How to Improve Bank Security

Banks need high security. They surely deserve it because banks house a lot of money, your money. You wouldn’t want your financial assets to be exposed to risks of theft or robberies. After all, it is your hard earned money. Bank officials understand this and they undertake a lot of efforts to safeguard all the financial assets that are present there.

Banks have a responsibility to respond well to emergencies, in addition to improving branch security. Even if a bank has never faced any major problem, this does not mean that they will never face it in the future. Banks need to keep themselves prepared for all possible emergency situations. By analyzing and understanding the implications of different emergencies, the bank can prepare itself for such situations in a better manner.

The following tips should help in improving security levels at banks.

Conduct Scheduled and Random Physical Checks

This is the easiest way to ensure the maintenance of adequate security measures in a bank or any other place. Scheduled checks will ensure that all security measures are maintained properly throughout. Due to the fixed schedule, the concerned persons will have to keep things on track or they will risk exposing the flaws which might cause them to lose their jobs. Random physical checks are great for catching people off their guard. This is the best way (in my opinion) to find out flaws in the bank’s security. Random checks will also leave the staff unprepared and they don’t get the chance to make last minute adjustments. Just make sure that the random checks are random and not easily identified as set patterns.

Invest in a Good Video Surveillance System

What good is a bank without an effective video surveillance system? Every nook and corner of the bank needs to be monitored with HD security cameras so that nothing is left out in case of emergency situations. Just because every area needs to be monitored, doesn’t mean you need to have a lot of cameras. By placing the cameras meticulously, you can easily get a wide field of coverage. Just make sure that you use appropriate casings for the cameras so that tampering can be prevented. If you are looking for superior quality video surveillance systems at an affordable cost, then check out this reputed vendor.

Conduct Periodic Staff Training

The staff needs to be prepared to handle emergency situations. When faced with an emergency, the first protocol followed by the security staff is to guard the key areas and try to get as much civilians out as possible. They can be used as a leverage by robbers during a break in. A well trained staff can easily get the crucial spots under their control and get innocent civilians out of the premises without a lot of casualty. Get in touch with your local security service provider for assistance in preparing your staff to respond fast and accurately during emergency situations.

Hire Efficient Technical Team

A bank’s security is no longer confined to physical aspects only. The electronic security measures such as alarms and security systems can be hacked by people who have the skills and the motive to pull off a heist. By hiring efficient technical and cyber security professionals, you can safeguard the bank from unwanted breach. Plus, you can always anticipate the move of the criminals and be one step ahead all the time.

Inspect the Security Measures

There is a popular Latin phrase, “Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?” which literally translates to “Who will guard the guards?” Considering the implications of this phrase in bank security, all the security systems, including HD security cameras, need to be protected. Without adequate protection, they can be tampered easily, leading to corrupted video evidence and footage. Periodic inspection and vigilance will help you to detect problems as they occur. Due to the timely discovery of issues, the response can be faster and the flaw would have less exposure. 

How to Improve Restaurant Security

A restaurant may not seem like a place that needs a lot of security. However, you will be surprised to know that security is of utmost importance in a restaurant, especially when it comes to monitoring the staff and preventing accidents. Due to the relatively high traffic that restaurants get, the security concerns are different from others. As a restaurant owner, you need to focus on preventing thefts, ensuring the safety of staff and guests, and implement strong surveillance.

The following tips will help you to improve restaurant security and offer a better experience to the staff as well as the customers.

Know Your Employees

Make sure you know who you are hiring. In the restaurant business, ill minded employees can cause more harm than good. Background checks and references should always be conducted. This may seem like a time consuming or expensive affair, but it will keep a lot of hassles at bay later. Plus, you can be stress free knowing the fact that your employees are reliable.

Manage Access

Try to get an access control system or keypad locks so that the codes can be changed when needed. Plus, you need to manage access such that only the most trusted people are given access to important areas. When an employee is on leave, then change the codes so that the risks of infiltration are reduced. You can also change the codes from time to time to ensure that the codes are not leaked out by an unfaithful employee.

Provide Training to the Staff Periodically

Restaurants are especially vulnerable to fires so educate everyone on the different types of potential fires. Your staff can prove to be a very useful asset, especially when it comes to responding to emergency situations. Teach them safety procedures and provide them periodic training so that they are prepared to respond to situations. This is useful in utilizing the crucial moments where the situation can be brought under control.

Get the Right Video Surveillance System

Video security cameras act as a big deterrent to both potential criminals as well as dishonest employees. This is why you should definitely invest in a good and relevant video surveillance system. When installing the security cameras, make sure that you keep a few out of sight as this will help you to catch people off their guard. Use clear windows and proper lighting to improve the security even more.

Be Cautious While Opening and Closing the Restaurant

The most common time for robberies in a restaurant is during opening and closing. This is because only a single employee is present during these times. By letting them work in pairs or groups, you can help to deter any robbery attempts during opening and closing considerably. This way, one employee can manage the work and the other can keep an eye out for suspicious activity. 

Bust Fraud Claims with Video Surveillance Equipment

Security measures don’t always have to focus on external agents. It is possible that you may be subjected to fraud claims by workers, staff, etc. There might have been cases when you would have received a notice that one of your employees is suing for injuries sustained in a “workplace accident.” If you are not able to recall any such incident, then it’s probably a false claim. Trying to reach a conclusion on this will only result in arguments and heated discussion. You can put all false claims to rest by getting the right video surveillance equipment for your office.

If a workplace mishap (especially the ones related to abusive behavior against women) occurs, then the best way to arrive at an appropriate judgment would be to review the evidence. Video footage provides irrefutable evidence in most cases and it helps the matter to get sorted out without any delay. Due to this, the management and the concerned persons have to bear fewer legal hassles and they don’t get subjected to high stress levels. Moreover, such incidents can hamper productivity which can turn out to be an expensive liability for the company.

Video surveillance systems have been known to be very helpful in such cases. Check out the video below; it shows a man from Cleveland doing his best to fake a workplace injury. Thanks to the video footage, his actions were recorded and the company did not have to bear the expenses for his fraudulent claims.

https://youtu.be/sYXWSt1QcTc

If employees are aware of the presence of video surveillance, then it is less likely that they will be dishonest and they will try their best to keep themselves in control. People often try to break the rules and gain undue advantage when they are not being monitored. Plus, if they know that there is no proper surveillance system in place, then they are confident of getting away with their deeds. As a business owner, you should not hesitate to get a video surveillance system because it will not only deter such attempts, but it will also give you a better idea about the employees’ activities at the workplace.

A video surveillance system doesn’t have to be very expensive. Get in touch with a security consultant or a video surveillance system manufacturer to understand the best security solution for your requirements. Plus, you can always modify the layout in a manner that will utilize less equipment without compromising on security. This can help you to save on costs considerably. If you don’t have a video surveillance system, then get one for your office today.

Can Surveillance Systems Make Our Society More Progressive?

Our society is under surveillance. In today’s technologically superior age, everything is being monitored to keep crime under control. It serves as an excellent deterrent to those who want to break the law. An ABC News/Washington Post poll in July 2007 found that 71 percent of Americans favor increased video surveillance. What is it about these surveillance systems that help in building a better society? Let’s find out.

Irrefutable Evidence

Thanks to surveillance systems, the accused cannot argue about their involvement in a crime. Surveillance footage and recordings provide irrefutable evidence of such actions which can be used in the court to prove their crime. Even if the action is not criminal in nature, you just cannot get yourself out of the mess.

Somebody is Always Watching Your Back

With the presence of surveillance systems in the society, somebody is always watching your back. Even if you make a move in a dark area, your movements might be getting tracked by night vision cameras or systems that can pick up activity even in low light. This is a great benefit to the society, especially in light of the rising “street crimes.”

Security Solutions are Getting Affordable and Technically Superior

With developments and breakthroughs in technology, surveillance systems have become better, accurate and affordable. Due to this, a widespread implementation of surveillance systems has become possible. Advances in processing power and software, meanwhile, are beginning to allow computers to surmount the greatest limitation of traditional surveillance—the ability of eyeballs to effectively observe the activity on dozens of video screens simultaneously. All of this makes video surveillance a highly effective security solution for the modern society.

Faster Response to Emergencies

One of the biggest advantages of surveillance systems is faster response time to emergencies. Not only is the response time improved, but also the accuracy. The authorities can pinpoint the exact location of the mishap and then mobilize accordingly to get the situation under control as fast as possible. This reduces the risk of damage to life and property.

Busting Criminals is Easier

With effective surveillance systems in place, it has become easier to bust criminals, especially those involved in heists and robberies. If they think they can rob a store by “escaping the hotspots,” then they are gravely mistaken. Security systems are set up after considering all possible loopholes so everything is secured in a better manner. The video footage allows the criminals to be convicted with proper evidence.

Keeping a Check on the Law Enforcers

Corruption is an evil that is pretty hard to get rid of in today’s society. Corrupt officials and law enforcers can add to the problem instead of becoming part of the solution. Video surveillance systems help to keep an eye on such officers who tend to take law into their own hands. The law is the same for everyone and surveillance systems help in ensuring that no one violates the law. 

How to Protect Your Home Video Surveillance System from Hackers

Unless you protect your home video surveillance system, the stored data or the surveillance capability of the system could get highly compromised. While securing your home security system, make sure that all connected devices and your home network hardware are secure.

Hackers can hack almost any electronic device as long as a single window of opportunity exists for them. You need to make sure that your security system is protected from external infiltration and hackers.

Use these effective tips to deter hacking attempts at your home video surveillance system.

Manage Passwords Smartly

You have obviously put passwords for all the devices that are connected to the video surveillance system. But if the passwords are simple, then they can be cracked easily by a hacker. Create a formidable password by using a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols. Also, make sure that you change the password in random intervals to avoid anyone guessing it correctly.

Secure Your Home Network

Your home video surveillance system should be connected to a home network. Make sure that the network is absolutely secure. Unsecured Wi-Fi networks make it easy for hackers to access Wi-Fi cameras. A single flaw is enough to allow hackers to infiltrate and tamper with the surveillance system.

Check Your Logs

Checking your security cameras’ log enables you to easily review the log history to see if and when other IP addresses have accessed your IP camera feed. This will reveal any tampering or unauthorized access that may have occurred recently. The trick here is to make regular inspections to detect signs of tampering in time or else you could risk losing considerable data.

Keep the Device Firmware Updated

You need to ensure that the firmware on your device is updated with the latest version. The new updates provide better security measures and make it difficult for infiltrators to crack through. Check with the specific device manufacturer for understanding the best way to update the firmware for your device. If you are not able to get it done yourself, then consult with an expert to avoid running into problems later.

Store Video Data Safely

Home video surveillance systems will require the video data to be stored either in physical storage media or cloud storage. In either case, make sure that you keep the stored data safe. If you have optical disks or hard drives, then password protect them and keep them locked up after labelling them properly. This will help in retrieving the data if and when required.

Make Regular Inspection for Detecting Signs of Tampering

Take a good look at the casing of the cameras. Do you find anything unusual? If not, then you are out of harm’s way. If yes, then you need to inspect the system to identify possible tampering. Such an attempt can compromise the quality of the data recorded and might also leak out sensitive information to a spying hacker. 

6 Tips to Maintain Your Video Security System for Better Performance

Simply installing a video security system does not ensure adequate security. You need to make sure that the system is in perfect working order so that optimal performance may be ensured. It’s a good idea to schedule regular system maintenance. This enables you to protect your investment and keep a check on the system’s performance. After all, you wouldn’t want to find out the flaws after a mishap has occurred.

Here are 6 tips that can help you maintain the performance levels of your video security system.

Clean the Camera Lenses

This is an absolute must for every video security system. The camera lenses need to be cleaned periodically to ensure proper video capturing and surveillance. When crimes are recorded on cameras, it is important that the image be clear in order to identify the infiltrators. Look for dust, smudges, water spots and other undesirable elements on your lenses. If they are dirty, then use air to blow out the debris and then use a microfiber cloth to wipe the lens gently.

Look for Signs of Corrosion

Check the connectors for possible corrosion. If present, it can cause the connections to short out and you can lose valuable footage in the process. This is a serious situation and you would not want to be left without evidence in the event an infiltration or robbery has occurred.

Remove Dust from the DVR

You need to take a look at your DVR regularly to remove the layer of dust that might have settled on it over time. The presence of dust may hamper the performance of the DVR. It doesn’t take a lot to keep it clean. Frequently wipe your security DVR with a microfiber cloth. Unless it is an absolute emergency, never remove the DVR from its enclosure. Even if you have to remove it, make sure you call in an expert to get the job done.

Inspect the Power Supplies

Check the power supplies for signs of fault or tampering. Get all repair work done in time or else it might affect the video security system. In case a UPS is involved, make sure that the battery is fully charged and the charging is being done properly. Also, find out if any warning signs are visible. If yes, the take the required course of action to rectify it. You’ll also want to use a voltmeter to guarantee that your cameras are getting their full power requirements. Too much or too little power can cause the camera to fail faster.

Check for Signs of Tampering

Video security systems can be tampered. In fact, infiltrators usually try to tamper the system in order to get blind spots that can be used to enter a facility without getting noticed. By conducting regular inspections, you can easily find out whether the camera or the recording system’s efficiency has been compromised.

Trim the Landscaping

The camera’s view must remain unblocked to provide a clear recording. If you find that externally placed cameras are getting blocked by branches or spider webs, then get rid of it before it’s too late. Even a slight delay can compromise the quality of your video security system, thereby increasing the risk to the area being monitored. 

6 Video Surveillance Maintenance Tips for Stronger Security

If you thought that simply installing video surveillance systems would be sufficient to ensure safety, then you were wrong. These systems need periodic maintenance to check for proper functioning of the devices and to detect signs of possible damage that may prevent the system from working as intended. It is also possible that some devices may have been tampered with. In such a case, timely intervention is of the utmost importance because even a single flaw could give thieves and infiltrators a much needed opportunity to make a breach.

If you want to ensure prolonged effectiveness of the installed video surveillance systems, then make sure that you follow these simple yet effective tips.

1.   Track all the maintenance work with a carefully documented process so that all relevant details may be made available as and when required. Ideally, you should maintain two records for noting the details of the repairs and maintenance so that the loss of one book doesn’t result in all the information getting lost.

2.   Get help from a security expert or from the security system manufacturer for setting the focus of the cameras correctly. It is obvious that you would want to use the camera to get a good view of the entire room, but it is not possible to maintain focus on all areas of the room at the same time. So the best thing that you can do is to find that one sweet spot which you find most vulnerable to security breaches and focus the camera on that position. This will save you a lot of hassles in the case of a breach and you will be able to assist the authorities in a better manner with clear evidence.

3.   Clean the camera lenses every month with an approved cleaning fluid. The best way to find out about compatible cleaning solutions for your security camera is to consult with the manufacturer. Make sure that you don’t apply the cleaning fluid directly to the lens. Add a few drops of the fluid on a piece of paper and wipe it while following a circular motion. This helps to get it clean faster and more effectively. Do not attempt to clean it without proper consultation or without proper understanding or else the camera’s lens might get affected.

4.   Consider “back lighting” when fixing the camera’s angle. Backlighting often occurs in locations with sunlight streaming through windows directly into to the camera lens. Due to this, the subject will only appear as a silhouette or a dark outline with no significant details being visible to the camera. You can either install window shades to minimize external lights or you can adjust the camera’s angle to get a clearer picture.

5.    Check the time and date settings on the recorder for accuracy. Brief power outages can cause the time to be reset. If the video is captured with incorrect time, then it would not count as valid evidence. Even a few minutes of delay or the wrong date can make it really difficult to track events and understand the sequence.

6.    If any crime occurs that is recorded by the video surveillance camera, check the proper settings to prevent the data from being erased. For digital recording systems, you need to keep a backup of the file in a safely guarded place. Do not give the sole copy of the evidence to the authorities. It is important to keep a backup file with you in case the original file gets tampered, lost or erased.

These are basic maintenance requirements that need to be followed. For specific requirements, consult with your video surveillance system provider so that you may get a better understanding of the ways to maintain the system for prolonged performance. 

Secure Your Office with These 8 Effective Tips

Every office needs protection. There are just too many valuable items including computers, gadget, cash, confidential documents, sensitive information and others. All of these things are too tempting for thieves who are willing to do everything to get their hands on them. You need to stay a step ahead of them.

Just follow these 8 effective security tips to protect your office as well as your staff and you should be able to deter thefts by a great extent.

Make Sure that the Locks Meet the Standards

Locks are the simplest security measures that are used in almost every office. But did you know that using non-standard locks can give infiltrators the opportunity to breach into your important areas? Make sure that the locks meet the standards that are applicable in your region. This will help you to deter infiltration attempts.

Ensure Proper Lighting in All Areas

Never leave dark sections in your office unnoticed. These are the crucial spots that infiltrators will use for hiding in plain sight and also breaching into key areas of your office. Fix broken lights in all places. If there are areas that do not have proper lighting, then install lights so that these areas may be monitored effectively with simple security cameras.

Install a Video Surveillance System

Nowadays, a video surveillance system has become the norm for every establishment, be it schools, universities, malls, retail shops or offices. You don’t have to invest a lot for setting up a good surveillance system. Just consult with a security expert to determine exactly what you need. For example, you might not need night vision cameras if the office is locked by evening. By getting requirement-specific surveillance systems, you can keep the budget within a nominal range. Moreover, you can reduce the number of video surveillance cameras by placing them strategically in key points that cover a comparatively larger view.

Monitor All Digital Activities

We live in the digital age. Infiltration is no longer confined to physical breaching. A person seated anywhere around the globe can access your digital system if it is not monitored properly. Get the best IT team for your business and monitor all external as well as internal digital activities. Sometimes the problem can be closer than you think. A really effective way to monitor digital activities is to route all communication through a dedicated server so that every bit of information is run through the required security checks.

Implement a Monitored Alarm System

When it comes to ensuring office security, an alarm system should be amongst the first things to be implemented. This has always been the most effective deterrent for thieves and infiltrators. Alarm systems are designed to relay information to the police via a monitoring station that communicates the information with the help of mobile phone connections, landline connections or internet connections. Why go through all this trouble? The office’s management may take time to react to an infiltration alarm, but the automatic relaying of information helps to ensure faster response time of the cops. In most situations, this can prove to be an important benefit for the office as well as the authorities.

Keep Confidential Documents in a Safe

Although most documents will be stored in digital format, it is not possible to completely do away with physical copies. Make sure that you keep all confidential documents in a safe. The digital copies can be stored on an off-site server or storage so that if the office’s security is compromised, you won’t lose the documents.

Manage All Passwords Carefully

Get a password management system to provide a centralized approach to keeping passwords safe and secure. Make sure that you have a dedicated team that handles everything related to password management, including handover of credentials after an employee has resigned or sharing of new credentials for increased access to senior employees. Plus, it makes no sense to keep passwords stored as they can be hacked. This is why you need to remain vigilant and act on the first sign of suspicious activity.

Ensure the Presence of Adequate Security Personnel

It is important to have adequate security personnel on all floors and areas of the office. This is a major deterrent for thieves who see night as the best time to make an infiltration attempt. Employees are known to work overtime, especially in IT companies. The presence of security personnel is mandatory in such conditions as employee safety is an important concern that should be taken up with priority. 

Labels: video surveillance system, night vision cameras