Security Cameras SHALL be implemented in high-risk, high-traffic exterior and interior locations such as entrances, doors to high-sensitivity offices/rooms, and publicly accessible areas.
Control Type: Physical
Control Function: Detective
Description: It is generally impossible to monitor an entire facility from all directions on a 24/7 basis. Some businesses operate during both daytime and nighttime, but the nighttime shifts usually involve a scaled-back staff. During daytime hours, employees, including designated security staff, may be busy with numerous tasks, preventing them from monitoring designated areas. Security cameras allow the facility to be monitored at all times. These cameras serve multiple security roles, including deterring potential intruders and serving as a detective mechanism for facility investigations.
The most common security camera architectures are: (i) Pan-Tilt-Zoom (PTZ): these cameras can be controlled remotely to perform functions like horizontal panning, vertical tilting, and zooming in, (ii) Dome Cameras: these cameras have rounded lenses with discrete casing that obscures exactly where they are pointing, and (iii) Bullet Cameras: these cameras have long casings with lenses visibly pointing in a specific direction. Compared to dome cameras, they often provide a longer range of coverage and have an ominous appearance that can deter potential attackers. Bullet cameras are encouraged for exterior use. Security cameras can operate through both analog and digital methods. Many businesses still utilize analog camera systems, but IoT smart cameras that run on TCP/IP networks are becoming more common. IP security cameras often require the use of Power Over Ethernet (PoE) to provide both networking and power.
Security cameras can be monitored from a variety of endpoint devices, and may provide features such as automatic lights and admin notifications when movement is detected. Businesses should select camera systems that record their feeds to non-volatile storage in case footage needs to be used for an investigation. When implementing security cameras, businesses must also closely study the line of sight of each camera and adjust or add cameras to eliminate coverage gaps. Businesses should also ensure that security cameras are installed both outside and inside their facility.