Surveillance cameras are for your safety. They look out for intruders and dissuade burglars from breaking in. They also act as proof in certain conditions. Most importantly, you get to know what’s happening behind you in the office and at home. You don’t have to be physically present to secure your premises if the surveillance cameras are there. In simple words, surveillance cameras act as your third eye, which is always open but invisible to others.
Surveillance cameras play an important role in your security but only if they are installed properly. If the cameras are not installed in the right way, it will increase the risk of burglaries as well as allow intruders to hack into or steal your surveillance cameras. This can only be avoided if you follow the below-mentioned tips while installing surveillance cameras.
Choose the best surveillance camera
The best surveillance camera system is the one that provides accurate monitoring or is known for the same in the market. You should prefer choosing pan, tilt, and zoom (PTZ) surveillance cameras as they are better for active surveillance. This is a preferable choice if you need to check views in certain areas constantly for suspicious activities and zoom in to watch people’s actions closely.
Other than this, you can choose 360-degree and panoramic cameras, especially the models with fisheye lenses and those capable of night vision and thermal imaging. These cameras offer wider fields of view and allow the use of fewer cameras to monitor large spaces.
Decide between wired and non-wired surveillance cameras
One of the important considerations when buying surveillance cameras is whether they should be wired or non-wired. Today, non-wired cameras are highly demanded because they are aesthetically pleasing. There are no entangled wires and they are easy to install. The best thing about wireless cameras is that you can place them anywhere.
On the other hand, wired cameras are more secure and harder to hack. The only thing is they are unsightly. You should decide this based on your requirements and the location you are planning to place the cameras.
Consider the storage and retrieval of the surveillance cameras
Other than wiring, storage, and retrieval of the surveillance cameras are important factors. Some cameras use memory cards and save videos locally while coffee cloud storage.
Cloud storage is a desirable option. With this, you can easily retrieve footage even if intruders steal or destroy the cameras that capture them. Videos on Cloud storage are difficult to erase while burglars can easily destroy the memory cards and hard drives used for local storage. The only thing is Cloud storage requires additional subscription costs.
Avoid using indoor cameras outdoors.
Many people commit the mistake of installing indoor cameras outdoors thinking it doesn’t make any difference. But, the fact is indoor surveillance cameras are not built to withstand long exposure to an outside environment. If you install them outdoors, they will not give the expected results.
For outdoors, you should only use outdoor cameras that are strong enough to withstand extreme conditions. When buying outdoor cameras, you should look for weather-resistant models that can endure prolonged and repeated exposure to dust, rain, and wind. And when installing them, you should look for shaded areas.
Place the cameras as high as you can
DIY installation is recommended. But, if you are trying it out, you should place the surveillance cameras high on the wall. Make sure the cameras are not reachable without using a ladder or any other tall equipment like tables.
This will prevent the cameras from getting stolen, hacked, or blocked by anyone.
Position the cameras after considering lighting.
Without proper lighting, the view will not be clear. The captured video will be dark and nothing will be identifiable. So, before you place the surveillance lighting, check the lighting in the area. There should be enough light to see the movements and faces in the videos captured and not just anything.
If the lights in the area are not enough, you should install an outdoor lighting fixture to illuminate the coverage area or choose a camera with night vision functionality.
Adjust the cameras to the best coverage position.
Placing the surveillance cameras high on the wall is not enough, you should adjust them to the best coverage position as well. The cameras should face the area you wish to keep under surveillance and you should check the coverage areas from the camera’s viewpoint.
If you find anything blocking the view of the camera, you should move it to a better location. Or else, the surveillance cameras will be of no use. They will capture what you don’t need.
Cover the points of entry.
No matter where you place the surveillance cameras in your home and office, you shouldn’t miss the points of entry. Even if a particular entry gate is not used, you should install a camera there. You cover the main entryways, such as the front and back doors.
Other than this, you should cover the windows on the ground floor and scheduled points of entry like basement windows.
Keep the cables of the cameras hidden.
If you are using wired surveillance cameras, you should be very careful with the cables. You should hide them in the best possible way. Your wired cameras should look like wireless cameras.
By hiding the power and data cables of the cameras, no one will be able to disable them. Also, you will prevent the cables from getting damaged due to inclement weather or by burglars and rodents.
Secure your cameras from digital intruders.
In this digital era, you should be careful of digital intruders along with other intruders. They can hack your system sitting remotely. For this, you should invest in surveillance cameras with strong encryption and security protocols.
Other than this, you should follow recommended security rules, such as changing the default password. You should set unique, strong passwords and change them regularly.
Hire professionals for installation.
As already mentioned, DIY camera installation is not recommended because you are trained and experienced to do so. Therefore, you should hire professionals for surveillance camera installation in your home and office.
Professionals know where to install the cameras, how to install them, how to adjust them for the best coverage, and other details. With them, the chances of any mistake will not be there.
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