Security Camera - What Are The Benefits

A security camera is useful for many reasons, with one of the most popular being to monitor a home while it is left unattended. This may include a business trip or a family vacation, which means that your home is left empty. A security camera can silently monitor actions and movement that occur either inside or outside the home, depending on placement.

In addition to making sure that your home is monitored in case someone tries to unlawfully enter without your permission or cause damage of some type, a security camera can be used to help identify and prosecute a criminal. Quite often, a security camera is the only way to catch someone in the act. Whether it is in regards to your home, automobile or landscaping, the ability to protect your property is made easier with the use of a hidden camera.

Another popular use of a security camera is to monitor the actions and activities that take place when a babysitter is in the house. This is important to make sure that children are never abused in the presence of a babysitter and also to make sure that the child is being watched and fed properly. A security camera offers parents a way to know what goes on in their home at a time that they would have no other way of knowing, especially if the child is an infant who cannot explain what is happening when mom and dad are not at home. As an employee, a babysitter is hired to do a specific job and a security camera is simply a way of making sure that the job is done correctly.

Some other benefits derived from a security camera are:
1. Easy to install - Most of the network cameras on the market are plug and play and/or have very simple to follow instructions for both the hardware and software end.
2. Comparatively cheaper than other security systems - Instead of paying a highly trained technician to install a complex CCTV system, and pay him on an ongoing maintenance arrangement- you can have a network camera security system that can stand on it's own against CCTV and traditional security systems.
3. Works with your existing computer network - If you already have a home network, then the network camera works with your settings, so you don't need to pay more for the proper security infrastructure.
4. Provides peace of mind - watch your home, watch your child's room, watch your vacation home, watch your pets while you are on vacation, etc
5. See remote areas - as far away as across the globe, or your own front porch from a centralized area. Can even remotely view your children at the nursery (depending on the nurseries policies though this is becoming more standard)
6. Flexibility - Prefer not to be tethered to the security control panel or hire a full time security professional to monitor things, then get security alerts which you can view from cell phone, laptop, or PDA device, and provide multiple users access to the various security assets.
7. Alerts - Receive alerts via email when detects motion, either when someone visits your home, or when your children leave home to hang out.

Most businesses also use a security camera in order to detect shoplifting or other unlawful activities. This is very important in making sure that thieves do not go unpunished and may also help to convict the perpetrator if needed. A good example of how a security camera can detect dishonest behavior is when a gambler decides to cheat inside of a casino. According to most casino owners, there is a security camera at every turn and the system is set up to monitor almost every movement inside the facility, including that of the players, cashiers and dealers.

Limitations
1. May have poor image quality depending on model and configuration, and wireless cameras in general have poorer image quality on the lower to mid range.
2. For more bells and whistles, like sound recording, scheduled emails, and motion capture, it varies greatly from model and software description.
3. Generally, outdoor surveillance equipment is more costly, especially if you want the ability to remotely pan/tilt, zoom in, zoom out, and want a waterproof camera. However for a home system this is probably not as urgent as opposed to for a business situation.
4. Drains computer network resources, so if you don't have a speedy computer, then there's a chance of a slight slow down in your collective resources.

If you are considering the purchase of a security camera, make sure to shop around and find a model that is dependable and compact. The most important aspect of a security camera is that it can easily be placed in situations where it will not be detected. As a result, your security camera will monitor your home and everything that goes on inside, even when you cannot be there.