Professional Security Camera Installation

Do you want to secure your facility from threats or criminal activities? A business security system installation, like a security camera system, will help you keep track of such incidents at your facility. Have no fear; a professional security camera installer can take care of the entire process, from selecting the right place to mount the camera to integrating the camera with other security systems like access control systems, mass emergency notification systems, and more.

Umbrella Technologies has over 25 years of industry experience, and we service all of Northern Illinois for any type of business looking for commercial security camera installation services. We follow a transparent process of knowing the user’s expectations, documenting the strengths and limitations, and conducting an onsite security assessment to identify new security camera locations. All while taking into consideration advanced technologies and design. Then, we send a proposal to the user that tags each product, software license, and service to be performed. After the installation is complete, we train your staff and employees to effectively use your security camera system. Contact our team of expert security consultants today! 

Hiring a professional business security camera installation expert can help you in many different ways to minimize security risks. Some of them are:

Business Security Camera Solutions

Commercial security cameras provide many solutions to protect your business. Some of them are:

Steps for installing security cameras

1) Create An Installation Plan

Planning is a crucial stage for installing security cameras. It would help if you considered various factors at this stage, including:

• How many cameras do you need?
• What are their desired features?
• Where to install indoor and outdoor security cameras?
• How many entrances and windows are there?

Design the plan and diagram the priority areas of the building(s) with the camera angle. Popular commercial security camera locations include:

1. Entrances, windows, and open areas – Monitor primary entry points to track any suspicious activity.
2. Hallways and Staircases – Monitor busy areas
3. Perimeter and Parking lots – Monitor outdoor activities and ensure the safety of employees and staff as they walk into the facility
4. Hazardous areas – Monitor activities that involve the handling of toxic materials; primarily for manufacturing industries
5. Cash Registers office or accountant office – Monitor your money and keep it safe
6. Low visibility areas – Monitor places in your facility that have ample coverage for illicit activities
7. Back Room or Inventory room – Monitor against unwanted thieves while keeping daily operations up and running.

Remember to walk through the whole plan to ensure there are no obstructions. Outdoor security cameras are typically placed higher than 10 feet up and have weatherproof guards or equipment to protect against adverse weather conditions. Professional security camera installers can help you choose the right outdoor security cameras that are durable and robust and help place the camera in the correct position.

Similarly, wired and wireless cameras have specific requirements in terms of placement. Let’s take a look at those in the next section.

2) Camera Placement

Select a spot where the camera gets a clear view and has access to a stable power source. The first step is to check where the cameras can be mounted to get a 360-degree view of the desired area. 

• Mount the camera high to make sure it gets a more transparent and broader view. 
• Cover most of the view with less usage of cameras; that will lower the cost of purchasing a bulk number of cameras. 
• Place the security cameras out of reach from children and in hidden places to avoid being noticed by thieves or unwanted people.
• Keep them away from sunlight to avoid reflection.
• Place them near the power source.

3) Install The Camera

Mount the camera on the designated wall or ceiling according to your plan.

To mount the camera on the wall or ceiling, drill holes to screw in the camera. Then, point the camera at the right angle and correct position to capture the best-desired view. As we know, security cameras use motion detection technology; it’s crucial to position the camera to capture the best detection. Secure the security camera against the wall or ceiling and then adjust to the desired angle

Arrange Wires and Cables for Video Surveillance Camera Installation

Plan on checking the security camera wire route throughout the facility, mainly hallways, basement, garage, etc. Consider:

• For wired systems, connect the wire extending from the wall to the camera.
• For wireless WIFI systems, insert the battery first before mounting

4) Connecting to the system

After the cabling, the next step is to check if the security camera systems work successfully with a power supply. The recorder and monitor require an adequate amount of power. Distribute power sources across various components for the proper functioning of the whole system. Cabling has drawbacks because intruders might cut the cabling to erase any proof; wireless networks are more secured in such scenarios. Make sure to mount at the proper distance and angle to prevent such crimes.

Professional Vs. Self-Installation

“If you think it’s expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until you hire an amateur.” – R. Adair

Self-installation can be an excellent way to save some extra money on your security camera system. Still, most cameras are not easy to install nowadays because of the complexity in design. The proper knowledge is required for the security cameras’ placement, and choosing the right camera to secure both indoors and outdoors is essential. Self-installation requires drilling into the walls properly. If done incorrectly, it can damage the wall. 

Considering all these factors, hiring a professional security camera installer, like Umbrella Technologies, takes care of the entire process and does the whole job to your satisfaction and budget requirements. Contact us today for an informed plan and implementation of installing the security cameras in your facility.

What Materials Do I Need To Install Security Cameras?

Wireless security cameras mainly require a Wi-Fi cam and a wireless receiver, but wired security camera installation requires much more. These materials are- 

• Ethernet cable
• Baluns that converts analog to digital; mainly used for analog systems
• A power drill with drive bits, spade bits, and regular drill bits as well
• Steel fish tape
• Power supply
• Anchors
• Masking tape (or other types of tape)
• A monitor, mouse, and keyboard

What To Expect With A Professional Security Camera Installation?

Security professionals in your facility should document the building’s restricted areas and expectations before hiring a professional security camera installer. Here is what to expect with a professional security camera installation.

Before the camera install, you need to know what the professional will be doing and what to expect from them before starting the installation. Constant communication on the job makes the process transparent by asking questions and voicing doubts, even before the installation process. An onsite audit is done before the implementation process that helps in identifying:

• If existing security cameras are analog or IP based surveillance cameras
• If all gaps are covered
• Cable paths for low-voltage installation measurements
• IT network infrastructure

During the camera install, you should expect consistent communication on the job’s updates and progress. These reports are sent daily or bi-weekly based on the project’s size. Some of the project updates involve:

• General Project Info
• General Status Info
• Milestone Reviews
• Project Summary
• Issues/Ways they were Resolved

After the camera install – Upon completion of the installation process, a final site survey is provided that documents all installation areas, checking the focus of the cameras, network settings, and storage configurations. The professional installer trains the employees and staff to properly handle the equipment and the security actions required from the end-users.

For detailed information on the checklist, what to avoid and accept, and common mistakes to watch out for, please read: What to Expect from a Professional Security Camera Installation.