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Essential Features For Your Home Security Cameras
The holidays are here, which means it’s time for things like holiday shopping and family vacations. Unfortunately, this also means it is the best time for burglars to strike. You want to protect your home and the expensive gifts under your tree, but you can’t be home all the time. Lucky for you, security cameras can be. These security camera features will help you get the most of out of your home surveillance system.
Motion Sensors
Motion sensing technology is extremely important in identifying suspicious or unusual behavior. Without motion sensors, your surveillance would need to be on 24/7, which can waste precious power and storage space on mundane recordings. Motion sensors allow your system to kick into action as needed. Mobile alerts are usually offered in conjunction with this technology. Aside from motion sensors, audio sensing takes your security system much further by alerting you or recording when sounds are detected around the security camera.
Two-way Audio
With two-way audio, you can communicate with people who may be in or outside of your home.
Investing in a security camera with speakers enables communication between you and whoever may be near your camera. For example, if someone is knocking at your door and you’re not home, you can instantly communicate with them through your connected device. Or if someone has broken into your home, you can alert them that they are being recorded and that authorities are en route.
Field Of View
The field of view depends on what you value more – detail or wide view. A camera with a narrower field of view will obviously capture less, however, it will offer more detail. A wide field of view makes the camera seem farther away but offers more viewing range without having to reposition or angle the camera (think panoramic view). Knowing where you want to place your security cameras will help you understand which field of view will work best.
Video Quality
Video quality has greatly improved over the years. These days, most security cameras come with 720p resolution as the standard, and go as high as 1080p resolution for recording and streaming. But before you go ahead and splurge on that high definition security camera, you must first be sure that your Internet connection can handle it (1080p feeds can use up lots of bandwidth).
Power Source
You can go wired or wireless, depending on your personal preference and what your environment allows. Wired solutions simply need an outlet, and possibly extension cords, depending on the location. Other security cameras offer PoE capabilities, and some are battery operated.
Low-light/Nighttime Settings
Low light security cameras can make the most with a faint hint of light. The technology works to create a brighter image with discernible details, however, without a light source, the camera will not work. Most cameras with this technology will emit their own near-infrared energy while remaining relatively inconspicuous.
Thermal imaging, on the other hand, does not depend on light. Instead, it uses heat to monitor an area. While thermal imaging can work in total darkness, it does lack fine details and color.
Cloud vs. Local Storage
Surveillance storage is an important aspect of security systems. Without archived videos of an incident, you have no evidence to prove that a perpetrator did anything wrong. With local storage, your footage is saved directly to a nearby storage drive. Sometimes this is built into your DVR or NVR, other times you may have an external hard drive. The downfall to this type of storage is that you may run out of space quickly, especially if you do not have a motion detection feature.
Cloud storage is relatively unlimited (in the sense of availability), however, you may be charged fees depending on the Cloud service. Also, cloud storage usually dumps old footage after a specified amount of time, so if you would like to keep your video clips, you will have to offload it from your cloud account to your local drive or another cloud account.
Now that you know what to look for in your home security cameras, feel free to shop our selection online at SecurityCamExpert.com or call 1-888-203-6294 to speak with a representative directly. And don’t forget to connect with us on Facebook, Google+, Twitter, and Pinterest!
Happy Thanksgiving From Your Friends At SecurityCamExpert.com!
With the Thanksgiving holiday upon us, we would like to take a moment to remind you how thankful we are for you and your continued support. Your safety and security matters to us and we are happy to provide you with top notch products and customer service you deserve. From all of us at SecurityCamExpert.com, we wish you a Happy Thanksgiving!
As a reminder, we will be closed on Thursday, November 26, 2015 and Friday, November 27, 2015 in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday. Our normal business hours will resume on Monday, November 30, 2015. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding.
We hope you all enjoy a safe and happy holiday weekend!
Secure Your Network IP Cameras & Devices
Network IP security cameras are often more attractive to users because they possess their own IP address and can connect to your network. So long as there is a network connected, these IP cameras can be installed nearly anywhere.
While their convenience and performance are alluring, strict safety measures should be enforced. Because they connect to your network, if not properly protected, they can become a vulnerable access point for hackers, and may threaten your overall network security.
If you are considering installing network IP security cameras and devices, please be sure to recognize the different ways to secure your network.
Understand Your Risk
Take a look at your network overall and understand the risks at hand. Research any potential vulnerabilities and figure out what needs protection. With comprehensive information on potential threats, you can better understand what needs to be done. Here are two questions you should ask yourself during this process:
- Do I need to separate any data on my network? If your data has no need to interact, it’s probably best that they remain on separate networks. Not only does this help security but it also aids in resource management. Physical wiring or VLAN can help to separate your networks.
- Do I have non-traditional network devices on my network? Be wary of any third-party connections and keep an eye on everything that’s connected to your system. Data breaches have been in the news recently – don’t become a headline. Considering how damaging a data breach could be, it may be wise to increase your budget for security measures.
Secure Your Network Ports
Your network ports are the easiest and most accessible way for hackers to get in. Be sure to secure these entry points.
- User/Administrator Credential Management: Always, always, ALWAYS change the default usernames and passwords on your devices. That is one of the easiest ways for hackers to gain access to your system. Create separate user and administrative logins, or utilize multi-factor authentication if available, for more protection.
- Physical Port Security: The basic measure for this is port-based MAC address lockdown, which requires manual provisioning when a port link is lost and then recovered. Further measures depend on what your IP cameras can support. Whatever you have, you should always employ port-based/edge-connection cyber security on all of your network devices.
- Video & Data Flow Protection: You don’t want strangers accessing your security feed. Be sure to protect your video feed from end to end. To do so, there are various encryption options, some stronger than others. Research your options and choose which method would be best for your system.
Know What Security Options Are Out There
Cyber security is always changing. Keep yourself informed and up-to-date on the latest news and information. You will want to focus on physical security and IT when you are searching the web, or attend seminars and trade shows that focus on those topics. With your ever growing knowledge, you can continue to improve and protect your network devices.
Have any cyber security tips to share with your peers? Join us on Facebook, Google+, Twitter, and Pinterest!
For a great selection of network IP cameras and more, visit us online or give us a call 1-888-203-6294.
New Surveillance Technologies
New technologies are always emerging, and consequently, businesses can benefit in many ways. One of the benefits comes in the form of improved video surveillance. New imaging technologies help to enhance our monitoring capabilities. Discover the different ways that these new technologies can impact business surveillance for the better.
Situational Awareness
In order to cover a large area, businesses may opt to install multiple cameras. However, the implementation of numerous cameras can become costly. Using PTZ (Pan/Tilt/Zoom) cameras can be helpful, but over time, coordinates may become inaccurate and, thus, ineffective.
However, things like panoramic cameras, increased megapixel resolution, and digital PTZ help to improve image quality and viewing range for more comprehensive monitoring. Surveillance video becomes more effective with the use of video analytics and smart motion detection. As a business, you are able to extract useful customer information and be alerted of unusual activity.
Applications
These new technologies improve both indoor and outdoor surveillance. In the case of varying backlight conditions (ex. near entrances or windows), there is wide dynamic range (WDR) and super dynamic range (SSDR) to enable better images. With optical zoom, digital image stabilization, and even fisheye cameras, security cameras are able to capture more. The fisheye cameras are especially helpful in transportation as they can oversee passengers or watch the road ahead. The distorted images can be adjusted for different views and angles.
Cost
Budgets are always a concern, so when it comes to security systems, users look at the total cost of ownership (TCO) and return on investment (ROI). With so many options available, and more emerging frequently, it’s hard to determine which is best for your business. When deciding between upgrading to a full IP system or a hybrid system, it may be wise to go with the latter. Hybrid systems enable you to utilize your existing equipment while trying out new equipment. The new 1280H analog security cameras boast CMOS megapixel sensors and may be reason enough to choose a hybrid surveillance system.
Integration
With advanced technology comes compatibility with a number of third-party apps to enhance your system. There’s an app for nearly anything you can think of, and if there isn’t, it won’t be long. With that said, if your surveillance system is missing features and functions that you wish you had, you can find apps that enable these functions and are compatible with your system. Aside from adding to your system, apps can help with analytics, alerts, and business strategies.
Have you taken advantage of these new technologies yet? How has your business benefited from it? Share your experiences with us on Facebook, Google+, Twitter, or Pinterest.
For a great selection of CCTV system packages, security cameras, and more, visit us online or give us a call at 1-888-203-6294.
Hospital Video Surveillance Technologies
Hospitals work hard to ensure that they provide a clean and safe environment for patients, visitors, and staff alike. From emergency room visits to hospital admissions, safety precautions are in place to protect everyone involved in the process. While these safety measures are valuable and mostly effective, the addition of security camera technologies can have a positive, lasting impact.
Introducing closed-circuit televisions (CCTV) in hospital and health care settings helps to enhance the safety of patients and workers. One obvious benefit is that being monitored often influences behavior for the better. Workers will be more conscious of their job, helping to eliminate potentially life-threatening mistakes. Unfortunately, unintended retention of foreign objects (URFOs) and hospital acquired infections (HAIs) occur more than they should. However, with video surveillance, these instances can be greatly minimized.
Another useful tool is third-party remote video auditing (RVA). Real-time RVA can help to ensure that hand hygiene and surgical safety checklists are being properly performed and executed. The cleaning techniques of medical devices must be done thoroughly and correctly to minimize the transmission of germs. For example, improperly cleaned duodenoscopes helped fuel the outbreak of carbapenem-resistant enterobacteriaceae (CRE) infections earlier this year. With real-time RVA, cleaning and sanitation techniques can be monitored to ensure that another outbreak does not occur.
RVA technology introduced into the ER can increase patient flow to intensive care units (ICU), labor and delivery/C-section areas, and endoscopy. The ability to monitor protocols, address issues, and improve patient services will eventually lead to happier, healthier patients and more lives saved.
What are your thoughts on video surveillance technologies being used in hospitals or other health care settings? Share with us on Facebook, Google+, Twitter, and Pinterest!
If you’re looking for security cameras for your home or business, visit us online to browse our stock. If you have any questions or would like to make a phone order, please call 1-888-203-6294.
Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/adam-aronson/video-surveillance-can-sa_b_8371392.html
Halloween Tips For Your Safety
Whether you’re ready or not, Halloween week is finally here. This year, Halloween happens to fall on a Saturday, which could mean heavier traffic all around. Keep yourself, your loved ones, and those around you safe with these tips.
Secure Entrances
Because you can expect trick-or-treaters all night, some people may opt to leave their doors unlocked and/or unattended. However, you never know who’s lurking around, especially since costumes can easily mask a person’s identity. To be safe, stay close to your front door and keep it closed and locked. You may also opt to sit in the driveway to pass out candy, but be sure that all your other entrances are locked and someone is able to keep watch if your garage remains open.
Smart Lighting
Lighting is important since nightfall can make it hard to see. But as alluring as candles are, they are a fire hazard. For a safer alternative, try battery powered tea lights for your jack-o’-lanterns or Christmas lights to light up your walkway.
Safe Spooks & Scares
Spooky Halloween décor is always fun, but be sure that any potential malfunctions will not injure your visitors.
Protect Your Pets
Halloween is often a lively night. It’s likely that you want your furry friends to join in the fun, but overstimulation can frighten or overwhelm them. For your pet’s and everyone’s safety, keep them locked up until the celebrations die down.
Careful Costume Choices
As previously stated, it is harder to see at night, and with heavy foot traffic on the streets, pedestrian danger is increased. Drivers should be extra cautious, but it will help to add reflective tape to costumes and treat bags to ensure that trick-or-treaters are more easily seen.
You also want to make sure that your kids’ costumes are comfortable and not too restrictive or inconvenient. Props should be lightweight and easy to carry around, and wigs, masks, or ill-fitting pieces should be avoided.
Keep An Eye Out
Because this is a higher risk holiday, be sure to remain vigilant. If you are going out for the night, be sure that everything is locked up, and if you have an alarm or security cameras, be sure they are activated and properly working. Real time text or email alerts from your home security systems can help ease your mind while you’re away.
For a great selection of security cameras and surveillance equipment, please visit us online at SecurityCamExpert.com. To speak with us directly, please call 1-888-203-6294.
Do you have any Halloween safety tips to share? Any exciting plans for Halloween? Share with us on Facebook, Google+, Twitter, and Pinterest.
Improve Your Home Security
Unfortunately, burglaries happen more often than we would like to think. You may think your home is safe and well protected, but when there’s a will, there’s a way. With the proper deterrents, you could keep your home and your loved ones safe. Review your home security and take heed of these security tips.
Door Security
You’ve seen it in the movies and on television many times – a swift kick to the door and it swings right open. The weakest point of your door is where the deadbolt lock inserts into the doorjamb. If your locks are poorly reinforced, a forceful kick is all it takes to get into your home.
To properly reinforce your door, be sure that the screws holding the strike plate in place are at least 3 inches long. The longer the screws are, the better resistance from blunt forces.
Another way to protect your door is to invest in a doorjamb and strike plate reinforcement kits. These affordable kits provide steel guards and steel strike plates for more protection.
Smart Locks
Are you prone to losing, misplacing, or forgetting your keys? Smart locks might be the answer for you. Smart locks allow you to lock and unlock your doors with either a keypad, finger scan, or your mobile device rather than with physical keys. These smart locks can be costly, but they offer convenience and can replace your current locks with minimal effort.
Loud Peel-And-Stick Alarms
If you’re looking for a cost-effective alternative to a complete alarm system, you might want to consider loud door and window alarms. While they do not automatically alert authorities, they will produce a deafening sound to alert you or anyone nearby and scare intruders away.
Patio Doors
Did you ever add extra protection to your patio door by using a bat or a piece of wood to block the sliding track? Well, there’s an easier way to do that now. Patio door locks act like vertical deadbolts for your sliding doors. Some can even be activated by foot so you don’t have to reach down to manually lock and unlock your door.
Secure Your Perimeter
Keep the perimeter of your property neat and trimmed so that burglars can’t hideout behind trees or bushes. Bright lights can also help to prevent burglars from sneaking around. Place motion sensor lights around your property, focusing on poorly lit areas and points of entry. They will turn on when motion is detected, informing you that there is someone outside and will likely startle any potential intruders.
Security Mailbox
Mail theft may be the furthest thing from your mind, but the consequences can be quite severe. Because mailboxes are usually easily accessible, thieves can get a hold of your personal information and possibly steal your identity. Security mailboxes are much like traditional mailboxes, but they are usually made of heavy duty steel and require a key to open and access its contents.
Hide Your Safe
Storing valuables in a safe is smart, but it is also what burglars will look for. Be sure that your safe is always locked and not easily visible. It is also wise to bolt it to the floor in an inconspicuous area. You may even want to cover it with furniture to make it even harder to find.
Indoor Surveillance
Keep an eye on the inside of your home with indoor security cameras. You can go for a simple and inexpensive webcam, or opt for a more advanced security camera with features like night vision or high resolution.
For a great selection of security cameras and surveillance equipment, visit us online or give us a call at 1-888-203-6294.
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Don’t Make These Mistakes With Your Wireless Security Cameras
Security camera systems, whether installed at home or in public places, are growing in popularity. There are numerous surveillance solutions available, most of which boast convenience and affordability. An attractive trend is wireless security cameras because they are relatively easier to install and maintain. However, just because you can do it yourself, doesn’t necessarily mean you should. Before installing your wireless security cameras, take a look at these common mistakes so you can avoid them.
Number Of Cameras
You may think that investing in a single PTZ (pan/tilt/zoom) camera will save you money because it has capabilities to expand your viewing range. Unfortunately, this camera may not get all the angles, and zooming in and out may not always produce the best picture. Instead, purchase enough security cameras to cover the different areas you wish to monitor around your property.
Positioning
Aside from installing enough cameras, positioning plays an important role in adequate surveillance. Things to consider are lighting conditions and possible obstructions. You don’t want your video footage to be washed out from too much light during the day, nor do you want any branches or bushes blocking your view.
You should also be mindful of placing your cameras where there is reliable Wi-Fi signal. Without it, your live feed could be choppy and may not be connected at all times. If the Wi-Fi signal is poor in an area where you need a security camera, there are Wi-Fi extenders that you can purchase, or some security cameras have these technologies already built-in.
“Wireless”
Because these cameras do not need to be physically connected to a router or Ethernet port, they are considered wireless. However, the power source is a different story. While most wireless security cameras are powered by batteries, others need to be plugged in. If that is the case with your cameras, be sure that power outlets are close by and accessible.
Password Protection
Since your wireless cameras will be connected to your network, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Your network should have a secure encryption configuration and a strong password to access it. Aside from that, your cameras should have specific passwords that are necessary to input during set up and installation. Most cameras come with default usernames and/or passwords, but it is pertinent that these be changed immediately to prevent hacking or unauthorized access. Passwords should be complex, but relatively easy for you to remember.
Remote Access
If you are looking to remotely access your surveillance feed, you will want to make sure that your wireless security cameras provide that option. More specifically, determine how you want to access your feed (ex. via web browser), and double check your cameras specifications to find out whether this is possible or not. Also, you will want to check the compatibility with your devices (ex. supports iOS, Android, or both).
Have you made any of these mistakes before? Any tips for your peers looking to install wireless security cameras? Share with us on Facebook, Google+, Twitter, and Pinterest.
Shop our selection of wireless security cameras, CCTV camera packages, equipment and more online, or give us a call at 1-888-203-6294.
The Future Of Facial Recognition
As you’ve probably noticed, biometric technology is slowly but surely making its way into our lives. More commonly used for authentication purposes, biometrics measure and analyze a variety of body characteristics. From automatic face-tagging on social media to thumbprint passwords on our smart devices, it’s likely that these technologies will continue to advance and afford us new and exciting experiences.
Of these biometric technologies, facial recognition seems to be the most promising. Facial recognition has come a long way and, in conjunction with information we already possess, will continue to refine its capabilities. Google has algorithms that can already match a child photo to the adult photo, while Facebook’s algorithms can recognize a person by hair style and body shape, sometimes without the presence of a face. The archives of driver’s license photos not only provide a focused, face forward picture with adequate lighting, but also identification information such as name and date of birth. The combination of these photos, plus photos from social media, which provide different angles and light conditions, allow for facial recognition technology to improve.
The proliferation of facial recognition technologies is fascinating, but you may wonder what exactly it may be used for. For business analytics, facial recognition can be a great asset. With customer information and behavior at the business’ fingertips, you, as the consumer, may get a more personalized experience. For example, based on your shopping history, they can determine which items you may prefer over others. And while ads can be bothersome, they are less so when they actually pertain to a product or service you are interested in.
Aside from retail, facial recognition can increase safety and security in public places such as amusement parks, sporting events, music festivals, or even in churches. Facial recognition allows authorities to identify and monitor attendees to these events and places. The goal is to spot any suspicious behaviors or possible threats before anything can happen.
As with any type of surveillance, privacy issues will arise. And as these technologies become more prevalent, regulations will need to be put into place. Those who may oppose this type of surveillance may solely be concerned with data collection, however, analysis of this data can afford us a great deal of information. Dangers will exist whether there is surveillance or not, but facial recognition and biometric technologies could give us the upper hand in capturing criminals or preventing crimes all together.
What are your thoughts on facial recognition or biometric technology in general? Do you think it will eventually be commonplace, or will it be met with heavy opposition? Share your thoughts with us on Facebook, Google+, Twitter, and Pinterest.
Visit SecurityCamExpert.com for the best security and surveillance equipment and services. Want to learn more? Contact us at 1-888-203-6294.
The Importance Of Video Surveillance Storage
The presence of security cameras often deters people from behaving badly and provides evidence if and when a crime occurs. Most businesses employ video surveillance for loss prevention purposes. However, as surveillance technologies get smarter, video surveillance can play a larger role.
Surveillance data can provide a wealth of information for different industries. For example, in retail, not only do security cameras help loss prevention, but surveillance footage can hold the key to increase sales and improve the shopping experience. Video surveillance data can replace “mystery shoppers” as a more effective avenue of collecting consumer data. For the transportation and shipping industry, surveillance analytics combined with RFID tags can help track cargo, lower operational costs and improve traffic flow.
To achieve such excellent benefits, businesses must seriously consider an effective storage solution. In order to get substantial results, studies must evaluate data over long periods of time, forcing business to get smarter about video surveillance data storage. When choosing the appropriate storage method, the main components to consider are performance, access, and cost.
Because high quality equipment can be costly, considering proper surveillance storage often goes by the wayside. This should not be the case if business analytics are your focus. For an effective system, your means for storage must be able to handle high traffic and high bandwidth without dropping data. If your cameras have high definition, the bandwidth load will only increase from there. For effective performance, your storage should be able to upload, process, and allow access as quickly as possible.
While you need a strong performing system, you must balance your cost. You can spend your entire budget on a storage system that can perform appropriately, but may lack functional organizational. On the other hand, you can cut costs by implementing more affordable means of storage, but again, organizing and accessing this data can become a nightmare.
Your best bet when it comes to storage would be to employ a high-performance, tiered-storage infrastructure that can be managed as a single system. A tiered structure allows data to be stored as a cost-effective medium. The files will be stored based on user defined policies, allowing you to be in total control of your data. Costs are lowered and data is analyzed more effectively.
Business analytics of surveillance data can afford your business with a multitude of benefits. But you can only capitalize on these benefits with an effective storage system. Pay close attention to your options and evaluate your needs before making a final decision.
Are you considering or currently implementing business analytics to your surveillance data? Share your experiences with us on Facebook, Google+, Twitter, and Pinterest.
Want to estimate how much storage you will need for you system? Looking for affordable security cameras and equipment? Visit us online at SecurityCamExpert.com or give us a call at 1-888-203-6294.