FAQs About CCTV Systems

Most people are used to seeing CCTV systems – or at least a CCTV camera – in retail spaces. Companies use CCTV to monitor customers and employees for many different reasons. The most common reason given by businesses that use CCTV is to prevent shoplifting and employee theft, but it’s only one reason. Other businesses use CCTV camera systems to provide safety and security for their employees and customers, and to provide a detailed record of particular events during the workday – for example, to detail the inspection of IDs at the door to a nightclub.

Over the past few years, it has also become more common to see CCTV systems in private homes, especially in homes that have young children. These facts can help you decide whether a CCTV security system is right for your home.

What is CCTV?

CCTV is an acronym for closed circuit television. A complete CCTV system includes at least one security camera, a monitor and/or a recording device. The recording device may be a DVR, a VCR or a PC hard drive. PC-based CCTV security systems are among the most popular and fastest growing segment of the security industry.

Why Do People Use CCTV?

One of the biggest reasons that retail businesses use CCTV systems is protection. A visible security camera is a deterrent against theft and vandalism – most vandals and thieves would prefer not to be recorded as they break into your premises. They serve the same purpose for home use, but they can also be used to keep an eye on a sleeping baby and allow homeowners to keep an eye on their property from a remote location, like their office.

What Are the Functions of a CCTV Surveillance System?

A complete CCTV surveillance system has three main functions: surveillance, recording and playback. Some systems only provide for real-time monitoring of places covered by a CCTV camera, but most record footage from the security camera to some sort of storage media so that it can be played back later for viewing.

How Do I Pick the Right Security System?

The CCTV system you choose depends on your needs and your budget. One of the best ways to determine the best CCTV systems for your needs is to consult a company that sells and installs CCTV cameras and security systems.

Tips for Using CCTV Systems In Your Entertainment Venue

An entertainment venue has particular security needs that can be addressed using CCTV systems. With proper deployment, you can keep a close watch for trouble hot spots, maintain a record of ID compliance and protect your staff from abuse and complaints. These tips can help you see different ways that your CCTV camera and DVR setup can help you improve security in your bar, club or other entertainment venue.

Provide Parking Lot Security

Entertainment venues, especially those that serve alcohol, are prone to problems like fights breaking out in the parking lot or vandals attacking employee and customer cars. Head that off with a very obviously mounted and very obviously functional CCTV surveillance camera trained on the parking lot. Even more importantly, the CCTV camera coverage will provide a layer of security for your staff when they leave the venue after hours.

Monitor ID Compliance

If you serve alcohol, you may be required by law to check the ID of every person who enters. Failure to comply with that regulation can result in serious fines and penalties. Place a security camera at the front door and position it to catch both the face of the customer who is entering and the face of the ID presented. The security footage can provide evidence in case your business is accused of allowing underage patrons to enter the premises.

Watch for Hot Spots

Higher quality PC-based CCTV systems give you a lot of options to configure your system, including some rudimentary pattern recognition. Configure your CCTV software to recognize patterns of congregation that signal trouble brewing so that your security staff will get a heads up and can head trouble off before it starts.

Analyze Efficiency

One of the most useful ways that CCTV systems can help your business in an entertainment venue is to record a typical night behind the bar and out on the floor. While television shows like “Bar Rescue” focus on catching employees being bad, it’s far more useful to analyze traffic patterns and work habits so that you can pinpoint places where you can make the work lives of your staff easier. You might notice, for example, that your bartenders have to walk the length of the bar twice to make a popular mixed drink. Eliminating those extra steps will cut down on the time it takes to make the drink and allow them to serve people more quickly.

CCTV systems offer you many tools to help you better manage your entertainment business, provide a more efficient workplace for your employees and a safer environment for your customers.