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Branch Security Cameras – 5 Important Things to Know

As a financial institution, your security features’ effectiveness is a major priority. Branch security cameras not only protect your institution by deterring criminals and identifying thieves, but their presence in your building also plays a pivotal role in inspiring customer confidence and satisfaction.

If you’re a bank or a credit union, it goes without saying that you have branch security cameras – but do you know everything about them that you should?

Here are five simple yet crucial questions to ask yourself as you get to know your branch security cameras.

  1. Does your branch have the latest camera technology?

This is a great place to start. The electronic security landscape is constantly evolving, so it’s important to be up on the latest and greatest available features. Some to look for include:

  • Motion tracking – This is important for all banks, but particularly for those that don’t have 24-hour onsite security. Motion-sensing cameras can track moving objects, offering 360° panning and rotation. If a robbery occurs after hours, this feature allows you to keep eyes on the intruder throughout the course of the incident and gives police more details about the culprit.
  • Megapixel Resolution – Older analog cameras produce poor quality footage and grainy images. With high resolution (up to 4K), you can acquire more forensic details when you zoom into the camera’s field of view.
  • Sensors for a wide range of lighting (including Night Vision) – New, key technologies include the ability to deliver color images in near-total darkness and advanced sensors that relay clear images in a variety of lighting situations.
  • Vandal- and weather-resistance – Today’s top-line security cameras include covers that are impact-resistant, dust-tight, and waterproof.

  1. Do your plants need pruning?

Of course, you want the landscaping in front of your branch to look nice, but is it interfering with the motion sensors in your cameras? Simply cutting back vegetation around your security cameras can prevent many false triggers and save you the time and headache of dealing with multiple irrelevant security notifications.

  1. Have you installed your security suite’s mobile app?

This simple act can have major time-saving and convenience benefits. Mobile apps allow you to view, playback, and capture still images on your smartphone or tablet. You can also use your digital device to search recorded videos from multiple cameras at the same time and view all your systems on one screen. Keeping tabs on your security cameras has never been easier or more personally tailored.

  1. Are you utilizing cloud video storage?

Best practices among banks and credit unions generally require institutions to store video footage for six months. Depending on the number of cameras you utilize and the resolution of those cameras, that can mean a lot of storage space. Storing your security footage in the cloud solves onsite hardware storage conundrums and allows you to connect multiple cameras from various locations.

  1. Are your camera passwords airtight? 

Considering your passwords may seem basic and elementary, but statistics show that many passwords are easily hacked. It’s vital to take the time and make the effort to assign a unique, long, unobvious password to each individual camera. This process, while time-consuming and harder to track than assigning all cameras the same password, is much more reliable and offers greater protection.

Utilizing security cameras is paramount in the financial industry. With so many options out there, it’s vital to have a knowledgeable partner who understands today’s unique security challenges. STS Group is that partner.  Contact STS Group today for a security consultation and get all of your surveillance and security questions answered by the best in the business.