Millions of closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras are deployed in the streets and businesses throughout the world.  Their goal is to reduce crime and increase public safety.

In recent years, there’s been a great amount of attention focused on upgrading corporate IT security, with good reason.  Hacking attacks are growing in both number and sophistication, and breaches are becoming increasingly commonplace. The hackers can appear to be winning.  With all of the attention being placed on network security, it’s important not to neglect physical security as well.

Physical security is every bit as important as digital security. How is your company’s physical security? If you’re not sure, then it’s probably time for a review. If you find your firm’s physical security lacking, you may want to consider the addition of security cameras.

The reasons for doing so are numerous, and all of them come down to matters of practicality. A good quality security camera system gives you a birds’ eye view of everything that goes on in your company.  Unauthorized personnel can be spotted and identified quickly and easily. Images taken from security camera feeds can be turned over to law enforcement to assist in apprehending criminals.

Security cameras are also good for accountability.  They are a simple way to keep everyone honest.  Scientific research has found that people behave differently when they know they are being observed.  This is not to say that your associates are doing anything wrong, but merely to point out that your business assets and time are valuable and worthy of a good level of protection.  A security camera system deployed in your offices is an efficient and relatively inexpensive way to see to that security.

With new technology comes new ways of monitoring and accessing the information gathered from cameras.  With some systems you can view cameras from computers or mobile devices from virtually anywhere. Saving recordings and sharing with necessary parties such as management or law enforcement can be relatively simple.

A 2010 document from the European Forum for Urban Security provides a useful overview of the issues, as well as a set of principles and tools to ensure that citizens’ rights are respected with CCTV systems. This includes the following:

  • Necessity: The use of camera systems must be justified empirically, ideally by an independent authority. Objectives and intended outcomes must be defined.
  • Proportionality: CCTV equipment must be appropriate for the problem it is intended to address. Technology should “respond to the established objectives, without going further.” Data should be protected and the length of time it is retained be clearly defined.
  • Transparency: People should know that the objectives of a CCTV system include, installation and operational costs , the areas being surveyed, and what the results are. Reports should occur regularly so people can make informed decisions.
  • Accountability: Those in charge of public CCTV systems should be clearly identified and accountable to the public, whether the systems are run by the government or private firms.
  • Independent oversight: An external body should be charged with ensuring that the systems respect the public’s rights, and are achieving their stated objectives.  Ideally citizens would have a voice in the oversight process.

If you would like to know if your company could benefit from such a system, we can perform an assessment of your company’s needs.  We can also help you explore the potential benefits a camera system could provide.  We will help you design the perfect system to meet your firm’s specific needs and requirements. Call us now at 630-365-0025.