We’ve seen more and more business’s investing in security cameras as of late than we ever have before. Of course, this is nothing new, we’ve been under surveillance when we’re at the bank and the grocery store for years. But we attribute the new surge of interest to businesses across the board realizing the advantages of utilizing cameras to secure their real estate, assets, inventory, and staff.
The popular show on the Food Network, Restaurant Stakeout, made video surveillance mainstream as a means of employee monitoring. While the “eye in the sky,” as I’ve heard many in the industry call it, can seem like annoying micromanaging, simply stating that the premises are under surveillance can deter crime. That could be from that employee who’s been skimming off the top (2 for you 1 for me) or could be the guy who’s been casing the join to rob you, thereby putting your employees in harm’s way too. Either way – prevention is key.
The grocery store is another example of how cameras can help in deterring/ prosecuting crime. Cameras assist the manager in monitoring the whole store from one screen and can assist them in identifying shoplifters or documenting accidents that aren’t really “accidents.” Cameras allow documentation of a crime to be used as evidence in prosecution or in defense of the business in a pesky “slip and fall” type scam. In a traditional office environment, where you also have a lot of inventory and expensive assets, cameras can assist you in deterring crime as well as “catching the bad guys” should you be the victim of a crime, whether that be theft of IT equipment or a graffiti artist that thinks the outside of your building is the ultimate canvas.
Another example of utilizing cameras for safety happened just yesterday but this time I was the offending party. Yesterday, my friend and I (in separate cars) were attempting to park downtown for the game in a private basement parking lot we have access to. He was in front of me and was trying to get the security desk to buzz him in (that’s procedure – access to the garage through a call box.) Anywhoo, this took forever and we were running late. Rather, than belabor the point a 2nd time, after the garage door opened, I followed him in. We parked and were getting out of our cars and heading to the elevator when the security guard came running down to check on the 2nd “unauthorized” car (me.) While this was an easy thing to clear up by providing my ID I felt bad that I was the cause of heartburn for the guard. Think about it – I was an “unauthorized vehicle” entering a secured garage. I could have been merely someone seeking to finagle free parking for the game OR perhaps I was a criminal looking to break into the building, rob my friend or steal or damage cars in the lot. The security guard was able to see the 2nd car (me) entering the garage and react b/c or their camera system. Takeaways? 1 – I’ll never do that again!! 2 – As someone who enters that lot at all hours of the day and night by myself, I definitely feel safer knowing that it’s being monitored so diligently.
Whether it’s a busy restaurant, an office, or a parking lot security cameras can help you manage and secure your business and property. One of the biggest mistakes we see is when people decide to get cameras after the fact that they have been robbed or there’s an incident at their facility. You know what they say, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Keep your facility safe by implementing security cameras onsite.
Teltek can assist w/ the acquisition and installation of IP cameras and set up the appropriate video storage ad access on your network. Give us a call to discuss your goals and recommend the best equipment and setup for your needs.
Teltek is a Certified Avaya Business Partner, NEC Dealer, and Microsoft Partner with two locations in the Baltimore Metropolitan area. We specialize in providing one call technology support for small to mid-sized businesses and nonprofits in Maryland, Washington, DC, Virginia and Pennsylvania