Commercial CCTV Security Systems to Monitor and Protect Your Business

Analog surveillance cameras have a sensor to capture video images, which they convert into a format that displays on other viewing devices like a DVR or monitor. They have a high compatibility rate with other devices and offer a greater variety of models. This makes them very convenient if you want to integrate an analog camera into an existing system, or if you have a hybrid that bridges the gap between analog and IP-based cameras.

IP cameras have distinct advantages. Compared to analog cameras, they offer increased flexibility and higher resolution (up to 7K). When they capture images, that data is immediately digitized, which means no further conversions are needed. Since image quality typically decreases with each conversion, digitization, or when the signal must travel too far, an IP surveillance camera provides better images than other options.

At Activo we offer a variety of storage solutions, including on-site commercial hard drives and off-site cloud storage. Different analytics tools and options also give you a better sense of what’s happening (motion detection, people counting, facial recognition, etc.) and help you respond appropriately (detecting intruders, informing customers about promotions, prompting recording, etc.).

The use of your surveillance camera generally indicates the resolution you’ll need. Not all businesses require the most high-resolution imagery.

High-resolution cameras can be costly, due both to initial costs of the device and subsequent costs like hard drives and recorders that can handle more data. If you only need to survey a small area like an office or entranceway, a lower-resolution IP camera or analog camera might be suitable.

The resolution of a camera tells you how much visual information your security camera will be able to capture. The higher the resolution, the more and better you’ll be able to see. You’ll also be able to do more with the images, zooming in without causing blur or distortion.

There are a variety of network options available, each with their own advantages:

• A hardwired system works by physically connecting sensors to the control panel, using a traditional landline to communicate with the outside world (like the monitoring station).
• With a wireless system, the sensors are connected to the control panel wirelessly and the control panel to the outside world via a wireless or cellular connection.
• Solar CCTV systems run on solar power, making them ideal in remote areas where it’s difficult to run wires or where the electricity supply can be unpredictable.
• A GSM (Cellular) CCTV system relies on a GSM modem to take and send videos or pictures.

• A hardwired system works by physically connecting sensors to the control panel, using a traditional landline to communicate with the outside world (like the monitoring station).
• With a wireless system, the sensors are connected to the control panel wirelessly and the control panel to the outside world via a wireless or cellular connection.
• Solar CCTV systems run on solar power, making them ideal in remote areas where it’s difficult to run wires or where electricity supply can be unpredictable.
• A GSM (Cellular) CCTV system relies on a GSM modem to take and send videos or pictures.

This will depend on both the type of video recording system you have as well as your personal preferences. The most popular option for primary digital surveillance system storage is an on-site hard drive, though it’s not uncommon to use an off-site source (like a public or private cloud) for backup.

In terms of size, the type of camera and the resolution it boasts will be the main determining factor here. The higher the resolution, the more storage you’ll need to handle the increased data it gathers.

This is tied primarily to the resolution of your camera. Like with storage, the higher the resolution, the more bandwidth you’ll need to capture and process the data.

Analytics options can include:

• Motion Detection
• Intrusion Prevention
• People Counting
• Facial Recognition
• Object Left Behind

In some situations (like high-profile security applications) you might need three to four of these analytics tools included with your CCTV system. For more low-key surveillance, you might only need one or you might not need any. This will vary depending on your needs.