CCTV Camera Surveillance Becomes Essential for Small Businesses

Loss prevention is vital to businesses of all sizes. The bigger retailers already recognize and acknowledge the problem. They may at times be reluctant to state individual figures, but, the number is estimated to be in the tens of billions annually. The bigger retailers may have easy and ready access to resources for prevention, but smaller business owner may continue to be vulnerable, as they may still be using outdated technology. The combined problems may include the lack of both financial and technical resources.

The landscape may be changing with the introduction of cheaper and much improved video surveillance technology that make use of CCTV Cameras. The playing field  is quickly becoming level, with the introduction of much faster data transfer rates, improved compression technology, more available internet access, and developments in field of cloud computing.

The development of video-surveillance-as-a-service or VSaaS in the cloud, now gives smaller businesses the opportunity to upgrade their CCTV camera systems in a cost effective manner. The upfront costs are much lower, and there is now no need much technical expertise, as the software is located in the clouds, and managed and maintained by the service provider. As with cloud-based services, you only pay for what you use, and, there is no need to manage complex software systems.

The typical CCTV Camera installation in a smaller business can be a maximum of 10 units, and they can include cameras in different locations. There are several benefits that appear to be advancing the use of cloud based VSaaS

1. Small business owners do not need the use of costly IT services, as the systems can be very simple to use. In many cases it is as simple as logging in and operating a simple interface with the click of a mouse or the push of a button. The requirements are no more difficult than using a computer, or operating a camera. The only maintenance required, may be that of the cameras, which is minimal.
2. The upfront costs are much lower. All data is hosted in the clouds, and all that is required is the CCTV camera installations. Cameras are becoming much more powerful at lower costs. To keep costs low, it may also be possible to use backward compatible analog cameras, with the addition of IP encoders. Integrators are now offering turnkey packages able at affordable rates for small business owners to ease cash flow problems, with monthly payments.
3. High definition video images can be transmitted at much lower cost as video compression technology improves. IP enabled HD cameras can submit images of superior quality, when compared to analog systems. All that is required to access the images is an internet connection, and mission critical imagery can be accessed from anywhere there is internet access.

VSaaS can be used to help smaller retailers and franchise owners to operate safely at much lower costs. The internet everywhere solutions are easily enabled with the use of IP technology. Minimal investment is now required to install beneficial loss prevention procedures, and these procedures have demonstrated significant financial and emotional benefits.