How Many Surveillance Cameras Do I Need?

However, to maximise their effectiveness, you might require multiple cameras. How many? In this post, we’ll discuss how to decide on the best number of surveillance cameras for your home or commercial property.

Research suggests that there are around 770 million surveillance cameras installed around the world. That figure is expected to reach a billion by 2021. But why does it matter how many you have on your property?

In short, it’s about balancing effectiveness and practicality. Having too few cameras could leave your property vulnerable in certain areas. On the flipside, too many will obviously cost you more than necessary.

Here are some factors to consider when figuring out the right number of cameras for your property…

Points of entry

One of the most important jobs for surveillance cameras is to monitor the points of entry at your property. These are the areas through which criminals will attempt to gain entry, including:

• Front door
• Back or patio doors
• Windows
• Garage doors

If your property has several points of entry, you may require more cameras to monitor them. That said, a single well-placed camera can sometimes be used to cover multiple points of entry.

Domestic vs commercial

Are you installing surveillance cameras on your home or is it a commercial unit? Generally speaking, commercial properties require more cameras than homes. While they might require extra cameras on gates or around a car park, domestic surveillance cameras are generally fixed to the building itself.

Valuables

Is there anything around your property that thieves or vandals might target? For homes, this is generally limited to cars, vans or bikes stored outside on your drive or the street. However, commercial properties might also have tool sheds, storage units or valuable equipment and machinery.

Whatever the case, it’s important to have sufficient surveillance cameras to cover these vital areas.

What about inside?

Most properties stick to external surveillance cameras, as this allows them to deter criminals and monitor any break-ins. However, there are some instances, such as monitoring employees or babysitters, where you might want interior cameras too.

This could add significantly to the number of cameras required on your property, as internal cameras are restricted by walls – meaning you’ll generally need at least one to a room.

Size of your property

Finally, consider the size of your property. Needless to say, larger properties will require more surveillance cameras, as they will typically have more points of entry, rooms or valuables that need monitoring.

• For purposes of entertainment
• For purposes of a victualling establishment
• For purposes of education
• For purposes of storage of goods

At Selectron, we understand that every property is different. Our tailored approach to security and surveillance allows us to determine the optimal number and location of cameras around your property for full coverage and complete peace of mind.

To arrange a site visit and quote, get in touch with our team.