Surveillance System: Getting Back To The Basics

By Santosh Kamble

“We know the threats - from global terrorist networks to the spread of deadly

weapons. Yet we also know that embedded in this time of danger is the

promise of a new day, if we have the courage and commitment to work

together.”

Rightly said by Valerie Jarrett, we do live in a world which is constantly under threat from local goons

to global terrorist networks. Be it man-made or natural- the need of the hour is to be vigil. In spite of

the natural disasters being far from our control, the world has been doing its best to be prepared for

it. We really can’t do much about it. However, in case of the man-made threats, we most definitely

need to be on guard.

The turn of the century saw an exponential increase in crime rates and security threats, which has

made surveillance system a must. However, the responsibilities don’t end just at mere installing a

surveillance system. This is what a major section of the population fails to understand. There is a

whole lot more to it. A thorough understanding of the various aspects plays an integral part in the

effective working of the entire system. We all are quite acquainted with the basics but somehow

unknowingly they tend to go unnoticed or rather get ignored.

Here are the 5 most key factors of the surveillance system that you must follow before purchasing

and installing a CCTV system.

1. The Purpose

The first and the foremost thing that you need to understand is the purpose of having a

surveillance system. How is it going to be an aid to your requirement and the extent to

which you are ready to make the most out of it? Understanding this puts you in better

position to make the right choice.

2. The Camera

In addition to the numerous perks of having a surveillance system, it also comes with a cost

factor that plays a major role. Here, again you need to keep in mind the purpose while

purchasing a camera. With the launch of a new camera every alternate month, it can be a

little confusing to choose the right camera. The market abundant with its array of cameras,

wired, wireless, fixed, PTZ, dome, infrared, night vision and so on, may put you in a fix.

What’s important here is to gauge whether the camera will meet your requirement and

produce the effective results.

3. The Placement

The placement or positioning of the camera is crucial. Whether the need is to install it indoor

or outdoor, the direction, the climatic conditions and various other geographical elements of

a place play a key role. Here, what you must have is a design plan for efficient and seamless

working of the surveillance system.

4. The Integration

Now you have the right camera, placed perfectly. What next! This is where integration

comes into the picture. Integration not only makes your system work smoothly but also

optimizes the use of your video surveillance. A well-integrated system can solve a lot of

problems. As per your business needs you may choose to integrate your video to other

systems like Access Control, Smoke Detectors, Fire Alarm, Remote Monitoring, Intruder

Alarm...there are an array of options available. Also, there are myriad video software

analytic solutions that help in monitoring people and assets whilst giving you real time

notifications of events and thus reducing manual labour cost.

5. The Maintenance

Maintenance is a universal need, be it a small thing, a gadget or an entire system. Any slack

in maintenance makes a thing useless or in the most vernacular term kills it. All your efforts

of setting up a system will be futile if you don’t maintain it. Hence, unquestionably it is

recommended to timely maintain your system. The availability of 24 hour helpline numbers

and experts make this an easier task.

As stated before these 5 factors aren’t unknown to us, however in the humdrum of life we often

forget to revisit the basics. These very basics that once upon a time made things easy! So, it is a good

practice to go down the memory lane, relearn the basics to make life easier.