What Is The Best CCTV System For Australian Commercial Properties?
Commercial properties, from retail stores to office buildings, are often vulnerable to security threats like vandalism and theft.
Implementing robust security measures is crucial to effectively protecting assets and ensuring the safety of employees and customers. Closed-circuit television (CCTV) systems are popular for their continuous monitoring capabilities, providing a significant security advantage at a cost generally outweighed by the benefits.
This article will summarise the best commercial CCTV systems in the 2024 market
What Are CCTV Systems
CCTV is a camera network that records and broadcasts footage for security monitoring. These systems are versatile, offering real-time surveillance and playback options. They typically include cameras, monitors, recording devices, and in most cases these days, include advanced features like night vision displayed in colour, motion detection providing push notifications to key personnel where required and also face and licence plate recognition through the use of AI which AVE Technologies can effortlessly integrate into other systems providing automatic access, text messaging services and other applications to suit the end users preference. Not only does this technology help deter potential intruders and provide crucial evidence in the event of a security breach, it also gives the end user more access to the most valuable resource of all….time.
Selecting the Right CCTV System For Your Business
With a vast array of CCTV systems in the market, choosing the right one for your commercial property can be daunting. Here’s what you should look for to make an informed decision:
- High-Definition Video Quality: Ensures that the footage is clear and usable.
- Night Vision with enhanced WDR and colour technology: Essential for maintaining security during non-daylight hours and identifying key features during events with the best possible detail.
- Remote Viewing Capabilities: This allows you to monitor your property from anywhere in the world with access to the Internet, most importantly securely.
- Motion Detection and Alerts: Notifies you of any activity, enhancing security response times.
- Weatherproof and Vandal-Proof Cameras: They ensure durability and uninterrupted operation under various environmental conditions and also ensure longevity on investment.
Popular Commercial CCTV Systems
Today’s market is flooded with numerous brands promoting their CCTV systems, making it challenging to identify the best options. Consulting with local security experts can clarify and guide you on what features and brands to consider based on your unique requirements. CCTV brands that are well-suited for commercial purposes, ensuring reliable security for businesses that we often use, are:
- TVT
- AXIS Communications
- IDIS
- Avigilon
- Dahua
- Hanwha
Commercial CCTV System Features
When selecting a CCTV system for your commercial property, including all necessary features upfront is crucial, as adding features later may not be feasible. Essential features to look for in top-quality commercial CCTV systems include:
- HD Quality Video: Provides clear, detailed images.
- Night Vision: Essential for capturing clear footage in low light conditions.
- Remote Viewing/Controlling: You can monitor and control the system remotely.
- Motion Detection and Alerts: Detects movement and notifies you of any activity.
- Weatherproofing: Ensures the cameras can withstand various weather conditions.
- Vandal Proofing: Protects the system from tampering or damage
These features contribute significantly to the effectiveness and reliability of your security system.
Pro Tip: We extensively cover the above topics in another article, CCTV Security System Buying Guide For Australia, which we highly recommend you read.
Pricing for Business Security Systems
A security system’s complexity and cost can vary as much as the businesses it protects, integrating multiple components into a cohesive setup. It’s best to consult with security professionals like us for precise pricing and tailored solutions. We can offer free estimates, allowing a clearer understanding of the costs involved without commitment.
As a rough guideline, a standard business-grade CCTV security system for a small business will cost around $3,000 – $5,000 for an NVR and 4 cameras (cost is based upon installation complexity and number of cameras required). However, depending on the system’s scale and sophistication, you could find systems ranging from $5,000 to more than $100,000.
Consider the number of cameras needed, their specifications, and your premises’ overall security demands. Also, additional ongoing costs such as monitoring and maintenance, which are crucial for ensuring the system’s effectiveness, especially when the property is unoccupied, should be considered. These factors will influence both the initial setup cost and the long-term operational expenses.
Pro Tip: Read our article, Recommendation Locations For Business CCTV Cameras, to understand how many cameras your premises may need.
“At AVE Technologies, we have the experience and training to ensure you get a top-quality CCTV camera system. We also offer free on-site evaluations and demonstrations of our CCTV camera products.”
Fixed & Recurring Pricing
Understanding the pricing of CCTV security systems involves recognising the mix of one-time, upfront costs and ongoing, recurring charges.
Companies may offer lower initial costs but compensate by increasing monthly fees. For example, a system priced at $2,500 by one provider might be available for $2,000 from another but with higher monthly fees of an additional $25 to $50. Additionally, the shift towards internet cloud-based systems tends to reduce initial costs while increasing recurring charges. It’s crucial to thoroughly understand any CCTV security system’s upfront and recurring costs before proceeding with a contract.
CCTV System Warranty
Like any electronic product, commercial CCTV systems can experience breakdowns or malfunctions. However, this should be infrequent with high-quality brands. Despite the rarity of such issues, choosing a CCTV system backed by a solid repair warranty is wise. The industry standard for warranties is typically one year. Still, some reputable brands may offer extended warranties that last several years, providing additional peace of mind and protection for your investment.
Professional CCTV Camera Installation
Professional CCTV camera installation is critical in ensuring your security system functions optimally. Proper installation by trained and licenced technicians can help maximise the coverage of the monitored areas, ensuring that all components are correctly configured and fully operational. Here are some key aspects of professional CCTV camera installation:
- Site Assessment: Professionals start by thoroughly assessing your property to determine strategic locations for cameras that cover all critical areas without leaving blind spots.
- Correct Positioning and Angling: Cameras must be positioned and angled correctly to capture the intended areas. Technicians will ensure that cameras are set up to avoid obstructions and to optimise the field of view.
- Wiring and Connectivity: Ensuring that all wiring is securely and discreetly installed is vital for aesthetics, functionality, and system reliability; this includes properly routing cables and securing connections to avoid tampering or damage. AVE Technologies highly recommends avoiding the use of wireless camera systems due to system security, potential network breaches, and system reliability.
- Configuration and Testing: After physical installation, cameras must be configured with the network and tested to ensure they capture and record as expected. This includes adjusting settings such as resolution, frame rate, and motion detection and also focusing heavily on network architecture and security to avoid network latency and unwanted security breaches.
- Training and Support: Once installation is complete, you will want training on how to use the system effectively, including how to access live and recorded footage, configure settings, and receive alerts.
- Ongoing Maintenance: As part of your package, you might want maintenance services, including regular checks and updates, to ensure the system continues to operate correctly over time.
“Professional installation ensures not just the physical setup but also comprehensive integration into your existing security measures, tailored to meet specific security needs of your premises. By hiring experienced technicians, you benefit from their expertise in system design and functionality, which can help prevent potential issues down the line and enhance the overall effectiveness of your security system.”
We hope this article helps you choose the best CCTV system for your property. Keep in mind that no one system is suitable for every application. If you are in regional NSW, contact AVE Technologies today to book a no-obligation consultation on commercial security cameras for your commercial building or site.
AVE Technologies are your local Hunter Valley, Newcastle, Central Coast, and regional NSW commercial CCTV experts who can design, build, and deploy your CCTV security solution.
We offer an extensive selection of security cameras, alarms, CCTV, intercom, PA systems and access control management systems that can be conveniently operated using user-friendly smartphone apps. With this feature, you can enjoy advanced and effortless management of your security solutions right at your fingertips.
Get in touch to learn more about how a CCTV solution can help your business!
