CCTV for Shops and Offices: How to Choose Cameras, Recorders and Storage
IP or analog? How many megapixels? How many days of recording do you really need? A no-jargon guide to planning a CCTV system that actually helps when something goes wrong.
Most CCTV systems fail at the one moment they matter. The footage is too blurry to identify a face, the camera was pointing at the wrong spot, or the hard disk stopped recording three months ago and nobody noticed.
A good system isn’t about buying the most expensive cameras. It’s about planning. Here’s how we approach it for shops and offices.
Start with what you need to see
Before talking about hardware, walk through your premises and answer these questions:
- Where do people enter and leave? Every entrance needs a camera that can capture faces clearly.
- Where is money or stock handled? Cash counters, storerooms and loading areas.
- What areas are blind spots? Corridors, staircases and the back of the shop.
- Do you need to see detail or just activity? Identifying a person needs far more resolution than seeing that someone is there.
This list decides how many cameras you need, and of what type.
IP vs. analog (HD) cameras
- Analog HD cameras (connected to a DVR) are cost-effective and simple. They’re a good fit for small shops with a handful of cameras and short cable runs.
- IP cameras (connected to an NVR over a network) offer higher resolution, better image processing and easier expansion. They can be powered over the network cable (PoE), which keeps wiring neat. For offices and larger premises, IP is usually the better long-term choice.
Resolution and night vision
For general overview cameras, 2MP (1080p) is usually sufficient. For entrances and cash counters, where you need to identify faces or read details, go higher, or place a camera closer to the point of interest. A good lens and correct placement matter as much as megapixels.
Check night performance too. Infrared cameras record in black and white in the dark; “colour night vision” models use ambient light or a small white light. If the area is lit at night, colour can be far more useful.
Planning storage: how many days do you need?
Storage is where most systems are under-planned. The amount you need depends on the number of cameras, the resolution, the compression (H.265 uses roughly half the space of H.264), and whether you record continuously or only on motion.
Most businesses want 15 to 30 days of footage. Some industries and housing societies are asked to keep more. Tell your installer how long you need to retain footage, and make sure they size the hard disk for that, using surveillance-grade drives that are built to write 24/7.
Remote viewing
Modern DVRs and NVRs let you watch live and recorded footage on your phone. This is genuinely useful, but it must be set up securely:
- Change all default passwords on day one.
- Keep the recorder’s firmware updated.
- Give staff separate logins with limited access instead of sharing the admin password.
Placement tips
- Mount cameras high enough to avoid tampering, but not so high that you only see the tops of heads.
- Avoid pointing cameras directly at bright windows or doors; backlight turns faces into silhouettes. If you must, use a camera with WDR (wide dynamic range).
- Make cameras visible at entrances. Visible cameras deter as much as they record.
Why maintenance matters
A CCTV system isn’t “install and forget”. Lenses get dusty, cables get damaged during renovations, power supplies fail and hard disks wear out. A CCTV AMC with periodic checks catches these problems before an incident, not after.
King Computers designs, installs and maintains CCTV systems for shops, offices and societies across Mumbai. Tell us about your premises and we’ll suggest a setup that fits your space and budget.