You might have long assumed that CCTV – this stands for “closed-circuit television”, as Startups explains – is an expensive form of video surveillance that would only be financially viable for large businesses. However, over time, it has become a practical option for small businesses, too.

Still, as CCTV systems are available in many different forms and configurations, you should be careful what type of CCTV system you choose for your own business. Here are a few questions you could think about to help weed out the superfluous offerings from what you really need.

Should you install the CCTV system yourself?

If your business is small and its workplace doesn’t have many areas that need monitoring, you might be able to install the CCTV system yourself. However, the installation might not quite be to the professional standard you should expect.

That’s why, especially if your business is particularly large, you should arrange for a local professional to undertake the installation work. For premises located in North East England, for example, you could ask the Durham-based CDS Security & Fire to install your CCTV system.

Do you need IP (internet protocol) or analogue cameras?

Analogue cameras are the more traditional option – but, recently, have been increasingly phased out in favour of IP cameras due to the larger number of features and capabilities these offer.

IP cameras can capture video imagery in a higher resolution compared to analogue cameras, and can alert you automatically if they detect concerning movement. However, it is possible for IP cameras to be integrated with analogue cameras as part of a hybrid CCTV system.

What type of video storage should you order?

For your CCTV system, you can choose from three types of video storage: NVR, DVR and hybrid.

As Business News Daily explains, the acronym DVR stands for “digital video recorder” and refers to storage used for analogue cameras. Meanwhile, NVR means “network video recorder” and is storage intended for use with IP cameras.

Unsurprisingly, hybrid storage is compatible with both analogue and IP cameras.

What features do you need in a CCTV system?

Of course, this will depend on what kind of practical use you want to get out of the CCTV system. If certain areas of your workplace – like those where especially sensitive documents are stored – call for particularly tight security, you might be happy to invest in smart motion detection.

Meanwhile, if you intend to primarily use the system to keep watch over your premises at night, you could benefit from a CCTV setup equipped with strong night vision capabilities and ready to send out 24/7 alerts as and when necessary.

Usefully, you could also tailor your system so that certain features are limited to specific cameras connected to it. For example, if you would like some CCTV cameras to be fitted in outdoor parts of your premises, you could choose weatherproof cameras for those areas.

If you still struggle to decide between various CCTV offerings, a professional CCTV installation company could further advise you on how to choose.

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