Is Video Surveillance Right for Your Business? | SDA Security

The safety and productivity of nearly any business can be improved with video surveillance. Some businesses and industries have more assets to protect and bigger budgets to pay for security, but businesses of all sizes and types can benefit from some level of video surveillance.

Your business?s size, location, hours, and general nature all play a part in your risk level when it comes to security. Larger businesses have more customers and employees to monitor. Rural areas don?t experience as much crime as cities. A business that?s open late at night can keep an eye on operations, while one that?s closed after dark can deter theft and crime. An office building has expensive equipment and information to protect, while a financial institution has cash.

Keep in mind that hidden and obvious video cameras both have their benefits. Video cameras that customers can see deter theft and let customers feel safe. Obvious cameras placed outside a building show everyone that crime isn?t welcome, attracting patrons and deterring criminals. Hidden cameras are often used to keep an eye on both customers and employees. Employees must be warned by law that cameras are in use, but they don?t have to know where the cameras are placed or when they?re in use.

Businesses that Commonly Use Video Surveillance

What types of businesses use video monitoring systems and what are they used for specifically? Answering these questions may help you decide if video surveillance is right for your business.

Next time you?re inside or outside any type of business, take a look around. Do you see video surveillance in use? Even if you don?t, it doesn?t mean a business isn?t using video monitoring to protect itself.

Private businesses that commonly use some type of video surveillance include:

• Retail stores
• Night clubs/bars
• Convenience/liquor stores
• Financial institutions
• Businesses selling high-value/high-risk items, such as jewelry stores and pawn shops
• Commercial and residential buildings under the supervision of property management
• Hotels
• Businesses in high-security industries, such as a firearms manufacturer

If your business doesn?t fall into one of these categories, that doesn?t mean it won?t benefit from video surveillance. Consider the following reasons to use video surveillance before you decide against it.

Reasons to Use Video Surveillance

Whether or not you should choose video surveillance for your business depends on how likely your business is to experience violent and non-violent crime that can come from both outside and inside your business. Most businesses that choose this type of security do so for several reasons combined.

• Keeping an eye on customers. Shoplifting is a common problem in retail stores. The layout of some stores and/or number of customers and employees makes it difficult to keep an eye on all customers at all times. When shoplifters see video surveillance or signs warning them of such, it sends the message that shoplifters will be prosecuted.

Businesses such as bars or liquor stores where intoxicated customers can get out of hand can also benefit from video surveillance.

• Monitoring employees. Employee theft and dishonesty is another common problem in a variety of types of businesses. Employees are more likely to behave honestly and act according to company policy when they know they?re being watched. Having a record of any incidents that do happen can help resolve them faster. Sometimes employee monitoring is used for training purposes and is a routine part of the job/workplace.

• Help customers feel safe. Customers are more likely to visit your business if they feel safe because they know there?s a security system in place. Businesses in high-crime areas can attract customers and help turn neighborhoods around by creating a safe environment.

• Deter theft and crime. Crime ranging from shoplifting to burglaries and hold-ups are significantly reduced by showing that your business is under surveillance.

• Protect employees and merchandise. Safety should always come first. Your employees have a right to feel safe at work and will perform better at their jobs with the reassurance of video surveillance.

• Help prosecute criminals. Having a record of any incident that happens on company property decreases your liability and increases your chance of recouping losses.

• Monitor business remotely. If you?re away from your business frequently and want to stay involved or keep an active watch over day-to-day operations, video surveillance can deliver immediate results remotely via live video camera streaming on any device with an Internet connection or data plan.

• Save money. Video surveillance can save many companies money by preventing unnecessary losses. If your business has lost money because of crime or dishonest employees, you can weigh your losses against the cost of video surveillance to help you make a good financial decision for your business.

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Tags: commercial video surveillance, Is video surveillance right for your business, reasons to use video surveillance, SDA Security, security for your business, Video Surveillance

Source: http://www.sdasecurity.com/general/is-video-surveillance-right-for-your-business/

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