To purchase an appropriate CCTV system that justifies the expense and meets adequate security requirements, it is important to list the needs and expectations that a CCTV system must fulfill. This helps ensure your security concerns are taken care by the CCTV system to be installed while also taking care of your budget considerations.

Evaluating the needs and expectations helps define the type, size and kind of video surveillance system that is required to render expected levels of safety and security. Some common questions that help identify CCTV needs are:

• Why do you need a CCTV system? Will the system be used for surveillance, to deter and detect thefts, aid identification or round the clock observation of certain areas or processes?
• Which area needs vigilance? Define the place, process, traffic: eg. entrance, employees, customers, cash register etc.
• Where is the object of security concern located: indoor or outdoor, far or near?
• What are the prevailing lighting conditions at such locations?
• How to capture, view, record and store images for observation and reference?

The answers to such questions give a fair idea of the type of CCTV system that can be beneficial to expected security requirements. It also helps a vendor suggest/provide an appropriate solution among the wide variety of CCTV systems available currently.

Other aspects that must be considered are: the system design, purchasing the right products and making installation decisions that help save time, effort and money.

Installing a CCTV system also requires a separate set of decisions such as: choosing the right camera and lens combination, mounting the cameras, cabling, visible or enclosed cameras, number of cameras required, peripherals required, type of recording, type of storage etc. Awareness and information on these aspects, which will be covered in subsequent parts of the CCTV buyer’s guide, will help buyers take an informed and appropriate decision.