Get a site assessment

This may seem obvious, but you need a good design when it comes to cameras and security.  And the first step is a site assessment.  The good news is a basic site assessment can happen online using satellite views from Google or others.  This will give you a basic idea of what you are going to need to cover your business and also give you initial budgetary idea of the cost

Have good internet at your business

Make sure you have a solid business internet plan at your business.  Once you have 10 or more cameras and are viewing the cameras remotely, you will need proper upload bandwidth.  The good news is your internet service provider will be able to upgrade you easily.

Set your own expectations

Technology is great but it is not bulletproof.  There will be some false alerts, and some hardware failures.  For the most part, security cameras are extremely reliable since it is not brand new technologies, but there are limitations.  For example, you can't read license plates from a far distance without using a highly specialized camera.  You can't do facial recognition unless the cameras are very advanced and the person is perfectly in view.  

Have a security monitoring company help assess and design the system

Most camera company really want to sell the hardware and get on to the next client.  The security monitoring company knows how best to design the system for the purpose of deterring and preventing crime.  So have a security monitoring company assess and design the system.  Think of the hardware as the enable to the real purpose of the system -- preventing crime!  

More about Patrolio

This happened to me:  3am camera alarm goes off.  I run downstairs with no phone, no weapon, no pepper spray in my underwear.  Adrenaline pumping.  I was totally caught off guard and unprepared for the drunk man actively trying to get in my house.  It changed my perspective about how to be prepared.

Cameras by themselves are not enough!  They are just a sensor that detects something.  We recommend creating your own response plan, which may include a weapon, your phone, and your spouse/partner.  We highly recommend doing a drill just like the fire drills you do at work to test your response and even your family’s response.

We also recommend choosing a remote guarding service that can respond for you so you are not on your own.  A service like Patrolio can directly receive the motion alert and actively scare away the trespasser using the siren or two-way audio on the camera.  These services are brand new to homes but have been around for businesses for awhile.  Check it out at www.patrolio.com