Business surveillance systems and commercial security cameras

Components of commercial video surveillance systems

As stated earlier in this guide, commercial security camera systems are composed of three pieces of technology: security cameras, video recorders and software.

Security cameras

Security cameras capture the scene of an observed space. These cameras are the eyes of the video security team, helping them to see the activities taking place around their facility. Commercial CCTV cameras record the footage captured, saving it in a storage system. The system may also offer on-device storage for certain cameras as a fail-safe for short-term recovery or auditing.

Storage system

Commercial video security storage systems store the video footage captured by cameras. There are three different types available: network video recorders (NVR), digital video recorders (DVR) and a hybrid storage system.

Video management software

Video management software (VMS) allows you to view live and recorded video captured by business security cameras.

The software also enables your team to manage the entire business security camera systems from one interface. This includes being alerted to potential incidents, managing access via an integrated access control system, checking health reports and more.

Types of business security cameras

Although there are numerous commercial security camera types, these are the commonly utilized cameras within offices, buildings, retail stores, hospitals and other businesses.

Wired vs. wireless security cameras

There are two types of commercial security camera systems. The first and more traditional option is wired systems. This system connects analog security cameras to monitors and video recorders via cables.

The second, more modern solution is the wireless security camera system. This system transmits footage over an internet connection to the operator.

The comparison table below highlights the key differences between wired and wireless cameras.

Video management systems (VMS)

A VMS is a crucial component of commercial video surveillance systems. It enables security teams to view live and recorded footage, as well as manage the overall camera system.

When choosing security cameras, it is important to consider that the VMS integrates fully with your cameras. This helps to ensure that all the components within your business surveillance system work seamlessly together to provide your team with the tools they need to enhance safety and security.

The day-to-day duties of business video surveillance teams can become overwhelming, so it is essential that the VMS is easy to use and provides a user experience that even novice operators can be comfortable with.

Multiple security camera companies now provide a VMS that offers more functionality and features in keeping with the advancements made in video security. These include AI-powered video analytics, integration capabilities with third-party cameras and cloud video surveillance capabilities. These advancements help teams manage the safety and security of their facilities as well as expedite incident response times.

Cloud vs. on-premise security camera systems

Whether your business chooses to manage the commercial security camera system in the cloud or on-premises, there are some key things you need to be aware of. The following table highlights the key differences between on-premise and cloud systems.

Commercial camera systems for different industries

Depending on the industry your business operates in, your requirements and reasons for procuring a business surveillance system will differ. So, what are the requirements for your business and why do you need to install a commercial video security system?

Reduces violence

For sites such as retail stores, casinos and office buildings, commercial security camera systems are a necessity. For many sites, including government buildings and hospitals, the main reason for adopting security camera systems is to enhance safety by reducing criminal activities.

Prevents theft

CCTV security systems can also help to prevent theft. According to a University of Florida National Retail Security Survey, small businesses lose between $25,000 to $33,000 every minute to shoplifters. However, it’s not only small businesses suffering.

It is essential that sites such as retail stores and office buildings do what they can to eradicate theft, whether that is from a member of the public or an employee. Using a video security system would go a long way in reducing theft, as the simple presence of them can help to dissuade a person from committing theft or another illegal activity. Additionally, using security cameras in casinos and other revenue-sensitive businesses can enable smart behavioral detection capabilities to work around the clock, detecting and alerting to theft or suspicious activity.

Should theft occur, the facility’s commercial video surveillance system can easily record the incident while responding to it, store the footage recorded and share it with the appropriate authorities via the VMS to prosecute those responsible.

Ensure high productivity

Aside from the safety and security reasons, there is another key motivation: to improve operational efficiency. For many retail outlets, warehouses and manufacturing facilities, it’s important to ensure that processes are optimized.

Whether it is using business security cameras to highlight potential machinery malfunctions or identify inefficient stages within the manufacturing chain, surveillance systems help to ensure productivity is high and the business can continue to operate without a hitch.

Observe dangerous locations

For oil and gas sites, utility businesses and ports, commercial surveillance systems do much more than provide enhanced safety and security. They act as an extra pair of eyes in potentially dangerous locations by observing oil and gas sites for operational efficiencies, alerting video security teams to malfunctioning equipment at electric substations and helping port teams address shipping incidents by reviewing recorded footage.

Improve safety compliance

Security camera systems are essential for ensuring and documenting regulatory safety compliance, particularly in industrial and manufacturing environments. By continuously recording activity, the footage provides concrete evidence that a company is meeting legal requirements, such as OSHA standards. Reviewing video captured by industrial security cameras allows management to quickly identify specific safety risks, pinpoint areas where established procedures, like Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) use or machine guarding, are being ignored and subsequently develop targeted safety training. 

Leveraging the capabilities of these industrial security cameras helps companies proactively manage risks and demonstrate due diligence during inspections, while dramatically reducing the likelihood of costly violations or serious workplace incidents.

How commercial camera systems differ by business size

The larger the facility, the more spaces that require video security. This means more security cameras and the need for more video recorders and footage storage appliances.

Examples of these vast business surveillance systems can be found within shopping malls, hotels, and transportation hubs, such as airports and train stations. A significant number of security cameras will be required to observe spaces both open to the public and employees only.

The security team will require more features and capabilities from their system, such as video analytics, IR and enhanced VMS user management. These features will enable operators to have better situational awareness, to proactively respond to incidents and seamlessly grant new users access to the CCTV systems.

For small facilities, such as corner retail stores, bank branches or even a small office, the size of the CCTV system is much smaller. With fewer spaces requiring video security, these smaller facilities do not need to install a vast system.

However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that these business surveillance systems are lacking advanced technology features. Video analytics, IR capabilities and AI security cameras can still help to alert teams to incidents.

Key considerations when buying a business video surveillance system

1. What will you use it for?

Do you plan to use your commercial video security system to observe the safety and security of your facility? Do you intend to use the cameras to improve business operations and detect any issues with machinery? Companies will ask you these questions to determine the best business security camera system for you.

2. Required features

Does your system require features such as video analytics, IR capabilities in low light, a wide field-of-view or resistance to weather and/​or tampering? The answer to this will determine the best commercial security cameras for your business.

3. Installation

If you’re planning to do a large commercial security camera installation, it is recommended that you hire a professional to ensure the solution is set up properly.

4. Video storage

Depending on the number of cameras you install around your facility and how long your cameras will operate, you will need to work with your business CCTV system provider to calculate the video storage that you will require, either on-premise or in the cloud.

5. Integration capabilities

Does your site already have an access control system or an alarm solution installed? Although not a necessity, it is beneficial to have the possibility to integrate cameras with your commercial video surveillance solution to improve decision-making and incident response times.

6. Budget

This, of course, could be the major deciding factor when procuring a CCTV system for your business. Does your budget extend to your being able to purchase the security cameras, video storage and VMS you require? Does it allow you to spend a little more to get the best business security camera systems with AI-powered video analytics and other features?

Conclusion

Having delved deep into what commercial security camera systems are and what they can offer, you can move on to researching some of the best security cameras. 

Avigilon, a part of Motorola Solutions technology ecosystem, is your one-stop shop for all your security solution needs. Avigilon provides an extensive range of security cameras for businesses, with powerful management software and integrated access control systems﹣whether your camera system needs to be operated on-premise or in the cloud.

Bringing together video security, access control and cloud management under one centralized platform, Avigilon Unity provides businesses with a flexible on-premise access and video solution for commercial surveillance.

What sets Avigilon Unity Video apart from other providers is its advanced AI-powered video analytics that help teams focus on what matters most. With these analytics, operators can take advantage of effective object classification, with the ability to detect up to 50 objects within a scene and be alerted to incidents automatically.

Alongside cutting-edge technologies such as Avigilon Appearance Search™ and full unification with Unity Access, this solution also offers cloud-managed software that enables security teams to observe their facilities and operations via their security cameras from anywhere, anytime.

Highlights of the Avigilon Unity Video solution include:

• Full range of powerful video security cameras designed to solve the unique challenges of commercial buildings and properties.

• AI-powered analytics for real-time alerts with object, people and vehicle detection.

• Advanced camera features for superior image quality, even in challenging lighting conditions and harsh environments.

• 100% browser-based software for streamlined management of your entire facility.

• Cloud-managed options for anywhere access to live and recorded footage.

• ONVIF compliant and FIPS 140 – 2 certified for high-security on-premise deployments.

As a cloud-based security solution for commercial uses and beyond, Avigilon Alta provides a scalable and intelligent solution for organizations looking to move their security operations to the cloud. Combining both cloud-based video security and access control, Avigilon Alta extends real-time anomaly detection and enables smart search capabilities across your entire deployment, even existing third-party cameras.

Alta Video is a cloud-based VMS that allows operators to connect existing infrastructure to the cloud via the Avigilon Cloud Connector. Choose from the full range of AI-enabled smart security cameras, with easy-to-install models that provide crystal-clear imagery details with integrated video and audio analytics. 

For commercial video security systems, the Alta Video software enables a fully cloud-native control panel accessible from any device via secure login. The powerful software is equipped with advanced analytics that empower security operators with live heat mapping, occupancy tracking and smart maps for better decision-making and improved response.

Highlights of the Avigilon Alta cloud-based video security solution include:

• AI-powered commercial video cameras for enhanced visibility and detection.

• Ability to make existing security cameras smart with cloud-connected capabilities.

• Find what you’re looking for fast with intuitive Smart Search™ and Spotlight features.

• Easy-to-use mobile app to view live footage and triage security incidents.

• Fully open architecture supports integration with third-party systems and devices.

• Native integration with Avigilon Alta cloud-based access control.