When Security Footage Becomes Evidence: Are You Covered?
Security cameras can help businesses monitor entrances, parking lots, inventory, employees, and other important areas. However, their value can become even more apparent after an incident occurs.
A theft, break-in, vandalism incident, accident, or workplace dispute may leave business owners searching through recorded video for answers. At that point, simply having cameras may not be enough.
Your commercial security camera system also needs to capture useful footage, store it for an appropriate amount of time, and make recordings accessible when they are needed.
So, if your security footage suddenly becomes important evidence, is your business prepared?
Security Footage Can Help Tell the Story
After an incident, people may remember events differently. In contrast, recorded video may provide another source of information about what occurred.
For example, security footage may help show:
- When an incident occurred
- Who entered or left an area
- Which direction a person traveled
- Vehicles entering or leaving the property
- Activity near merchandise or equipment
- Events leading up to or following an incident
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) notes that surveillance systems can record video for later analysis. The agency also recognizes that video recordings may become part of the case record for a crime.
Therefore, businesses should think about their cameras as more than a way to watch live activity. Recorded footage can also become an important resource after an incident.
Make Sure Your Cameras Capture the Right Areas
First, consider what your cameras can actually see.
A camera may be working perfectly but still miss important activity because of its location or viewing angle. For this reason, businesses should periodically review camera placement.
Important areas may include entrances and exits, parking lots, loading areas, cash registers, inventory areas, and other high-traffic or high-risk locations.
In addition, check for objects that may block the camera’s view. Landscaping, merchandise displays, signs, equipment, and even changes in lighting can affect what a camera captures.
The goal is not simply to install more cameras. Instead, cameras should be positioned strategically around the areas that matter most to your business. A professionally designed commercial video surveillance system can help businesses create better coverage based on the layout and security needs of their property. To learn more, visit our site.
Video Quality Matters
Next, consider whether recorded footage provides enough detail to be useful.
Poor lighting, an obstructed camera, incorrect positioning, or outdated equipment can reduce the quality of recorded video. As a result, footage may show that something happened without providing the details needed to understand the event.
Review both daytime and nighttime recordings. A camera that produces a clear image during business hours may perform differently after dark.
Also, periodically check the date and time displayed by your video system. Accurate timestamps can make it easier to locate an incident and understand when events occurred.
Know How Long Your Footage Is Stored
Storage is another important part of video surveillance.
Depending on the system, recordings may be stored locally, in the cloud, or through a combination of methods. However, storage capacity is not unlimited.
Eventually, older footage may be overwritten or deleted according to the system’s settings.
For this reason, businesses should know their system’s retention period before an incident occurs. The appropriate retention period can depend on the business, system, storage capacity, applicable requirements, and other factors.
If an incident occurs, identify and preserve relevant footage as soon as possible. Waiting too long could result in important video no longer being available.
Know How to Find and Export a Recording
Imagine that law enforcement, an insurance company, or another authorized party requests video from a specific time.
Would someone at your business know how to find it?
Business owners and authorized employees should understand the basic process for reviewing and exporting recordings. In addition, access to surveillance footage should be limited to appropriate personnel.
When footage may become evidence, avoid unnecessary editing or alteration. Preserve the relevant recording and follow instructions from law enforcement, legal counsel, your insurance provider, or other appropriate professionals regarding how it should be handled.
The exact legal and evidentiary requirements can vary depending on the incident and jurisdiction. Therefore, businesses should seek appropriate guidance when footage is connected to an investigation, claim, or legal proceeding.
Protect Your Video Surveillance System
Security footage can contain sensitive information about your facility, employees, customers, and daily operations. Therefore, protecting access to that footage is also important.
Use strong passwords and limit access to people who need it for their jobs. In addition, remove access when an employee or outside provider no longer needs it.
Businesses using cloud-based surveillance should also understand where recordings are stored, how long they remain available, and who can access them.
CISA notes that businesses evaluating cloud-based video surveillance should consider factors such as storage, access to footage, and the security measures used to protect that information.
Test Your Cameras Before You Need the Footage
Do not wait for an incident to discover that a camera was offline.
Instead, periodically review your security cameras and recorded video. Confirm that cameras are recording, important areas remain visible, and the system is displaying the correct date and time.
Also, check whether authorized employees can retrieve recordings when necessary.
Routine maintenance can identify problems such as dirty lenses, damaged cameras, blocked views, storage problems, or connectivity issues before those problems affect an important recording.
Is Your Business Covered?
Security footage can become important after a theft, accident, break-in, vandalism incident, or other unexpected event. However, useful video depends on more than simply having cameras mounted around the property.
Camera placement, image quality, storage, system maintenance, and access to recordings all matter. Therefore, businesses should review their video surveillance systems before footage is urgently needed.
Cultris Security Systems provides customized commercial video surveillance solutions designed around the needs of your property. From indoor and outdoor cameras to network video recorders, remote viewing, and other surveillance technology, we can help you evaluate whether your current system provides the coverage your business needs. Call 281-506-8466 or reach us online at www.cultrissecurity.com to learn more.
