An In-Depth Analysis of Business Video Surveil­lance Options in Florida

You head to work only to discover a broken window, graffiti across your store­front, cash missing from the register, and injured employees. An unsecured property is just asking for trouble and attracts criminals far more than it should.

As a business owner, protecting your property is at the top of your list of respon­si­bil­ities. Without the right security in place, your business is vulnerable to theft with little or no recourse. Investing in a robust video surveil­lance system is one of many ways you can improve security and protect both your business and your employees. 

At Bates Security, we under­stand the impor­tance of dependable surveil­lance. This guide explains the ins and outs of video surveil­lance systems for businesses and addresses topics such as:

What Is Business Video Surveillance?

Business video surveil­lance is the foundation of protecting commercial properties. It typically includes one or several video security cameras, software to manage the security system, and storage for recorded footage.

While this may sound similar to a residential video surveil­lance system, there are some key differ­ences. Most notably, many business video surveil­lance systems only use video recordings. Because there are so many legal regula­tions surrounding whether it’s acceptable to record conver­sa­tions, many business security systems don’t record audio, while many residential systems do.

Businesses also typically need a much more robust system than would be required in a home. A business may have 10 or more cameras monitoring the property, as well as someone monitoring the video feed and reacting to any potential threats.

The Benefits of Implementing Video Surveillance in Your Business

Imple­menting video surveil­lance in your business might not be necessary from a legal perspective, but the investment pays for itself in dividends between improving safety, reducing liability, and deterring crime. 

Many petty criminals can be deterred when they know they’re on camera. Having video footage of someone breaking the law and damaging your business, whether through shoplifting, vandalism, or causing harm to those within it, can also help secure a conviction by proving what the criminal did. 

While you want to trust your employees, you need to acknowledge that there’s always the risk of them stealing from your business. They’re bound to think twice when they know the cameras are always watching.

You can also use surveil­lance footage to improve customer service and optimize opera­tions. With video surveil­lance, you have a front-row seat to your employees’ actions, so you can see where time is being lost, how your employees are working, and how customer inter­ac­tions go.

Types of Business Video Surveillance Systems

Modern surveil­lance systems tend to adopt newer technology than legacy systems. When deter­mining the type of video surveil­lance system you want, you’ll have to choose between video recorders and camera types.

One of the biggest differ­ences you may notice is whether cameras use digital video recorders (DVRs) or network video recorders (NVRs). While NVR is becoming increas­ingly popular thanks to additional features, higher resolution, and support for cloud storage, some businesses still opt for old-fashioned DVR systems for affordability. 

Digital video recorders require a corded connection between an analog camera, recorder, and some sort of physical storage, such as a hard drive. Typically, analog cameras supported by DVRs require two cords — one for power and one for trans­mitting the video. You’ll need additional equipment if you need audio trans­mission, as coaxial cables won’t work.

DVRs often only record footage at a lower resolution, typically 720 x 480 pixels. Because they’re hard to scale and upgrade, they’re best suited for smaller business video surveil­lance and home security.

Network video recorders skip the need for extensive cord connec­tions, instead sending signals from the IP camera via Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection for remote viewing. All video processing occurs at the camera, unlike analog cameras that send the footage to the recorder for processing. 

Typically, NVR cameras have much higher storage capac­ities because their internet connection enables them to store footage in cloud-based servers. This is partic­u­larly ideal for businesses with limited accom­mo­da­tions, as you don’t have to find an area to use as a server room for on-premise storage. You also don’t have to worry about how much video you can realis­ti­cally maintain at any given time.

IP cameras allow for higher-resolution footage to be recorded. Many can also record and transmit audio and images. 

Beyond that, IP cameras lend themselves to more advanced video security, including integration with additional features that could be useful. Software may be able to provide video analytics, recognize faces, and more based on IP camera footage.

So, which one is better? DVRs and NVRs essen­tially do the same thing: They upload video footage to a hard drive. However, how they achieve this varies.

Ultimately, the best choice for your business depends on the features you want. However, NVR offers substantial advan­tages if you intend to utilize remote access to footage or cloud-based storage.

Key Features to Consider When Choosing a Surveillance System

When you’re in the market for a new surveil­lance system, you have several options. To help narrow down the choice, consider factors such as:

How to Best Prepare for Your Video Surveillance Installation

Once you’ve scheduled your video surveil­lance consul­tation, your technician will likely have plenty of insight into the design you need for your business. For example, they may recommend positioning the cameras in certain places to maximize surveil­lance coverage and minimize blind spots as much as possible. They’ll also need to ensure that all wiring and power supply sources can sustain your surveil­lance system. 

A reputable security company will consider all local laws and regula­tions surrounding video surveil­lance. However, it’s always a good idea to research these topics yourself to ensure you remain compliant. For example, in Florida, video surveil­lance is typically acceptable on commercial properties with proper signage and visible cameras, but audio recordings are prohibited without mutual consent.

After your surveil­lance system is installed, expect your technician to discuss long-term strategies to keep every­thing running smoothly. This may include performing regular checks on the cameras and ensuring all software updates are installed in a timely manner.