The main weakness of using a CCTV security system

Although the use of a CCTV security system can provide a benefit in the way of capturing all activity on video, its main drawback is limited visibility. Most of the time, these cameras will only capture certain parts of an area.

Knowing that cameras are limited to capturing video within a certain range, many thieves have gotten good at avoiding being caught on film. In some cases, if the camera is visible, they simply disable it by cutting the cable or destroying the camera itself. This is why the camera view is often focused on key areas of concern, such as entry points, vaults, and any other area where valuables are stored or handled.

In the case of monitoring employee or customer activity, it is very difficult to get widespread video coverage of all areas without the installation of many cameras. This is not only aesthetically unpleasant to look at, it can also be cost prohibitive to install for most small business owners.

Careful analysis of daily operations and identification of areas of concern are essential to maximize the benefit of a CCTV security system. In businesses where theft is common, focusing on the front door can be a key area of ​​concern. If employee theft is a problem, then monitoring merchandise might be a more viable option. In some cases, both types of follow-up may be necessary. A qualified installer must be able to adjust the camera so that theft does not occur without the camera capturing it on film. Equally important is having the camera installed so that it cannot be easily moved or manipulated. This prevents employees or customers from adjusting the camera so that the camera view is out of range of key areas. This can happen when the thief walks in before a robbery to look at the business and change the camera angle discreetly so that when he returns, he is not captured on film.

Monitoring the business using a CCTV system should take full advantage of the angle provided by the camera. Although the camera’s field of view is one of the biggest disadvantages of CCTV, data storage can also pose a problem when space can be limited. Since most CCTV systems today record in digital format, these video files must be stored on a server or some other form of data storage. The higher the quality of the video, the more space the files will consume. Having enough space to store recorded videos can be expensive depending on the desired retention schedule and the size of the files themselves.

The level of video quality required should be determined with storage space in mind. Unless the additional cost of storage space is not an issue, often a mid-range video quality will be sufficient to provide quality video that doesn’t take up a lot of storage space.

Another disadvantage of a CCTV system can be the reliance on a local area network. If there are network outages or problems, the video may not be able to be stored on a network device or the cameras may not be able to communicate with the main system controls. This is why it is important to allow network redundancy in the event of a network problem so that there is always a path for the cameras to return to the main system.

Since there are drawbacks and vulnerabilities with a CCTV system, planning and analysis are essential prior to implementation to minimize risk and allow the system to record as much relevant activity as possible. Provided these issues are addressed, a CCTV system can provide strong evidence in the event of theft, as well as track employee activity. Even with these weaknesses, many business owners may find that one of these systems still offers value and may choose to implement one for their workplace video surveillance.