May. 20, 2024
Setting up a security camera system can be confusing and expensive. This guide will help you choose the right IP cameras for your business.
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Key Takeaway:
What type of IP camera is best for a business?
The best IP camera for a business depends on its specific needs and security goals. Some factors to consider include:
Security is essential for a business of any size.
You want to keep your employees safe and your insurance premiums low.
But setting up a camera system can be expensive and confusing – even if you hire an installer.
Setting out on this project with some insight can help you set up your own system or work with an installer.
This guide is going to go through everything you need to know about buying IP cameras – from what's on the market, to what you need to make them work.
An Internet Protocol (IP) Camera is a digital video camera that sends and receives data via a network, such as a LAN or the Internet. Usually, these cameras will have their own IP addresses.
As with most technologies, IP Cameras come with their own vocabulary. Knowing some of the key terms can help you understand what's on offer.
Closed-Circuit TV: The older, analogue way of running surveillance cameras.
Digital Video Recorder: A device that converts analogue video to digital and stores it on a hard drive after compressing the footage. DVRs must be wired to the cameras.
Ethernet: A standard technology for transferring data and power in a Local Area Network
Field Of View: The area covered by the camera. Some cameras have a narrow field of view, others wider. Each type of Field of View will have a specific function.
Frames Per Second (FPS)/Frame Rate: The Speed at which images are captured or displayed. Films usually show at 24fps, whereas live sports and security cameras will show at 60fps.
Internet Protocol (IP): A way of transferring information. Data is divided into packets, which are sent to specific IP addresses.
IP Address: Unique address of a network device, such as a computer or camera.
Lux: A standard measurement for illumination.
Megapixel (MP): A standard unit of measurement for pictures. The higher the number of megapixels, the larger the picture and the better the resolution will be.
Motion Detection: An application used by IP Cameras to detect movement in the camera's view. This usually triggers events, like recording, video streaming, or automating an IoT device.
Network Video Recorder: Takes video footage from a network to record and store on a hard drive. NVRs can receive footage through wires or wirelessly.
Power Over Ethernet (PoE): Technology which transmits enough power for a small device through an Ethernet cable
Resolution: How much detail an image can hold. The higher the resolution, the better quality the picture and the more detail you will be able to see.
IP cameras look and operate in the same way as traditional cameras. Except the data is transmitted digitally via a network, through ethernet cables or WiFi – which often means a higher quality picture for a lot less money.
As they transmit the images digitally, it allows for analysis and machine learning to be applied to the footage. Most mid-level cameras will have motion detection and event alerts as standard, allowing you to be immediately notified if something is happening in shot. Higher-end cameras have Number plate recognition, face detection, object counting and more.
Most IP Cameras take advantage of Power over Ethernet, which is a technology that can power devices using Ethernet cables – the same cables that will transmit the video data. Which means you only need to run one cable to the camera and you won't need an electrician to connect it to the mains.
The first step in any buying journey for cameras is working out what you want to monitor and why.
Take a walk around your property and look at the areas that need to be monitored.
Think: "If a break-in or incident were to happen, what information would I need to give to police to catch the people who did it?"
It's a horrible thought, but it's one that needs to be asked.
Usually, it's how they got in, who they are, and what they did.
An obvious place to start is the front door. Do you need a camera on the outside or inside? Or Both? Where would a camera need to be?
If you have a car park in front of your property, would a camera be needed to monitor the car park?
You also need to protect your team too. If your business has a public-facing staff, then having a camera that has a clear view of them and their work areas will be paramount.
You should also speak to your staff and any local patrol officers. They may notice things that you haven't.
There are a million cameras on the market. All have varying degrees of quality, functionality and performance.
While it might be tempting to blow all your money on the most expensive cameras your budget can buy, it's not actually the most practical approach.
So here are a few things to consider when buying an IP Camera.
The vast majority of IP cameras offer HD recording at 60fps. This will give you a high enough resolution to identify the details of the video.
A low-end IP Camera will be around 2MP, which is a decent amount for general surveillance.
But if you need detail, for faces or number plates, then a 12MP camera will be a better option.
Cameras have different fields of view for different purposes. Sometimes, you need a wide-angle to see general comings and goings, such as an overview of a warehouse or car park. Other times, you might need a small area, such as a doorway or safe.
Most IP Cameras will allow you to view video footage in real-time from a computer. But some cameras enable you to view the footage from a tablet, phone or another device away from your business in real-time. This means you can watch events unfold from wherever you are – or check-in for peace of mind.
Most security cameras are designed with certain conditions in mind. Not every camera will be suitable for outside. Always check to see if the camera is designed for outdoor use. For any camera in a public space, you'll also want to get Vandal or Tamper-proof casing.
Most crimes will happen at night. So you'll want to make sure your camera can see. Many cameras have a night vision setting.
These night vision settings usually rely on Infrared, which means you should avoid putting them behind glass. Glass causes the infrared to reflect and distort the vision of the camera, if not blinding it completely.
The UK has strict laws when it comes to security and surveillance cameras. Most laws are designed to keep the balance between surveillance and privacy invasion.
By law, you must:
For a full list of legal requirements, take a look at the Gov.UK website
The dome cameras are the most used. These can be used indoors and outdoor. The cameras have a small field of view, but because of the design, it's difficult to tell where the camera is focused. They are brilliant as deterrent cameras.
These cameras usually come with a tamper or vandal-proof casing, making them a great choice in many locations.
The most iconic style of cameras. As they are instantly recognisable, they act as a great deterrent. They are most commonly used in outdoor settings and usually have a strong casing.
They have a fixed focus point with a small field of view so you may need multiple cameras.
Cube cameras are discreet cameras designed for Indoor use. The field of view varies, depending on what area you are looking to cover. These cameras are perfect for meeting rooms or offices.
There are many camera brands on the market. But you're going to want reliable cameras. So knowing some of the top brands on the market is going to be key to your success.
Axis have been the leading camera brand for many years. They were also a big player in the move from analogue to IP. Since they began in 1984, Axis has sold over $1.2 billion in cameras. They have a high-quality range with state of the art technology.
TRENDnet is an award-winning provider of security equipment. They provide high-quality but cost-effective solutions that are trusted by small-to-medium businesses all over the world.
Ubiquiti is a powerhouse of network technology. Their name is already synonymous with network systems, and they are making their name in Cameras now too. Their cameras come with unlimited free use and remote accessibility as standard.
D-Link offers end-to-end IP camera solutions for SMBs. Their high-quality and reliable cameras integrate perfectly with their range of switches, routers and firewalls, giving you a seamless solution.
Ezviz is perfect for monitoring smaller areas, such as shops, office buildings, and home offices.
There are a few questions that you should ask yourself when buying a camera. Here are a few considerations to help you choose.
Most cameras will be marked as Indoor or Outdoor. Some might be designed for both.
If you are redesigning an entire network, you might want to keep all cameras exactly the same. This can make it easier to perform maintenance, manage warranties and train people to use them. If this is the case, then you'll want a selection of cameras that work both inside and outside.
If you are happy to run different types of cameras, look for ones specifically for outside or inside. Cameras designed for external use tend to be more rugged so that they can cope with adverse weather conditions. Indoor cameras tend to be lighter and slimline to suit indoor areas.
Cameras are a brilliant deterrent for crime. For example, crime has decreased by 51% in car parks using CCTV surveillance, as seen here. If you're looking for a visual deterrent, then picking the most prominent, bulkiest bullet camera is going to be a great shout.
If you are looking for something more ambiguous, then a Dome camera might be for you. While they have a single focus point, it's difficult to know which way they are pointing.
If you need something a little more discreet, such as for inside a listed building or an event space, then a smaller cube camera will be more suitable.
Some cameras come with covers, to help disguise them even more. Just remember that you still have to tell people they are on camera, even if the cameras are discrete.
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By working out what kind of area you need to cover, you can work out which camera you need. For example, a single camera with pan, tilt and zoom capabilities can cover a large area. Operators can zoom in to activities that interest them.
However, you might need a much more focused camera, in which case a camera with a small field of view will be better.
Smaller rooms will need a lower resolution unless the room is considered a high-security room. Offices, corridors, and other small spaces will need a lower-resolution camera. Outdoor or large rooms will need a higher resolution in order to pick up more details.
As lower-resolution cameras are cheaper, you can save a lot of money by keeping high-resolution cameras where you need them most.
Will your camera need to work at night? If yes, then you'll need to make sure the camera has night-vision capabilities. If your camera is going to be in a well-lit area, or only needs to work during the day, then you can forgo this requirement.
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