A closed circuit television (CCTV) system is a great way to keep your properties safe, secure and monitored in the event of a crime. A CCTV system is set up by placing cameras in strategic locations throughout a property. The cameras may overlook entrances, windows and parking lots to watch for crimes, and also to also keep customers safe no matter where they are on your property.

The more cameras around the property, both visible and hidden, the better you can monitor it. The pricing and costs of CCTV and the equipment you'll need to put a system together varies, depending on the features you choose. Factors to consider when purchasing CCTV security systems include:

1. Where you need to place your CCTV cameras.

2. How many cameras your property needs.

3. Whether your property can use live CCTV security, or whether you will need a recording device.

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Choose the best CCTV camera for the space

There are many CCTV cameras to choose from when you want to set up a CCTV system on your property. You can use visible camera systems or hidden cameras. You'll also have to decide where to place your cameras to get the best pictures. Cameras cost $100 to $500. More expensive models change position so you get wider surveillance. Other features, such as night vision, will also add to the price.

I recommend: CCTV Net has a wide range of products that can fit anyone's security budget. To find more CCTV information and get tips on what type of cameras to choose from, check out this guide from the Texas Burglar & Fire Alarm Association.

Buy A CCTV monitor that works with your property's security system

As with cameras, there are many different models of CCTV monitors. CCTV monitors can be black and white or color, and have hookups for recording devices like VCRs, DVDRs or computers that have recording programs. A black and white model can cost around $150, while an LCD color screen can range up to a $1000 or more.

I recommend: Brickhouse Security offers many affordable black and white CCTV monitors for your security camera system. 2M CCTV offers a wide range of monitors, from black and white to LCD color public view monitors.

Install pre-packaged CCTV security system to monitor your business

While you can easily customize your security camera system by buying separate components, you could also save money and guarantee component compatibility by choosing a pre-packaged system. These systems usually include a monitor, a number of cameras, and some type of recording device. A pre-packaged system that has four cameras may cost up to $1,600, while higher-end packages may contain 24 cameras or more.

I recommend: CCTV Camera Pros offers a large selection of CCTV systems. These range from eight simple dome cameras to a set equipped with night surveillance capabilities. Camera Security Now offers advice for those who do not know where to place cameras for the best results.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you are unfamiliar with installing a CCTV system, there are many professional services that will come to your property set up the equipment for you.

Your property is one of your biggest investments. Whether it’s your residence or your place of business, you have a lot riding on the security of your building. That’s why it’s imperative that you consider CCTV security systems when looking at your overall security plan.

With the advent of digital recording, CCTV has come a long way from the days of a dark security room full of VHS tapes labeled by date and hour. Instead, a moderately-complex CCTV system can be housed in a single computer server that takes up less space than a file cabinet. These advances have made CCTV a viable security option for everyone, not just big business.

When considering adding a CCTV system to your security schema, among the key points to consider are:

1. The placement of the CCTV camera or cameras on your property;
2. The storage of CCTV information you retrieve;
3. The cost of CCTV systems in comparison to the intrinsic value of what you’re protecting.

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Place all CCTV cameras so that they have direct line-of-sight of an asset

It goes without saying that you want to have the number of cameras in your CCTV system that strikes the balance between covering your assets and being cost-effective. You want to make sure that every CCTV camera in your security system is directly covering an access point to an asset in an efficient manner. If you have a camera shooting down a door-less hallway, it's not likely the best use of your CCTV resources. It's also not a good use of resources to have a camera with night vision on a target that is illuminated 24/7.

I recommend: StarDot offers three high-quality cameras that can broadcast digital images both online and internally. From their base model to their highest-quality model with night vision, StarDot can offer you a cost-effective CCTV camera that fits the specific need for any combination of assets you may have. Look for commercial solutions at Super Circuts or EZWatch Pro.

Store only what CCTV information you truly need

As with most digital media, the most perennially expensive portion of CCTV security systems is in storage. Depending on the quality of output from your CCTV camera, the size of your CCTV digital files can quickly become quite large. Make sure that you know exactly how much historical data your security system requires, and choose a digital CCTV system that features automatic purging based on the schedule which you set up.

I recommend: If you need a one-stop-shop that offers a wide variety of DVRs for your CCTV information storage, CCTVWholesalers.com has an extensive range of DVRs appropriate for security systems of all sizes. DSC Professional Security Products is another good site to buy your DVRs or other CCTV products.

Use CCTV to protect what really needs protecting

You are the only one who can determine the value of any asset you own. After all, the definition of 'value' must include academic, information and sentimental value and not just the replacement cost. That being said, you can further the cost-effectiveness of your CCTV security systems by guarding only items of higher value than the system itself.

I recommend: Time is money. Reduce your set-up time and initial startup costs by buying a DVR CCTV package from PalmVid. By doing so, you will allow for an even higher cost-to-benefit ratio in your CCTV system.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you have multiple properties you want to protect, save money by broadcasting the CCTV feeds to a single monitoring station. With the digital CCTV options available, all that's needed is an Internet connection.

Using closed circuit television or CCTV equipment is one of the best ways to keep an eye on and protect large buildings, apartment complexes, houses and any other standing structure that might be targeted for a break-in. More companies than ever are interested in this important security measure in order to safeguard their valuable assets. Business owners look for professionals with good references who can do an installation quickly and correctly.

Companies that employ staff who are able to set up a CCTV system must ensure that everyone who works for them is able to competently work with and operate any equipment they may come into contact with. It's important to know that your employees are able to handle every job to the complete satisfaction of all your clients. Encourage the continuation of CCTV education and training for your staff by doing the following:

1. Sign your employees up for online CCTV training courses;

2. Encourage your staff to attend relevant seminars;

3. Make sure your crew members can answer any questions they receive by giving them as much information about installing CCTV cameras and equipment as possible.

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Learn all about CCTV

The first step to CCTV education and training is knowing everything possible about the equipment you will be working with. Even people who have studied the industry will benefit from reviewing the basic information, and there is always more to learn.

I recommend: Read about every aspect of a CCTV security system at PelikanCam, the Texas Burglar & Fire Alarm Association or BrickHouseSecurity.

Train to install and operate security CCTV systems

Some people just have a general knack for figuring out how things work, but nothing can beat proper training. By taking a few courses, your employees can learn all the information about CCTV that is available today and be ready to install and operate even the most complicated systems. Continued education for your staff members is always a good idea, because technology moves at a fast pace and it is essential to keep up and remain competitive.

I recommend: Enroll your staff in an online training course from STAM Multimedia, SecurityCEU or the National Security Contractors Association. Get certified after completing hands-on training from Bosch Security Systems.

Get information about CCTV and CCTV accessories through online articles

One of the best ways to give your employees an ongoing education is to make sure they read the latest CCTV related stories. This will provide your staff with news on trends in the industry, such as any newly designed CCTV camera, wireless CCTV, the most recent technology and much more. Bookmark a couple of regularly updated news sites and keep your people in the know.

I recommend: Read articles online at WECU Surveillance or Newser.

Attend seminars that discuss CCTV systems for business

Seminars are one of the most educational and beneficial options available to ensure that your staff is always ahead of the curve. At these group sessions your staff can learn about important topics such as wireless CCTV, CCTV accessories and much more. It's also a good way to find out what the competition is up to and get a sneak peak at upcoming products.

I recommend: Continue your education with seminars held by CCTV Labs or WECU Surveillance.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Can't afford to send your staff to a training seminar on CCTV security systems? Go yourself or send one trusted associate and then hold your own in-house seminar to distribute the information company wide.

Your business and your employees deserve to be protected 24 hours a day. To accomplish this, many business owners invest in closed circuit television (CCTV) systems to monitor their property inside, outside or both. Employees appreciate the added sense of security, especially when they have a need to work late or to come in on a weekend or holiday. Should vandalism or a natural disaster occur, a CCTV system provides a valuable record of what took place.

If you are thinking about purchasing a CCTV system for your business, here are some key terms that will help you make a good choice:

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Night vision camera

A night vision security camera uses infrared light to capture images in the dark. Some models have a day/night mode that switches from producing color images in the daytime to black and white images at night.

I recommend: Surveillance-Video offers several models of night vision surveillance cameras.

Vandal proof camera

A vandal proof CCTV camera is made with a casing that has a very rugged construction. It encloses the camera inside a structure that provides protection from both physical abuse and harsh weather.

I recommend: To see a vandal proof dome camera go to CloseoutCCTV.com.

Minimum object distance (M.O.D.)

The M.O.D. is the closest distance a camera lens will be able to focus on an object. In general, the smaller the focal length, the shorter the M.O.D. Wide angle lenses have a smaller M.O.D. compared to lenses with a longer focal length.

I recommend: Compare the M.O.D. of the cameras described at PelikanCam.

Video motion detection

You can detect and track motion from a personal computer. Video motion detection works with many CCTV systems. Several cameras are used to provide overlapping protection of a large outdoor area.

I recommend: Read more about video motion detection at Magal Security Systems.

Pinhole camera

A pinhole camera is a miniature camera with a lens that is literally the size of a pinhole. A pinhole camera is used for situations where the camera must be kept out of sight. It can be powered from an AC adaptor or a 9 volt battery.

I recommend: See a miniature pinhole camera at ShopTronics.com.

Covert cameras

Covert cameras, also known as spy cameras, are available in models that look like ceiling fire sprinklers, smoke detectors or ceiling domes. Some types of covert cameras are designed to be placed underneath vehicles for the purpose of capturing license tag numbers.

I recommend: You can see an assortment of covert cameras at the IC Realtime website.