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