Category Archives: Security

Home CCTV: Surveillance System You Can Depend On

Posted on by
Reply

A closed-circuit television (CCTV) is a surveillance system that enables you to keep an eye on all areas of home. A home CCTV camera includes specially-modified video cameras that are purposely manufactured for capturing unauthorized personnel. CCTV systems are available at electronics stores and all of them operate in similar manner that is by using a video recording system and a computer. Installing CCTV camera at home does not require any special mechanical or electrical skills. Home CCTV security camera can be used for surveillance purposes, to observe child, to keep an eye on domestic helps and other reasons.

Closed circuit television cameras are excellent tools that can be put into operation to deter crime. As a matter of fact, CCTV systems have gained a lot of popularity in United Kingdom. Many homes in London have installed CCTV cameras with a motive of preventing theft.

Advantages Of The CCTV Security Camera

Because of information-age advancements modern-day CCTV cameras are affordable, lightweight and less prone to failure. With help of computer-aided management system and wireless installation, they have become easy-to-use device. CCTV cameras are highly effective in reducing crime rate and are used for monitoring purposes. Because of high-end technologies, CCTV footage can be easily accessed in variety of formats. Home CCTV cameras are highly advantageous for parents who are working and want to keep our eye on their children. They can easily access the CCTV footage through Internet.

Another advantage of modern CCTV cameras is that they capture high-resolution images so that physical characteristics and faces can be easily identified. One can easily note unauthorized or suspicious behavior by watching CCTV footage. If constant surveillance is impossible, footage can also be recorded and stored. These days wireless surveillance units are available at low cost and with easy installation technique.

Setting Up A Home CCTV Camera

For setting up it, you have to place it in the desired area. You may place the camera on any flat surface such as cabinet, shelf and top of a bookcase or mount it on wall using wooden screws. Attach the camera’s power supply into a wall outlet and into it.

Now screw an end of the coaxial cable on the output that is given on CCTV camera. Simply trail the cable along the wall taking it to the computer. If you’re installing more than one CCTV camera, repeat the entire procedure. After you’re done, take the free end of coaxial cable and attach it to the input on CCTV converter box. Also attach converter box and computer using a USB cable. Now switch on the power supply and eject the DVD drive’s disc tray. Place Installation CD on the drive. As you close the DVD tray, and icon will appear on your computer’s desktop. Simply double-click it and the program will install itself. You may have to restart the computer to complete installation.

Permanent link to this post (480 words, estimated 1:55 mins reading time)

Security Issues in Your Business: How Do You Know If You Have Them?

Posted on by
Reply

Most business owners I talk to almost always say to me they have no security issues in their business, so I always ask them this question, How Do You Know? Then I usually get an “I am not sure,” or a “Nothing has happened so far,” answer from them. Most believe they have had nothing bad happen so they are safe and secure no matter what.

For whatever reason business owners seem to think that because they have an alarm system and maybe a camera system installed, they should have no security issues at all. This can be a dangerous assumption from these folks if they all of a sudden have some incident happen that they could have stopped before it occurred. They could be in for a costly lawsuit or a major loss of business because they thought they were protecting all their assets when they were not.

In 2009 the U.S. Labor department survey showed that 62% of small businesses were sued by one of their own employees. Of these lawsuits most were for of the discrimination, wrongful termination or just the policies and procedures that were used against the employee by the business owner. This should be a very large wake up call for business owners of all sizes, it can and will happen to you eventually if you don’t plan ahead to eliminate these security issues.

Business security issues are a lot more than alarms and cameras! They also include, just to name a few issues:

  • Company Information out in public domains
  • Hiring, Discipline, Retention and Termination Processes
  • Policy and Procedures in place or not implemented
  • Hiring Security Providers beyond just cost alone
  • Premises Liability Issues
  • Business Continuity Planning
  • Employee Security Training and Emergency Response Training

Above are just a few of the issues that security measures can help a business owner deal with, keeping them from losing money, wasting time and going to court over costly lawsuits that could have been eliminated with proper planning and advisement from a professional security consultant or security coach.

These professionals can assist you in identifying your risks and threats to your business and its assets. By using their unique sets of skills and knowledge, you the business owner can indeed reduce or even eliminate these issues before they occur into a costly court situation.

It has been a well known fact that being proactive in nature is always less costly than being reactive to a problem or situation, you never want to be caught playing catch up in the business world when you can plan ahead and have things you need covered before it costs you everything you worked so hard for.

Whether you decide to go with a security consultant and have them do all the work for you and give a report on the needed implementation to stop bad things from happening or by using a security coach to work in partnership with you on the issues you need to deal with, you need to look at this issue seriously before you lose money, time, reputations and your life’s work!

This is a preview of Security Issues in Your Business: How Do You Know If You Have Them?. Read the full post (620 words, estimated 2:29 mins reading time)

The Importance of Backup Systems

Posted on by
Reply

We all know how important backup systems and regularly saved work is. We’ve all been the victim of a wrong button pushed once or a power surge that can eradicate entire documents that have been the focus of your attention for hours. However, consider what kind of damage this brings to companies working on a larger scale. What if you have thousands of documents and files that have suddenly vanished?

Hourly, Daily, Weekly, or Monthly Data Storage?

The problem with backup systems and saving data is that it can be a time-consuming task. Backing up your files every hour might seem ideal – especially if you work almost entirely with documents on your computer – but can easily take up several minutes of every hour. This results in hours each year lost in productivity. Daily saving is a little less time-intensive but can still become a burden over time. Weekly or monthly storage might seem more realistic until you lose that entire week’s worth of work during a hard disk failure or other setback.

Backup systems can step in to save some of this lost time and effort, especially if you use a system designed with productivity in mind. Many systems operate automatically each night after you close the office for the night. A little more costly than simply moving all your files to an external hard drive every night, they can streamline everything by only uploading those files that were changed during the day or that underwent regular maintenance. But because it doesn’t cut into the workday or require activity on your part or on the part of your employees, it can quickly become an invaluable business tool.

Most data storage experts also recommend that you do an additional weekly backup in addition to an automated daily option. This should usually go one step further in terms of protection and security, often including storage in physical form in an off site safe or over a network on an off site server. If you implement these steps early on in your business, it will quickly become habit and take up even less time than you imagined.

Keeping Your Information Safe

No matter what type of backup solution you choose, make sure security is always at the forefront of your mind. Regardless of whether you’re looking to remain secure against theft, physical damage, or future loss, remember that backup and data storage is only effective if you keep the information secure. Never keep all your information in the same place, and make sure that those who have access to it are authorized.

Permanent link to this post (432 words, estimated 1:44 mins reading time)

Video Surveillance and Privacy Rights

Posted on by
Reply

Chances are good that you have had your picture taken or been caught on video today. Chances are also good that those images are probably stored somewhere and someone has viewed them.

The technological advances in video cameras and video surveillance equipment coupled with the perceived security threat from terrorist attacks since the September 11th events have created a flourishing industry for video security systems.

Most of the video surveillance systems installed in the US are for home and business security applications. Large chain retailers as well as many small business owners use video surveillance equipment as their first line of defense against theft and vandalism.

There are a large number of cities that have installed, or are in the process of installing, cameras in public areas with the intent of reducing criminal activity and assisting in the identification and prosecution of those who have committed criminal offenses.

Do Surveillance Cameras Deter Crime?

Do these cameras help keep the population safe? Do they deter crime? Not enough definitive studies exist to answer these questions. Many people believe that this security may come at the cost of our rights to privacy. Are we giving up our privacy in order to secure our safety? That begs the question: Do we as citizens of a modern society have a right to privacy? These are not easy questions to answer.

Home Surveillance Systems Installations are on the Rise

Most folks realize that adding a home surveillance security system can protect the homeowner and his or her family from theft and break-ins. Home camera systems are the fastest growing security components in the U.S. With certain systems you can view real time video from remote locations on your cell phone. This technological advancement in video surveillance is very attractive to many people. Most folks also would agree that a home security system would not be considered an invasion of anyone’s privacy. A camera installed in retail stores to prevent shoplifting is another situation that doesn’t normally invoke emotional response concerning invasion of privacy issues.

When cities start installing cameras on many of their downtown street corners, however, the privacy issue is sure to be addressed. Even those who have the attitude of, “If you don’t do anything wrong, you shouldn’t be worried” are concerned about how the information is used, who gets to view it and where it is stored. One example is the images taken in a retail store changing room, or a public restroom. Most people would not like to have themselves on display for anyone to see in these situations.

What’s the Future of Video Surveillance?

Technology will continue to improve along with the sophistication of video security systems. The vast majority of the public agrees on the limited infringement of privacy rights with a home video surveillance system or business security system. Other situations can provoke a much greater controversy and will have to be worked out between those in the business of watching us and those of us being watched.

Permanent link to this post (501 words, estimated 2:00 mins reading time)