When we think of traditional security measures, CCTV is often what springs to mind, and for good reason. It’s one of the most visible methods of securing your property – outside of the more stereotypical security guards – and we’re all no doubt captured on it hundreds if not thousands of times a day.
In the last decade or so, CCTV has undergone a renaissance, taking in its stride the growth of tech and the evolving needs of the globe. But while it’s developed alongside the needs of the people who require it, it can often be difficult to determine exactly what type of CCTV is best for your site.
As an industry leader in both the cutting edge of CCTV solutions, and in tailormade security packages for sites across the UK, we understand what it means to have the right surveillance on your premises. It can often mean the difference between a fully protected property, and one that’s potentially at risk.
With our latest piece, we’ll be exploring what you need to consider when it comes to choosing the right kind of CCTV for your premises, as well as the key distinctions between the types of monitoring solutions you’ll find on the modern market.
At its core, there are two primary types of CCTV monitoring solutions – static CCTV (usually in the form of cameras attached to buildings, or fixed towers) and mobile CCTV (in VPODs and portable cameras).
Let’s break down each of those, what they might look like as CCTV on your site, and the next steps of your journey.
As you’d expect, static CCTV is simply monitoring solutions that are permanently fixed at your premises. They’re set up at specific points across the site to guarantee maximised coverage of the key access points, and areas of concern, as well as to act as a strong deterrent to those who might seek to trespass.
Static CCTV comes in many forms, but the most common ones you’ll no doubt have already seen are:
Each of these offer their own benefits, and while we won’t be delving fully into the individual aspects of each of those, they have shared traits that make them more permanent, static solutions. We’ll address mobile CCTV in our next section.
Generally, static CCTV solutions will be linked to a power supply on your site, and connected via Ethernet to ensure connectivity with the monitoring centre. Here at Churchill for instance, all cameras are connected to our cutting edge Communications Centre, and are monitored on 24/7/365 basis.
The flipside of the coin, mobile CCTV refers to any surveillance equipment that’s self-sustaining, or that’s not designed to be in one place (or on one site) for a longer period of time. While these are still located at key points across your site, and still act as that firm deterrent to potential intruders, it’s their easily adjustable nature that classifies them as mobile CCTV.
While they’re an emerging technology (especially in terms of new VPOD and customisable designs), you may still have seen:
As we mentioned with our earlier section on static surveillance, we won’t be exploring the benefits and drawbacks of each of those solutions, but we’ll instead give an overview of what you can expect from any mobile CCTV option.
All mobile monitoring and CCTV surveillance options are full self-reliant, usually coming with mounted or attachable solar panels, alongside a rechargeable battery pack. This works in tandem wherein, if the classic British weather doesn’t produce enough sun, the battery pack can sustain the mobile CCTV for as much as 3 weeks.
For instance, the state-of-the-art mobile security solutions we use at Churchill have a battery that can still offer uninterrupted coverage for those 3 weeks, as well as ultra-sensitive solar panels that can offer rapid charging.
These mobile CCTV solutions wirelessly connect to the same monitoring centre, either through a mobile network (i.e. 2G/3G/4G/5G) or through Wi-Fi at the site where they’re stationed. They’ll also usually have the capability to connect through a wired connection, if that’s available, but this is never necessary.
While it’s one thing to understand the two different types of CCTV, it’s another entirely to work out which type of CCTV is the ideal choice for your site. In the interests of being concise and clear, we’ve picked out the 5 key questions you’ll need to answer to choose the right CCTV for your property.
The first question you’ll need to answer, and the one that really does make a massive difference in choosing between static and mobile CCTV, is whether or not your site is a short-term project, or something that’s likely to be there for a longer period of time.
For instance, if you’re operating a construction site, or you’re having a new installation completed on a property or premises, a mobile solution would work better. That’s because, once the works have been completed, the surveillance equipment can be swiftly packed up and moved on, either to a new site or back to the company who provided it.
Similarly, if you’ve got a premises that’s likely to be occupied for a significant amount of time (such as an office block, an industrial site, or a healthcare facility), or that can guarantee a heavy level of footfall, static CCTV is more appropriate.
As a general rule, and one that we apply to the myriad of CCTV systems that we monitor, we’d recommend a mobile CCTV solutions if your site is likely to be occupied for between a day and a year, and a static CCTV package if it’s longer than a year.
There’s exceptions to that rule, of course, and with a custom-built solution like those we offer, we’ll always take into account your unique circumstances.
Fore you, the location of your site presents numerous unique and often challenging issues. Ingress and egress, vehicle traffic and even your neighbours can all raise concerns around the integrity of your premises. This is where your CCTV solution can truly excel, and provide the oversight and protection you need.
However, this should also factor into choosing between static and mobile CCTV. A site in a more built-up area (such as a busy shopping centre, or inner-city office block) is likely to have easier and more readily available access to infrastructure. Linking back to our previous point, these are also more likely to be permanently occupied, and better lend themselves to static CCTV.
A remote property, however, is more suited to a mobile CCTV solution. There’s several reasons behind this, but the primary one is that they’re more likely to be transient, or move on after a period of time. Take construction or housing projects, for instance – they’re likely to use unused, often out-of-the-way land for development that’s completed quickly.
There’s also often a lack of infrastructure in these more remote areas (something which we’ll address in more detail in our next point), meaning that mobile CCTV often makes itself the clear choice for those properties in more isolated properties and premises.
In our experience, energy projects (like solar and wind farms) often fall into this category, as do major industrial plants and manufacturing facilities. These are usually exceptionally high-value projects, and need the expert care afforded by both mobile CCTV and tailormade manned guarding solutions.
Less of a concern for those who’ve got a more permanent premises, or that are planning to remain in the same spot for an extended period of time, power is usually crucial for more traditionally CCTV measures. Recording equipment, monitors and the cameras themselves all often need to be fully wired up to work effectively.
On a site without power, that becomes a major obstacle. That’s the main reason behind why we’d strongly advise a mobile CCTV solution – these generally do not need to be connected to a power supply, and instead have in-built solar panels to charge an internal battery. In fact, these require limited input outside of that initial, swift set-up phase.
They’re therefore ideal as part of a security solution at a vacant property, or where there’s emergency works taking place that’s left a premises without electricity. It’s all too often we’ve seen properties and sites that worry because they’re without power, and mobile CCTV solutions offer the ideal remedy to that.
This is one area where we’d rarely recommend a static CCTV solution, simply because there’s likely to be substantial changes in the foreseeable future, and the lack of power can make it an insurmountable challenge.
As sites expand and grow, so to must their security solutions. That’s especially true for CCTV which, whether you choose a static or a mobile solution, should evolve alongside the changing demands of your premises. The question remains, though – which CCTV solution is best for that adjustment to your circumstances?
In our expert opinion, both are viable options. A static solution gives you the additional stability and robustness that’s often a mainstay when considering CCTV on a permanent premises. Take, for instance, a manufacturing premises – these often expand and grow as the products they produce become more popular, and need a security solution that matches with that.
With excellent connectivity, most large-scale monitoring solutions are able to seamlessly connect and encompass new cameras as they’re installed. The same is true of mobile CCTV solutions – they’re scalable, meaning you can expand your security alongside your services.
For instance, the Daleks we offer here at Churchill are the epitome of that adaptability. We’re able to remotely link our VPODs to other cameras across your premises, and ultimately offer the levels of coverage you demand. In fact, our solutions are expansive enough to cover cameras that are up to a mile away, ensuring that even the biggest expansions are catered for.
Of course, CCTV isn’t (and shouldn’t be) the only security measure you consider. While it’s among the most adaptable, and where many people immediately head to, there’s much more you could add on to really ensure the ongoing safety of your site.
Whether you opt for canine handlers, mobile patrol security officers, or even additional fencing and perimeter security measures, you’ll also have to consider how those can harmonise with your CCTV choices. For instance, will you need your security guards to interact with or monitor your cameras, or will that be done externally?
Regardless of what you’re expecting from the additional support you employ alongside the CCTV you choose, we’d recommend a mobile CCTV solution here. Given their portability and adaptability, and the often short-notice requirements that securing a premises can bring, they naturally lend themselves to a more reactive service.
They’re also moveable (as the name suggests) at any time, meaning security officers are able to react to new and emerging threats to your site’s security. For instance, if you’ve got one of the exceptionally portable, cutting-edge Daleks that Churchill offer, your security guards are able to set up the product in a new place should it need to be moved.
Equally, if your site already has a static CCTV solution in place, you’ll be able to seamlessly adapt around that with your other measures. In our experience, this will usually already be fitted when we deploy our expert security officers or mobile patrols, and our guards can then use it as part of their routine duties.
While these questions are the ideal way to choose the right CCTV system for your site, it’s the next steps that can often determine just how effective that is. As part of your decision-making process, you’ll also need to look at the installation process, as well as how your cameras will be monitored.
Here at Churchill Support Services, all of our installs are completely bespoke, and we tailor the cameras we provide to suit your specific needs. For instance, if you’re aiming to secure a vacant property, you could be tackling overgrowth and tree coverage, meaning a thermal imaging camera could be ideal.
That’s all part of the ongoing service we’re able to provide here at Churchill, all delivered with the consummate professionalism and passion that you’d expect from the UK’s #1 of more than 800 SIA-accredited security companies. It doesn’t stop there, either.
Our state-of-the-art Communications Centre monitors your cameras 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to further ensure the ongoing safety and security of your premises. It’s the backbone of the expert service we offer here at Churchill Support Services, and offer the peace of mind you deserve.
Still unsure on how to choose the right CCTV for your premises? Get in touch with our in-house security experts today to discuss the specifics of your site, what works best for you, and how we can help facilitate a safer tomorrow.
