Success in any project is dependent on the planning phase, before any company takes any action. This is no different when implementing a security device.

Assess the company's needs

This is the first and the most important step that a company should take before making an investment. This step should not be rushed because it could potentially cost an organization a lot of money that didn't need to be spent. A company needs to ask itself some very important questions:

What is the expected expenditure on this project?

What needs to be monitored? Is it important to monitor people arriving at the company or the ones that are leaving?

Will cameras be used inside or outside? Or both?

How many cameras will serve the company's needs?

What is the preferred technology?

Will the system be wired, wireless or use the resources from the company network?

What is the coverage area?

What brands does the company usually lean towards?

Consider the preferred technology

Once the questions above have been answered, the department in charge of implementing this security system needs to consider which technology should be used. There are three options to choose from:

Network IP – Cameras that operate using this technology can easily link up to a computer's router and use the powerful resources found within a company's network. These types of cameras can be controlled remotely. All that is needed is an internet connection. One advantage is that it can easily integrate with other applications. The recordings can also easily be stored on a company's server.

Wireless – This option is also very popular. This technology can easily be implemented in a business or home. With this option a wireless camera is utilized. The big advantage of using this technology is that it offers a good clear reception for both audio and video. It does not get affected from other wireless devices.

Wired – This is the oldest of the three but it does take some time to setup because of the cabling. This method uses a standard security camera.

Considering light conditions

This factor is also very important to consider. If the lighting conditions are not considered, the wrong camera may be selected and the images captured on video may not be recognizable or of poor quality. There may either be too much light or it may be too dark. If cameras are to be used in an area that has good lighting conditions, it's probably best to use a color camera. For low light conditions, black and white surveillance cameras should be implemented. For the color cameras, there are some that offer built-in night vision or infrared technology.

Taking Resolution into account

Resolution of the camera should also be considered. Just remember that the higher the resolution, the more focused the image will look on the camera. If having a clear image is high on a company's needs, it's probably best to not go with the lower end, lower priced cameras because the image quality is not always the best. If a company merely needs to see images of people without the need for a lot of quality, then it can afford to go with the lower end cameras.

Accessories to consider

CCTV security cameras obviously need to connect to other devices for effective use. For live monitoring, a company needs to consider investing in a monitor that will work with the CCTV camera. It's not necessary to make a new purchase if existing monitors are available, but a company should definitely consider using one that has the same resolution as the camera.

After the points above have carefully been considered and written down on paper; a company will be more prepared and have the right information to make a more informed decision. Many good companies today will offer a wide variety of options and tools. This includes security products like cooper fire alarms, burglar alarms and surveillance cameras. Many will also have certified staff to help a company by providing as much assistance and expertise before the actual purchase.