Your Source for Security Cameras & Other Security Equipment
Cloud Video Storage
It’s likely that you have heard about the cloud and may already use its services in various aspects of your life. But did you know it can improve your surveillance system and storage?
Cloud storage allows you to save your video footage remotely and access it online. You may use cloud storage in lieu of, or in addition to, saving your files locally, whether on an NVR or computer hard drive.
By utilizing cloud storage, you gain access to numerous benefits. Here are some of the biggest and best benefits of cloud storage.
Storage Space
You get more storage space by using the cloud. This means prolonged retention of videos which can be helpful for evidence purposes. If you use cloud storage in addition to your NVR or computer hard drive, you allot yourself even more potential storage space.
There are NVRs that are specifically designed to work with cloud storage, which contain a small hard drive that stores videos locally before uploading them to the cloud. Just remember that the uploading process can slow down your network. If possible, NVRs with a cloud service that allows you to upload videos on a schedule is ideal. This will enable you to schedule uploading during off-peak hours, such as nights, early mornings, or weekends, to offset the impact on your network.
Added bonus – since your data files are not stored locally, in the event that your equipment is damaged or stolen, your video footage remains safe.
Remote Maintenance
Because your cloud storage solution is managed offsite, you won’t have to rely on on-site technicians and appointments to resolve issues. Troubleshooting and maintenance may be performed as needed, minimizing any downtime and allowing for better customer service and support overall.
Accessibility
You may check in on your surveillance system from anywhere, anytime. While other systems may allow remote access, you may have to deal with speed and buffering issues. With cloud video surveillance, built-in buffers and systems keep video playback and streaming quick and clear.
Automatic Updates
Cloud solutions allow for regular updates as needed – you don’t have to do a thing! This ensures that your system safe from potential vulnerabilities and operating at its best.
Scalability & Convenience
As your on-premise equipment requirement is greatly diminished, upgrading and scaling your system is made easier. You can forgo the extensive installation process and expand your system as necessary as your business grows. Also, because most of the equipment is off-site, you can save precious office space.
Stability
By now you should know that cloud solutions are great at self-monitoring and resolving issues with minimal user intervention. With that said, these systems are constantly monitored for stability and have redundant systems that ensure security cameras are always active and recording. And in the case of natural disasters, which may destroy your on-site equipment, your data will be fine.
Cost-Effective
Save money by choosing cloud solutions, which usually offer a low monthly fee for their services. In the long run, this is much more cost-effective than purchasing on-premise equipment, which requires installation and routine maintenance at additional costs.
Do you utilize cloud surveillance solutions? Share the ups and downs of your surveillance system with us on Facebook, Google+, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Pinterest.
For a great selection of CCTV security cameras, systems, and surveillance equipment, please visit SecurityCamExpert.com or call 888-203-6294 today!
Halloween Safety & Security Tips
Halloween is almost here, and this year it falls in the middle of the week. That makes your commute home a bit trickier as children may be roaming the streets already. And although it’s always important to watch for pedestrians, it is especially crucial on Halloween.
Aside from being safe on the road, it’s imperative to mind your children and your home. Here are some Halloween security tips to help you enjoy a safe and happy Halloween.
Trick-Or-Treating
Although going door to door collecting candy and treats from strangers is a Halloween tradition, it poses safety risks.
- Check All Treats Before Eating – All treats should be inspected by adults before children eat them. To be safe, toss anything that looks tampered with and anything that doesn’t come in a pre-wrapped package.
- Light Up The Night – Make sure your children are easily visible with flashlights, glow sticks, or even reflective tape. To make it easier, try using transparent bags for your children’s treats and toss a glow stick in there. That way, your kids have one less thing to carry and they are still easily visible.
- Consider An Alternative – If you would rather your children not go trick-or-treating, you may want to consider an alternative such as a haunted house or hayride. Or you can visit friends or family so that you need not worry about what they get in their bag.
- Host your own Halloween – Or you can simply host your own Halloween event at your home. This way, you are in the comfort of your own home and can keep an eye on your children and guests.
A Night On The Town
Leaving a porch light on when you leave for the night may not be the best idea. On Halloween, that is commonly known as a sign to come knocking for treats, and thus, people will soon realize that no one is home. Here are some ways you can protect your home while you are out.
Lights
Be sure to keep your home well lit. This will deter potential intruders or pranksters as it will appear as if someone is home and still awake. Outdoor lighting will eliminate shadows and hiding places.
Security System
Engage your security system if you have one. If you do not, now would be a great time to invest in a solid home security camera system.
- Settings – Review your camera settings and adjust accordingly. Keep your cameras focused on potential entryways (doors, windows), but you may also want a view of the streets and other areas around your home – pranksters may attack from any or all sides.
- Timers – Make use of light timers if you have them. Set timers to have specific rooms light up every now and then. For example, leave the living room light and television on but have the kitchen light turn on and off occasionally so it appears that someone is getting up for a snack.
- Arm Your Security System – Sometimes we may forget so it’s worth the reminder to set the alarm and lock your doors and windows before you leave.
Cell Phones
For most of us, cell phones act as our lifeline and have become essentials alongside our wallets and keys. If your child does not have a cell phone and will not be with you on Halloween, be sure you have the phone number for the supervising adult or someone who will be accompanying your child. You may even let your child borrow your phone for the night so that you have a way of keeping in contact.
- Charge It – Whether it’s your own phone or your child’s or both, be sure that all phones are fully charged before heading out. If your child is going out without you, you may want to check the signal reception where he/she may be.
- Check Your Security System – Your security system most likely enables remote viewing via an app or device, and should alert you of any suspicious activity. If alerts are not enabled, be sure to check in periodically.
Staying In
Although we may hate to imagine that persons with bad intentions may target us on Halloween, it is always a possibility. If you’d like, you can leave a bowl of candy on the porch with a sign that tells children how many they can take and that they are under surveillance. If you sit on the porch and hand out candy, keep your cell phone close and sit with a friend or family member (safety in numbers).
In addition to the aforementioned security tips, it is always in your best interest to use common sense on Halloween and every day. Make sure children stay away from strange neighborhoods and that they know they should not go inside someone’s home. If possible, travel with a group for maximum safety.
Do you have any other Halloween safety tips to share? Connect with us on Facebook, Google+, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Pinterest.
Invest in an affordable security camera system to protect your home. Visit SecurityCamExpert.com to browse our selection or call 888-203-6294 to discuss your options.
Cyber Security Awareness For Consumers
Cyber security is extremely important, especially in this day and age, which is why October is recognized as National Cyber Security Awareness Month. Without the proper safeguards in place, your identity and personal data are at risk. Here are some cyber security tips to help raise awareness and protect you from cybercriminals.
Watch What You Share
Cybercriminals are using more advanced tactics to gain information. Attacks are designed based on extensive research of the information you share online. Cybercriminals scour social media for various personal details, from workplace and job titles to friends and activities. They use this information to manipulate unsuspecting victims, a tactic known as social engineering.
Examine Your URLs
Pay close attention to URLs. As mentioned, criminals are using smarter approaches. They use branded emails with logos and fonts that look like legitimate retailers to get you to click on malicious links.
To safeguard against these scams and avoid being redirected to a fake site, always type the retailer’s address into your browser. And always make sure the site begins with https:// (as opposed to http://). The “s” stands for secure and makes a big difference in your online safety.
Secure Payment Methods
Whenever you enter your credit or debit card details into an online form, you are susceptible to interception from cyber criminals. Dodge these risks by setting up a dedicated online shopping account with strict credit and overdraft limits, and with only enough money to buy what you need.
Listen To Your Suspicions
Trust your instinct. If it seems suspicious, don’t use it. Make sure you are keeping track of the retailers you are expecting shipments from. If you receive an email that contains tracking information from a courier service or retailer you have not used, do not open it. It will likely contain a tracking URL which is a malicious link in disguise. And the same goes for attachments as these could contain malicious code. To err on the safe side, manually type the courier service website into your browser.
Fallen Victim? Take Immediate Action
If you think you may have fallen victim to cyber crime, act fast!
- Report It To The Police
Many cases go unreported every year, lending to the success rate of these cyber crimes. By reporting it to police, you can aid cyber criminal investigations help to shut down these operations for good.
- Report It To Your Bank
As soon as you notice unusual account behavior or suspect something may be wrong, contact your bank and have your card cancelled immediately. In some cases, depending on the circumstance, you may be able to reverse the fraudulent charges and recover your money.
- Report It To The Business
The business you thought you were buying from would benefit from knowing they are being impersonated online as you may not be the only victim. The business has the resources to track down the perpetrators and is likely familiar with the processes of getting suspicious websites blacklisted or shut down.
- Do Not Negotiate
Ransomware attacks usually involve locking you out of your PC and asking for a ransom (in untraceable currencies like Bitcoin) to regain control. If you give in and pay the ransom, you will be identified as a soft target and they will be back.
Do you have any cyber security tips to share? Connect with us on Facebook, Google+, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Pinterest.
For your security cameras and CCTV video surveillance needs, please visit SecurityCamExpert.com today! Call 888-203-6294 to request a free quote or schedule a site survey.
Dahua & Hikvision Ban
In case you hadn’t heard, the 2019 National Defense Authorization Act was recently signed into law. The whole process began in May of this year, when the US house passed the bill, and then on August 1st the Senate passed the bill. Several days later, the President made it official by signing it into law on August 13, 2018. The 2019 NDAA has a particular impact on the security industry as it bans both the purchase and use of Dahua and Hikvision and their OEMs in the US government and US government-funded contracts.
Although the Dahua and Hikvision ban will begin on August 13, 2019, the effects of this act are already being felt by Dahua and Hikvision. Stocks for both companies have dropped noticeably since the passing of the NDAA and we can expect further decline. Despite the delayed enforcement, there is no sense in purchasing and using equipment now that will soon be phased out.
Extending the ban to OEMs will eventually trickle down and impact wholesale distributors. Buyers will be concerned with potential security risks, possible issues with prospective integration with public or government systems, and future legislation at the state or local level. In addition, this will impact consumers outside of the US, as negative media coverage may make them feel wary of the security and dependability of Dahua and Hikvision products.
Only time will tell what the true implications of the 2019 NDAA will be. Share your thoughts on the ban with us on Facebook, Google+, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Pinterest.
Visit SecurityCamExpert.com to browse our extensive selection of quality security cameras, CCTV surveillance packages and security equipment for your home or business. If you have any questions or would like a free quote, please feel free to contact us 888-203-6294.
Protect Your IP Surveillance System
These days, IP security cameras are much easier to use and are more commonly utilized for home security. Whether home owners want to watch their property or their pets, IP security cameras seem to be the surveillance solution of choice.
Unfortunately, these home security systems are often targeted by hackers and bots. To better safeguard your IP cameras and privacy, check out these helpful IP security camera tips.
Update Firmware
Modern IP security cameras provide user-upgradeable firmware. When a security vulnerability is found, the manufacturer will fix it by issuing a firmware update. If your cameras are operating with an older version, they may be vulnerable to exploitation from hackers or online voyeurs. Always be sure that your firmware is up to date and routinely check for updates to protect your system.
Keep Cameras Local
The concept is simple – If you are worried about your live feed ending up on the internet, do not connect your cameras to the internet.
To protect your privacy, keep your security cameras on a local network and assign them non-routable internal IP addresses (ex. 192.168.0.5 or the like). But even then, your cameras may still be exposed by camera software that sets up port forwarding or uses UPNP to expose your cameras to the internet. Make sure your cameras are set up on local-only mode – consult your installer or check the manufacturer’s website to learn how.
Assign Passwords To Cameras
All too often, users forget to add password protection on their IP cameras, and sadly, this is not usually turned on by default. Without this, IP cameras are left wide open and vulnerable.
Luckily, most cameras offer at least some form of basic authentication, and although it may not be much, it is better than nothing. Remember to protect your cameras by assigning a username and strong password and changing it periodically.
Change Defaults
We cannot stress this enough – Always, always, ALWAYS change the default usernames and password for your devices. In case you didn’t know, the default admin name and password for your IP camera is usually available on the manufacturer’s website in the support section. That said, if you don’t change these defaults, anyone could potentially access your security system, view your feeds, and control your cameras.
WPA2 Encryption
If you’re using a wireless camera, you should only connect it to a WPA2-encrypted wireless network. This will minimize the risk of wireless eavesdroppers connecting to your network and accessing your video feeds.
Be Mindful Of Locations
Don’t place IP security cameras in areas of your home that you wouldn’t feel comfortable with strangers seeing. Regardless of the security measures to protect your camera feeds, there is always a possibility of getting blind-sided by a Zero-Day vulnerability that hasn’t been found by the manufacturer yet.
Share your own tips and experiences with us on Facebook, Google+, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Pinterest. For a wide selection of IP security cameras and more, visit SecurityCamExpert.com or call 888-203-6294 today!