Security4 min read
Choosing a CCTV system: seven questions to ask first
Camera selection is the last question, not the first. These are the questions that should come before it.
Most CCTV projects go wrong before a single camera is bought — because the conversation starts with cameras. It should start with the space.
The questions
1. What are we protecting? Entry points, inventory, people, or all three? The answer changes coverage design completely.
2. What happens after an event? If footage is only reviewed after something goes wrong, storage and retention matter more than resolution.
3. Who needs to see what, and when? A live guard desk, site managers on phones, or footage pulled weeks later — each needs a different system.
4. Where is the network? Cameras are network devices. Existing cabling, switch capacity and Wi-Fi coverage determine what's realistic.
5. What are the light conditions? Warehouses at night, shaded yards, glare at entrances — sensors and lens choices follow the light, not the brand.
6. Who will maintain it? A system without a maintenance path quietly degrades. Plan for servicing before installation.
7. What happens in five years? Storage fills, cameras age, needs change. Choose a system that can grow without a rebuild.
The bottom line
A camera is a tool for a specific job. When the job is defined properly, the right camera — and the right number of them — becomes obvious. That's the difference between a system that fits and a system that just exists.
Want to talk it through?
These notes are general guidance. Every site is different — if you'd like advice specific to your space, we're happy to take a look.
Discuss a Project