What are cloud cameras and why should you invest in them?
A cloud-based security camera, or cloud camera, is a security camera that is closely related to the IP camera. Both cloud and IP cameras connect to the internet, however, with cloud cameras, you need not assign IP addresses to each camera. Cloud cameras make it simple – all they need is a power cord and an Ethernet cable and you’re set. Cloud cameras will come with software or an app that enables streaming and remote camera management via smart device or computer.
On the upside, cloud cameras offer excellent benefits for users. First of all, these cameras are extremely easy to set up as they essentially plug-and-play. They are compact, affordable and accessible.
Cloud-based cameras also allow you to access your video feed virtually anytime from any place. While IP cameras can also provide this benefit, they require a bit more extensive set up to ensure proper performance and security.
In addition, cloud cameras boast automatic updates, device software improvements, and security vulnerability patching. Maintaining any additional hardware and software is no longer a worry.
With these advantages come some disadvantages. Cloud cameras come with monthly fees and limited functionality depending on how much you are willing to pay. And your provider may raise prices at any time, thus you must pay the higher price or purchase a different camera.
Privacy concerns and security risks are another factor, as your video feed is available on an external server. Also, because your cloud camera will be constantly sending data over the internet, it can slow down connection for other internet activities. For those in areas with slow service or data caps, cloud cameras may not be a feasible option.
The important thing to remember is that there are numerous security cameras with different features on the market. You should evaluate your needs and research different types of cameras to determine which type is right for you. If you need some help or have any questions, please feel free to contact us at 888-203-6294. You can also browse our selection of top quality security cameras at cost-effective prices online at SecurityCamExpert.com. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Pinterest.
As summer vacation draws to a close, back to school season is here again. If your children have started school, or will start school shortly, be sure to review and apply these school safety guidelines from the National Safety Council.
Transportation Safety
Proper safety precautions are crucial for the trip to and from school. You want to ensure that your kids arrive at school and return home in one piece.
• Walkers
Review family’s walking safety rules and practice walking to school with your child.
• Walk on the sidewalk, if one is available. When walking on a street with no sidewalk, walk facing the traffic.
• Before you cross the street, stop and look left, right, and left again to see if cars are coming. Proceed if the roadway is clear.
• Make eye contact with drivers before crossing and always cross streets at crosswalks or intersections.
• Stay alert and avoid distracted walking.
• Bike Riders
Teach your child the rules of the road and practice riding the bike route to school with your child.
• Ride bikes on the right side of the road, with traffic, and in a single file.
• Come to a complete stop before crossing the street and, when clear, walk bikes across the street.
• Stay alert and avoid distracted riding.
• Make sure your child always wears a properly fitted helmet and bright clothing.
• Bus Riders
Teach your children school bus safety rules and practice with them.
• Go to the bus stop with your child to teach them the proper way to get on and off the bus.
• Teach your children to stand 6 feet (or three giant steps) away from the curb.
• If your child must cross the street in front of the bus, teach him or her to walk on the side of the road until they are 10 feet ahead of the bus. Your child and the bus driver should always be able to see each other.
• Driving Your Child To School
Stay alert and avoid distracted driving.
• Obey school zone speed limits and follow your school’s drop-off procedure.
• Make eye contact with children who are crossing the street.
• Never pass a bus loading or unloading children.
• The area 10 feet around a school bus is the most dangerous for children – stop far enough back to allow them to safely enter and exit the bus.
• Teen Drivers
Car crashes are the leading cause of death for teens. Fortunately, there are ways to decrease this risk.
• Crashes can be attributed to teens’ inexperience. Practice with new drivers every week, before and after they get their license.
• Set a good example by driving the way you want your teen to drive.
• Set up an agreement between you and your teen driver that helps define rules and expectations of both parties. As time goes on, responsibilities and restrictions can be adjusted accordingly. This is sometimes referred to as a Parent-Teen Agreement or New Driver Deal.
School Safety
Many School-related injuries are completely preventable. Here are some ways to ensure your child’s safety at school.
• Backpacks
Your child’s backpack should have ergonomically designed features to enhance safety and comfort.
• Ask your children to use both straps when wearing their backpack to even distribute the weight on their shoulders.
• Don’t overstuff a backpack – Backpacks should weigh no more than 5% to 10% of your child’s body weight.
• Rolling backpacks should be used cautiously since they can create a trip hazard in crossed school hallways.
Playgrounds & Sports
• To reduce strangulation hazards on playgrounds, keep necklaces and jackets with drawstrings at home.
• A few bumps and bruises can be expected when your child plays sports, but head injuries should never be ignored.
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Shop our stock of quality CCTV security cameras and surveillance equipment online at SecurityCamExpert.com. To learn more about our products and services, or to request a free quote or site survey, please call 888-203-6294.
Whether you are traveling for business or pleasure, cyber security is important and essential. You should always do your best to safeguard your personal data, but business travelers should take extra precaution as both personal and business data may be at risk. Before you leave, be sure to review and apply these smart cyber security tips.
Lock Devices
Most devices (smartphones, laptops, tablets) have a security setting that enables you to lock your device using a PIN number or fingerprint ID. You should enable this on every device. In addition, you should change the PIN numbers you regularly use. Should your devices be temporarily misplaced or forgotten, this will be the first line of defense against a security breach.
Be Cautious Of Public Wi-Fi
If you are traveling abroad, the laws and regulations that govern cyber security are typically not the same as those in the United States. Although free Wi-Fi access can be very appealing, it can be particularly vulnerable to security issues.
Avoid any unencrypted Wi-Fi networks – ask the hotel about its security protocol before connecting. Be extra cautious using Internet cafes and free Wi-Fi hotspots. If you must use them, avoid accessing personal accounts or sensitive data while connected to that network.
Disable Auto-Connect
If your phone has a setting which allows your device to automatically connect to Wi-Fi networks as you pass through them, turn it off before you leave. It can be convenient when you are at home, but it is not something you should allow while traveling.
Disable Bluetooth Connectivity
Along with your Wi-Fi connectivity, you should also disable Bluetooth connectivity. Bluetooth signals can come from anywhere, and if left on, nearby assailants can connect to your phone and potentially hack into your device.
Minimize Location Sharing
When traveling, it may be tempting to share your experiences in real time on social networks. The problem with this is that it creates a security threat at home. Knowing where you are helps criminals determine that you’re not in your hotel room or at home, leaving these areas vulnerable to physical intrusion. Limit what you post online or save it until after you have returned home to minimize potential threats.
Install Anti-Virus Protection
One of the easiest and most effective ways to keep personal and company information secure while traveling is to utilize anti-virus protection. Choose a trusted brand of security and be sure to regularly update this software as new versions become available.
Update Operating Systems
Much like anti-virus software, your operating system should be kept up-to-date. This also applies to apps on your phone, especially those which you use regularly to conduct financial or personal business.
Update Passwords
Password management is ever important, so if you are going to travel, be sure to change all of the passwords you regularly use. If you must create a PIN for a safe or security box in a hotel room, make sure it’s unique and not something you commonly use. Don’t skimp on password creation either. Take the time to create something that will keep a criminal out of your personal property. Once you return home, you can changes all the passwords back.
In addition to these tips, you should also review the laws and regulations governing cyber security in each country you plan to visit. Be aware of your surroundings, networks, and devices to reduce the risk of cyber threats. Share your own cyber security tips with us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Pinterest.
For a comprehensive selection of quality IP and HD security cameras to suit your budget and needs, please visit SecurityCamExpert.com. For questions or to request a free quote, please call 888-203-6294.
Security cameras with night vision are crucial for monitoring your property around the clock. Night vision technology allows you to capture usable images in low to no light conditions. This is extremely helpful as most burglars prefer to lurk around in the darkness.
Whether you are safeguarding your home or business, night vision security cameras are a great investment. Before you start shopping, review the different types of night vision to decide which will work best for your surveillance needs.
Low Light Night Vision
Low light night vision is also known as image intensification as it relies on image intensification technology to deliver colored night vision in very low light. Please note that in order to produce a color image, these security cameras need some available light.
Low light night vision cameras use an image intensifier which is a vacuum-tube based device. Electrons are emitted through a vacuum tube when the light strikes a charged photocathode plate. These electrons then strike the microchannel plate that cause the image screen to illuminate with a picture in the same pattern as the light that strikes the photocathode (on a frequency that the human eye can see). The image is said to be “intensified” because the output visible light is now brighter than the incoming light.
Benefits
Infrared (IR) Night Vision
These days, most security cameras come with built-in infrared LEDs to provide night vision in low light or no light conditions. One of the most important features of these cameras is the infrared cut filter or infrared cut removable.
The IR cut filter is a mechanical shutter design – it is a piece placed between the lens and the image sensor, controlled by a motor or an electromagnet. These are used with color CCD or CMOS cameras to produce accurate color images.
When IR cut filter is activated, it will block IR light and allow only visible light to pass through. When the ICR is turned off, IR light will be allowed and images will turn into black and white mode.
If it’s controlled by a light sensor, at twilight, it simply sends a remove signal to the IR cut filter so that more light could reach the image sensor of the camera, thus, a black and white image is produced.
It is important to know that IR security cameras can be affected by glass reflection or window glare at night. Your video may be washed out due to overexposure of lights at night. If necessary, turn off the IP LEDs and any other LED indicators on your security camera.
Benefits
Thermal Night Vision
Thermal night vision cameras have a unique lens that allows IR energy to pass through it. The focus light then hits a sensor that scans the information and draws from several thousand points in the field of view. This process creates a thermogram (an intricate temperature pattern) which quickly develops and then transforms into electric impulses, which are directed to signal processing unit that translates the information into data for the visual.
Created image displays as various colors that correlate to the amount of IR energy emitted. Instead of intensifying light, thermal night vision uses heat and can see no matter the light level. Thus, even in total darkness and poor weather conditions, thermal imaging technology allows users to detect and see at great distances.
Benefits
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Video surveillance is a great asset for businesses, keeping properties, inventory, and employees safe. Should anything happen, security cameras provide video footage and evidence to help capture suspects. And while your surveillance systems are meant to secure your business, you must also protect and maintain your system to ensure optimal performance. Here are some smart business surveillance tips.
Secure Your Surveillance System From Hackers
Many business surveillance systems utilize IP security cameras, which require Internet connection to allow you to view your feed remotely. Unfortunately, this makes IP surveillance systems susceptible to hackers. Thankfully, there are ways to keep them at bay:
Avoid Video Surveillance Legal Liabilities
As long as you inform employees and customers that they are being recorded, as well as refrain from monitoring areas with a reasonable expectation of privacy, your security system should be free from legal liabilities. Here are the areas where people have a reasonable expectation of privacy:
Remember, the laws vary from state to state. Be sure you fully understand the laws regarding video surveillance, do not invade customer and employee privacy, and review the camera privacy laws in your state.
Strategically Place Cameras
Security cameras locations are crucial for complying with laws, as well as the effectiveness of your system. Be sure your camera locations meet these requirements:
Store Video Footage In The Cloud
Cloud storage solutions offer excellent benefits and are a great alternative to traditional analog systems. You may consider employing cloud solutions as they are:
Increase Business Security With Additional Camera Features
Additional features can help to enhance your surveillance system overall. Some additional benefits include:
We offer a wide variety of affordable security cameras and surveillance systems – browse our stock online at SecurityCamExpert.com or call 888-203-6294 to speak with one of our experts. You may also connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Pinterest.
Summer is here and many of us are planning and going on vacations, leaving homes unoccupied and prime targets for burglars. Don’t be a victim – be sure your home is protected whether you are work or away on a trip. Here are a few simple ways to keep your home safe this summer and year-round.
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Water safety is especially important in the summertime, when beach and pool days and lake trips are abundant. Keep children and loved ones safe by heeding these essential water safety tips.
General Tips
Open Water
Pools
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Keep an eye on your pool and property with quality security cameras from SecurityCamExpert.com. Let us help you choose the right surveillance system to suit your needs and we can take care of the installation, too! To learn more about our products and services, please call 888-203-6294.
Installing a home surveillance system can be rewarding, providing you a sense of security and peace of mind. However, the process of choosing, installing and using the right cameras is a delicate task. It’s important to evaluate your needs, understand what features will help you accomplish your goals, and execute installation and use correctly. Avoid errors in the process by reviewing these common security camera mistakes.
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Security cameras offer home and business owners peace of mind by allowing vigilance over properties. As a homeowner, installing an indoor security camera can help you check in on pets or simply watch over your home while you’re away. Although these benefits are appealing, there are a few things to consider before deciding on installing indoor security cameras.
Worries
It’s true that security cameras are meant to put your worries at ease, but at the same time, they can feed your anxiety. Because you can check in on things at any time, you may find yourself obsessively monitoring your feed.
To minimize this, set up a camera with motion detection so that it may alert you when there is activity. If you have pets, you can filter out their activity so that you are not inundated with false alarms.
Hackers
With internet-connected security cameras, you run the risk of hackers gaining access to your camera. This type of attack is much more common with cameras that have little to no built-in security. Luckily, there are ways to combat these risks. First, you should invest in well-know, higher quality security cameras that have better built-in security. Once you have chosen a camera, change any default logins and use strong, hard-to guess passwords. Also, be sure that your home Wi-Fi network is also highly protected.
Pets
As previously mentioned, indoor security cameras provide an easy way to keep an eye on your pets when you’re away. But when it comes to motion detection, they can easily trigger false alarms. Once you adjust your settings to accommodate pet activity, the security camera can be a great help. Whether you’re missing your pet while you’re away or if you’re working at home, security cameras allow you to see what they are up to.
Valuables
Of course, security cameras are meant to keep you safe from burglars. Their presence alone can help to deter criminal behavior. But in the case that it does not, it can provide useful footage that can be submitted as evidence.
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You have likely encountered dome security cameras when out in public, whether you’re shopping at the store or visiting the bank. They are small, dome-shaped objects attached to ceilings or walls. The dome of the camera is usually heavily tinted, and they are often vandal proof, weather proof and have built-in infrared LEDs. If you are considering installing security cameras, here are a few reasons why dome cameras are a smart choice.
Visual Deterrent
Part of the allure of security cameras is that their presence is effective in deterring bad behavior. With dome cameras, they are inconspicuous enough to blend with décor, however, the heavy tint on the dome is relatively hard to miss. Whether or not an incident occurs, you will have video footage to review and potentially use as evidence.
Ambiguity
As mentioned, the heavily tinted dome not only protects the camera, but it makes people question which direction the camera is aimed. People may also be unsure of whether or not the camera moves to monitor a wider area. This ambiguity helps to further deter any criminal acts. Some may opt to install dummy dome cameras as a low-cost alternative. Remember that it is not guaranteed that a dome camera will prevent all criminal activity, thus, it is better to install a real dome security camera.
Variety
Of security cameras, dome cameras are relatively inexpensive and are available in a wide variety of styles. As mentioned, if you are installing your cameras outdoors, you may want to look for weather proof and vandal proof dome cameras. This will ensure that your cameras can withstand harsh environmental elements, as well as physical damage should someone attempt to tamper with your security cameras. And if you need around-the-clock surveillance, infrared dome cameras offer night vision, allowing your camera to record in low to no light situations.
If you need help choosing a dome camera, or other security cameras and equipment, please contact us at 888-203-6294. Browse our stock of quality surveillance systems and more online at SecurityCamExpert.com and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Pinterest.