Most businesses will have some form of CCTV if they work in physical premises, and will appreciate that it’s an invaluable source of security and peace of mind. However, if you’ve been in the same premises for some time, or you’re moving to a new office which may not have been updated in a while, then it could be worth checking whether your CCTV system is due for an upgrade. Although any system is better than none, having CCTV that isn’t completely up to scratch can leave you vulnerable to break-ins or other security risks. Upgrading, or checking whether you’re in need of an update every so often, can save you huge amounts of stress and money in the long run.
So, what should you be looking out for? Read on for the red flags that let you know an upgrade might be a good idea…
Blurry or poor-quality images
If you can’t see what is going on and the person or thing causing it, then you could cause yourself unnecessary stress by reacting to false alarms or miss out on a security breach entirely. Grainy or blurring images prevent you from being able to identify the source of any disturbance quickly and easily, meaning that you could call the police on an animal wandering through your premises, or fail to spot a real intruder breaking in. Whatever the result, having grainy or blurry CCTV footage is a key sign you need to upgrade your system.
Lack of scalability
If your premises expand, or you need to add on more cameras because of changes external to your business, then being able to do this quickly and without hassle is essential. An out-of-date system may cause administrative or physical obstructions to adapting how your security system is set up and can cause unnecessary stress and delays. Being flexible is essential for a small business, and CCTV that prevents this needs updating or replacing.
Lack of remote access
If you can’t access and monitor your business from your phone or other devices, then it you’re missing out on a huge facet of CCTV security. Being able to react in real time, as opposed to being on the back foot after the crime has been committed, makes a concrete difference to how effectively you can sort out or prevent any issues. Small businesses can’t afford to miss out on something so simple that can potentially prevent huge complications down the line – if you can’t access your CCTV remotely, you should definitely upgrade it.
Lack of updates and support
If your CCTV has little or no support, and doesn’t come with automatic upgrades, it can create a significant amount of extra and unnecessary admin hours. Upgrading can quickly allow you to pass off those issues to the experts and allow you to focus on the priorities of your business should anything go wrong.
These are just some of the issues that you should remain aware of when it comes to your CCTV. Many businesses may also benefit from unlimited storage or multi-way audio, additions that rarely come with older CCTV systems. For small businesses tied to their physical premises, updating their CCTV can be a crucial proactive step in prevent complications and costs in the future.
Want to hear more about how upgrading your CCTV might help you – or whether you need to? One of our team would be happy to talk to you or, if you’d like to hear more about CCTV options, you can visit our blog or read the CCTV Installation section of our website.
