disadvantages of this kind of system include complex and expensive maintenance with high cost. In addition, updating and scaling a system based on local analytics is also very challenging.
There are multiple ways to connect a video surveillance system. A company can opt from:
- Digital video recorder (DVR)
- Network video recorder (NVR)
- Hybrid devices
- PC
- Built-in firmware that comes with the cameras.
Analog cameras can be easily connected with the DVR, and the recordings are also processed directly on the device. IP cameras work with NVRs, both wired ones and wireless. Hybrid devices can work with any type of camera. Modern cameras that come with built-in cloud or video analytics support only require a stable Internet connection.
However, before selecting the devices in traditional video surveillance systems, one should consider that not all devices are compatible.
One of the main features of a video surveillance system is storage capacity. When it comes to cloud storage, the question disappears since there are no restrictions on traffic, and the storage period of the record depends on the plan and subscription. In addition, companies can ask for extra storage space anytime from anywhere. While choosing a local server from recordings, PC or on the camera’s SD card, you need to consider how much memory is needed in advance.
What sensors can help optimize camera performance
Sensors can perform various functions, and when it comes to security, special sensors can be programmed to react to movement and sound. By utilizing them, companies can increase their security and also optimize the shooting process.
A motion sensor gets triggered whenever any object tries to enter the protected area. To prevent the sensors from sending false alarms due to animals, organizations need to adjust its sensitivity.
The peculiarity of cameras equipped with a sound sensor is that they can start the recording just after hearing any sound. This feature makes it easy for organizations to find the desired fragment in the video and save space on the server.
What kind of lighting is needed
Companies should pay special attention to the camera’s light sensitivity if they need to shoot around the clock since the lighting changes several times a day. Before making a purchase, organizations need to make sure they have sufficient lighting using a lux meter. To record 24/7, a camera with a sensitivity of 0.01 lux is much needed.
It is also necessary to ensure that the same amount of light is bestowed on the camera matrix, regardless of the lighting conditions. This will make sure all the videos are free from blackouts and highlights. Companies can opt for a CCTV camera with an electronic shutter or an auto-iris lens.
With the help of infrared light, companies can record videos even in complete darkness.
About the Company:
At Igzy, we allow companies to monitor their premises, facility or business in real-time, even if they are thousands of miles away. Our cloud video surveillance service differs from competitors in its convenient video analytics system, which attracts, first of all, business owners, as it helps not only to keep track of the staff but also to automatically analyze the number of visitors, giving the client information in the form of a convenient schedule.