CCTV in 2018: The biggest trends  

CCTV has long been a useful tool in the business owner’s battle against crime, but the technology’s users find themselves at a crossroads. In 2018, with purse strings tighter than ever, most are being forced to do more with less – minimising costs without weakening defences. Fortunately, this corporate security mainstay is evolving, and various new features and trends are helping organisations get the most from their CCTV investments. Below are some of the most notable developments.

Wireless systems

We’re seeing more and more wireless CCTV systems, and it’s easy to see why. The first obvious advantage is the ease of installation; without cables to consider, cameras can be deployed in minimal time, leaving you free to get on with running your business. This is particularly useful if you’re looking to expand into different areas of the company, or if a newly identified threat needs to be addressed quickly – especially as cameras can be moved, saving you the cost and hassle of buying more. The only downside to consider is the chance of interference caused by other wireless equipment. These risks can be minimised with some thoughtful network management, however. Be sure to work with a trusted advisor on this for the best results.

4K pictures

Talk about 4K and most people’s minds will jump straight to consumer TVs, but there are benefits for business owners too. The introduction to the market of 4K CCTV means you can monitor your company’s premises with crystal-clear picture quality. Higher resolutions allow you to see every detail in both live and recorded footage, even in weather and lighting conditions that would have rendered traditional CCTV systems useless. The kind of detail on offer here is vital for modern applications such as face and registration plate recognition, as well as video analysis technology. One potential downside to consider is the amount of data 4K recording will generate – you’ll need to invest in the appropriate storage. Thankfully, our next trend may have that covered…

Connectivity and the cloud

Developments in mobile and WiFi connectivity show great promise when it comes to businesses’ growing data challenges. Rather than rely on in-house hard drives, companies can store their 4K footage and other important files in the cloud, with 4G, WiFi (and soon 5G) allowing for swift uploads and quick access when necessary. The use of cloud technology also removes the need for expensive Network Video Recorder (NVR) equipment to be installed, saving time, money and space. Larger organisations will no doubt have concerns over network security and reliability, but for smaller firms that don’t need to store such sensitive information, the cloud is certainly something to consider in the future; especially when 5G starts to become available. Once again, it’s best to work with a trusted partner on this – they should be able to advise on the best solution both now and for the coming years.

Looking forward

The points detailed above could well be just the start – the industry’s also looking forward to major changes in the coming years too. Using technologies already available in the public domain, we can speculate that virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) might have a significant impact on the way business owners monitor their premises, for example. At this stage, however, it’s clear that wireless connectivity and the cloud can help companies get more from their CCTV systems. To find out more about the solutions available and how they could help your business, get in touch with our experts today.