While security cameras are an essential part of your electronic safety and security system (ESS), they often require a fair bit of forethought and planning to get the best results against would-be intruders. Not only do you want to cover all entrances and exits, but you also have to account for windows, lighting. You should also consider placement that’s out of reach from any intruders.
Before you move forward with installing security cameras at your business (or home), check out our top tips to be sure they’re in all of the right places.
First of all, be sure that all entry points to your business are covered by a camera. This one is probably the most obvious, but you can never be too careful! While the main entrance to a building might be obvious, you also need to consider any side doors, windows, or even dog doors that might be accessible to an intruder. Any of these points of entry should be covered by a camera.
Even if you have a camera pointed directly at your main door, you won’t be able to capture the face of an intruder if there’s no light. Add proper lighting to every area you want the camera to cover so it can capture a clear image of any intruder.
Check your cameras periodically, even if nothing raises any alarms (figuratively or literally.) Make sure that trees and bushes haven't grown so much that they obscure external cameras. Inside your building, make sure that no shelving or furniture has been moved in front of any interior cameras.
You want to position your internal cameras to cover the most area possible. The primary benefit of interior cameras is that you can track a person’s movement through your entire building. Great camera placement means that the majority of your building is covered so you can catch any path a person may take.
We also recommend installing internal cameras at all entry points of the facility. This serves as a backup if the external cameras fail or are compromised so you can still see where and how the intruder broke in.
You don’t want cameras in a position that makes them easy to be stolen, broken, or damaged. While you can still capture footage of an intruder breaking a camera if it happens, you might not get footage of the intruder inside your facility (which is far more critical).
Keep your cameras up high where the average person cannot reach them, both inside your building and out.
Security cameras are an essential component of an effective security system. Even if you don’t think your risk of intrusion is high, cameras are a strong deterrent to would-be robbers and can prevent a break-in from happening.
If you’d like professional assistance with your security camera placement, get in touch to schedule a security audit today.