IP Cameras vs. CCTV Cameras

When an individual or company wants to be able to protect their home or business, there are many ways to do it but one of the best choices is by using security cameras. Security cameras allow those who want to protect their business and home the ability to do so by not only deterring the people who may break in, but also catching those who do so. For a homeowner, it means protecting their house and viewing the outside of their home without having to be there. For the business it means protecting employees and the business by deterring criminals, while catching criminals inside the business, which in some cases can be the employees themselves.

There are two main types of video camera surveillance systems, Closed-Circuit Television cameras, aka CCTV, and IP Security cameras, aka network cameras. While you may think that CCTV cameras are outdated and nothing but grainy black and white videos, you would be wrong. Along with the IP technology, CCTV cameras have come along greatly in terms of complexity and quality, and when you add a network DVR to a CCTV system with DVR viewer software, you get IP access to all of your cameras which allows you to view your cameras remotely over the Internet.

When the internet changed the world, it also changed the world of security. Through the networks, it meant that video surveillance could go live on the internet and provide clearer and crisper images that could be tracked and monitored in a much easier manner. These IP security cameras give an individual the ability to see what is going on at their home or business, even if they are 10,000 miles away from it. It is a revolutionary breakthrough in security systems and it changed the world of keeping your home, business, family and employees safe.

Naturally, people will look at IP security cameras as better, but it not always the case and it really depends on your needs and wants for your security system.

CCTV Camera System

With a CCTV camera system, you can use either a VCR or DVR, which is a digital video recorder that can hold much more. The CCTV security system is preferred by many individuals and businesses for a variety of reasons. First of all, it is very easy to use, working like a VCR. You record the video in the place your monitoring and review it later. You can also keep those records in case you have to look back on them later and as mentioned, many systems are networkable and can be viewed and controlled over the Internet.

CCTV systems are generally less expensive, which makes it a good option for a business that does not have much money but wants to protect, or monitor, its employees and customers. For that reason, many choose to go with a CCTV camera system as a result.

While there are some drawbacks to the system, it is still widely used and loved by many business and homeowners. In fact, many feel that the few drawbacks are far outweighed by the advantages that include its cost, ease of use, availability and practicality.

IP / Network Video Surveillance

The future truly is here with IP-based video surveillance. Using this technology, you can easily see the instant transmission of images anywhere in the world, including the ability to monitor multiple cameras from one remote location. This location can be one, ten, a thousand , or ten thousand miles away, it does not matter. Another big advantage of IP-based video surveillance is that the quality does not diminish, because everything is digital, no matter how many times you view the video. On top of that, the digital picture can not be beat anywhere by nearly any type of media, except for the DVR, which matches it.

One thing that does appeal to those who have IP-based video security cameras is that they can encrypt the images for security purposes, meaning that they will be the only ones to see the video. This prevents tampering and helps keep the vital security images safe from harm or deletion.

With IP-based video surveillance, you can easily view your images from anywhere and the days of someone having to sit in a room full of monitors watching what is going on are disappearing. Now, even if you are in a bazaar in Morocco, you can open your laptop, get on the wireless connection and see how things are holding up in your business.

IP vs CCTV Camera Conclusion

The point being made here is that it does not really matter which of these security camera types you choose. Both of them have their benefits and disadvantages, and both are used around the world by millions of individuals and businesses. No matter your needs, you will find that one of these two types of security cameras will be able to meet them. One of the best things you can do as a business owner is get a security system that fits into your budget. If that means a CCTV security system, then go with it. If it means an IP-surveillance system, then use that.

If you do a lot of traveling and want to keep an eye on your business, then having an IP-surveillance system will be what you should go for. However, if you spend most of your time at your business, and only go home to sleep, then it may be best to have a CCTV security system. Both work great, but it all depends on how you will use them and how much you will use certain features.

The point is not the type of security system you have, or if you can view it over the internet or on tapes. The point is that you taken the steps to keep yourself, your family, your home, your business, or your employees safe by implementing the security features that are needed.

Using Security Camera Systems To Prevent Employee Theft

It is a sad fact of our world that those who we provide employment for, can steal from us. Some do it out of necessity because they have no other option, while others do it out of greed, but no matter why they do this, it is wrong.

As a result, many employers are beginning to find new ways to prevent and catch employee theft, and the best option seems to be the use of security cameras & surveillance systems, including digital video recorders (DVRs) and even remote viewing technology. The age of grainy black and white camera video is long gone and the days of high-tech, and clear picture is here. All of this makes being a company owner or manager, much easier.

The area where there is the most theft is naturally the cash register. This is where the money is kept and it is the easiest place to steal from, especially when an employee thinks that no one is watching him or her. However, with security cameras set up in strategic locations around the register, you will deter employees from stealing and if they still do you will have proof that they did.

By letting employees know there is a security camera watching them, they will be deterred from wanting to steal from you and that will save big money and a lot of time. No employees stealing means your business can run smoothly and efficiently.

Technology has come a very long way and now everything seems to be integrated. This is the case with surveillance systems that are set up to be integrated with the registers so that when a point of sale is rung up, it is recorded in the video log. That way, you will know exactly where to look on the log to find out where the money was stolen from and by whom. That means you will save a lot of time trying to go through the logs looking for when the person stole from you. Now, all you have to do is fire them and use that as an example to other employees about why they should never steal from the register because the eyes of the manager are always watching.

You also want to be able to monitor the entry and exit points of the restaurant to see if employees are stealing anything from the building. You will be able to see anything loaded onto a truck, or removed from the warehouse, or anywhere else that you may store something that is very important and valuable to the company.

In a perfect world, there would be nor reason to ever try and monitor your employees to see if they have been stealing from you. You would simply be able to trust them and go on the honor system. Sadly, this is not a perfect world and thefts from the workplace happen on a near day-to-day basis ranging from pens to large quantities of money.
Here are just a few examples of how employee theft is prevalent across the board.

Jennings, Louisiana – “A former The Bank employee who was arrested in February for allegedly embezzling more than $88,000 from her employer is set to face arraignment in September.”

Erie, Pennsylvania – “Detectives arrested Kaytlin M. Kramer, 20, on charges of kidnapping, burglary, theft, robbery and making terroristic threats. Kramer — who police said was an employee at the club — is being held in the Erie County Prison on $5,000 bond. Whether Kramer was at the business when the robbery occurred in unclear. Erie Police Detective Sgt. William Masi later viewed security tape from the Rite Aid at 163 W. 26th St., which is near the club. The video showed Kramer buying duct tape and three pairs of gloves at 3:20 a.m. the day of the robbery, according to a criminal complaint Masi wrote in the case.”

Santa Clarita, California – “An employee at Magic Mountain admitted to having stolen close to $10,000 on two occasions by intercepting pneumatic tubes used to transport money and receipts. The employee was, reportedly, seen on the amusement park’s video surveillance cameras transferring cash from a pneumatic tube to a box, which was then put in her backpack. The same employee was, reportedly, seen five days later transferring more cash from a tube to a yellow bag.”

As we can see from just these three examples from a few days in August, there is a great deal of theft going on in businesses and companies need to protect themselves with video cameras that will monitor everything that happens.

If a business owner also worries about the business while they are gone, then they can install remote viewing technology that will allow them to view the employees as they work, from home. This is great for a company owner because he or she will be able to view everything that happens at the workplace, as it happens, from their computer at home, or even on their Blackberry.

Obviously something needs to be done about employee theft and it does little good to catch the employee after the fact. This is why you need security cameras to deter any would-be employee thieves from ever thinking about trying to steal from you. With cameras, remote viewing technology and DVR technology, you will be able to show your employees that you are trusting them with your business, but if they choose to destroy that trust, you will be watching both at the work and from a distance.