Video surveillance is one of the simplest and easiest ways to protect your property. It's straightforward, allowing you to keep your eye on what matters most without having to be present the whole time. A remote surveillance system can help you prevent problems and find solutions more quickly if an incident does happen. If you're considering getting a video monitoring system, here's what they are, how they work, and how they can help.
What Is Remote Video Surveillance?
Simply put, remote video surveillance allows you to view footage from your security cameras when you're not on the site. A remote surveillance system is different from traditional security options like CCTV, which are only viewable on-location, because it’s connected to the internet.
Several studies collected by the Municipal Technical Advisory Service in Tennessee have shown that having surveillance cameras on a property can reduce crime. They also offer you the chance to find the root cause of accidents and damage, whether it's human or natural.
Having a camera system in place is valuable, but that's not the end of the matter. It's important to use the right video monitoring system, too. Not every camera or system is created equal — a camera that doesn't save video effectively isn't a useful tool for protecting your property. Investing in your system's quality and getting all the equipment you need to stay up and running is worthwhile when you have something — or someone — worth guarding.
How to Set Up Remote Video Surveillance
Have you ever wondered, "How can I do remote video surveillance?" You're not alone. Setting up a security camera system on your own can be confusing without guidance. A good surveillance system consists of multiple parts, each of which plays a vital role in keeping your property secure. Here's what you need to set up your surveillance system and be happy with your results.
Security Cameras
There are various ways to achieve remote video surveillance, but they all rely on good footage and a high-quality method of viewing that footage or saving it for later. As a result, the first and most basic piece of hardware you need to run video surveillance is a collection of security cameras.
You have two main choices: cellular and Internet Protocol (IP) cameras. Cellular options, like LTE mobile HD security cameras, connect directly to cell networks and don't rely on Wi-Fi connections. IP cameras, meanwhile, don't have a built-in cellular connection. They require local networks to store their footage, but that network can use wired or cellular modems.
Whatever type of camera you choose, you’ll need to get several. Unless you're interested in viewing only one room from one angle, additional cameras will be essential to help you keep an eye on everything that matters.
Network and Internet Connection
The next step is to connect your cameras to each other and the internet. If you use cellular security cameras, your network requirements are simple but time-consuming — you'll need to set up each camera's cell connection and data plan individually.
On the other hand, if you use IP cameras, you’ll need to connect each camera to your local Wi-Fi network. If you choose a cellular modem and router, you’ll also need to acquire a single data plan to cover all of your cameras. Either way, the internet connection and network are what allow you to view your security footage while you're off-site.
Viewing and Storage Solutions
Finally, once your cameras are connected and prepared for use, you need a way to see your footage and store it for later. Remote video surveillance is an excellent opportunity to use cloud-based services so you can view your footage anytime, anywhere. You may also choose to invest in local storage options like hard drives connected to your network.
Cellular vs. Wi-Fi Video Surveillance
There are two basic ways you can perform remote video surveillance: cellular and Wi-Fi-based systems. They both allow you to access your surveillance system over the internet, but they also have some critical differences.
Wi-Fi
Many people are more familiar with how Wi-Fi surveillance systems work. Wi-Fi allows unwired devices like laptops, phones, and some digital cameras to access the internet through a wired connection. Wi-Fi routers broadcast a Wi-Fi signal, connect with local devices, and send their information along to the modem through a wire.
When it comes to Wi-Fi surveillance systems, the cameras broadcast their footage to the central surveillance server. The server then uses the wired connection to upload the footage to the cloud. This type of system is most common when a secure, reliable, wired internet connection exists.
Cellular
Compared to standard Wi-Fi, cellular video is excellent when there's no wired internet connection, the wired connection is not stable, or you need to increase security. These versatile systems won't go down just because your normal Wi-Fi isn't working.
There are two methods by which you can use cellular security cameras: cellular cameras or a cellular modem and router. These systems rely on a data plan as opposed to a wired internet subscription. Either cellular option can act as a primary security solution or as a backup if your leading Wi-Fi solution goes down.
Cellular cameras, or SIM card security cameras, bypass the need for Wi-Fi and modems entirely. Each camera communicates with the public cellular network independently, just like smartphones connect with the cell network to use data. However, if the data signal is weaker in parts of your property, these cameras may not function effectively.
The other option is a compromise between Wi-Fi and cellular cameras. The cellular modem and router connect to the cell network — meanwhile, they also broadcast a local Wi-Fi signal. As a result, cameras that rely on Wi-Fi can connect to the internet, even in locations where a wired internet connection doesn't exist. You can place the cellular modem somewhere with a strong cell signal, so all the cameras on the property can take advantage of the strong connection.
Why Use Remote Video Surveillance?
A security system is more than just a set of cameras. It's insurance against the worst that might happen. Remote video surveillance helps ensure that your cameras will capture evidence of the cause of an incident, no matter what happens. This leads to many valuable use cases for cellular security systems, including:
Commercial Security
Any commercial property can benefit from having a security system in place. Commercial video monitoring can help prevent theft, identify causes of low productivity, and track products and employees. When your security system also allows remote viewing, you can relax knowing that you can check in whenever you want.
Cellular security cameras can also act as a backup for commercial locations. In case of a local Wi-Fi outage, the cellular connection can begin to run your security in its place.
Construction Site Protection
Keeping a construction site secure is about more than preventing damage to the site — it's a safety issue. However, construction sites are also unlikely to have consistent Wi-Fi if they have internet access at all. This makes them the perfect location to use no-Wi-Fi security cameras.
Construction site security cameras need to reliably upload their footage regardless of the job site's Wi-Fi connectivity. Cellular security cameras are a natural fit. Even on days when no activity occurs at the site, remote video surveillance allows you to check on the property — there's no need to worry about weather damage or weekend vandalism being unaddressed.
Remote and Rural Video Monitoring
Security systems aren't just useful for big commercial locations or construction sites. They can also be necessary for protecting rural, remote property. Whether you have a distant storage building, a long driveway, a vacation home, or simply a building that doesn't have wired internet yet, cellular security cameras can help you check in more regularly. For a cellular camera, no Wi-Fi is no problem.
In-Home Peace of Mind
Finally, a cellular security camera can also be useful in your home. Security systems for home use are crucial for protecting your possessions, family, and yourself. Whether you want to check on your home from work or keep an eye on things while you're on vacation, a remote video surveillance system can help. There's no better way to guarantee your peace of mind at home.
Be Safe, Be Secure
It's hard to put a value on safety. The peace of mind offered by a quality security system is priceless, after all. If you're considering investing in your safety, a wireless security camera system with remote viewing is an excellent option to protect what's important. Working with Novotech's cellular modem and data plan can help give you that sense of security by supporting your camera system regardless of your internet connection's stability.