As effective home security systems become increasingly accessible, many property owners are choosing to install DIY home security camera systems to monitor their homes and protect their valuables. These systems can be used as both a crime deterrent and a crime reporting tool, should the worst happen at your home. But are they really safe?
The experts at Frontline Security have put together some information to help you better understand home security camera systems, how they work, and what system might be best for you.
Essential Components
There are many security camera and closed-circuit television (CCTV) systems available for both home and commercial use, but each system consists of the same essential components.
Cameras
There are a variety of camera types to choose from, including dome cameras and bullet cameras. Dome cameras offer a wide-angle view that is great for covering all activity in a concentrated area, such as your bedroom or your front door. Bullet cameras have a long viewing range, making them a great option to cover larger areas like your backyard. Many systems use a combination of camera types and viewing angles to ensure great coverage of your whole property.
Monitoring Station
Every security camera system requires a way to view the live feed and the saved footage. This can be done through your home computer or through a professional monitoring service; modern systems can even be monitored in real time from your smartphone.
Connections
Depending on the system configuration you choose, you will require cabled or wireless connections (or both) to connect your cameras to a power source, the internet, and your monitoring station. Outdoor cameras are typically better suited to wireless connections, as they provide greater flexibility in placement, but wireless cameras can be more expensive and also bring additional cybersecurity and service disruption risks due to their reliance on battery or solar power and stable Wi-Fi coverage.
Recorder and Data Storage
A home security camera system requires a place for recordings to be processed and saved. This ensures that you can go back and review them as needed if and when any incidents occur.
Will a Home Security Camera System Protect My Property?
While there are never any guarantees, a home camera security system can provide peace of mind and help keep your property and family safe in a few important ways:
Stop Crime Before It Happens
Cameras are an excellent deterrent for would-be robbers and vandals, as they tend to avoid properties with visible surveillance systems installed.
Property Protection
In addition to protecting your home, security cameras can also provide protection for your garage, vehicles, and outdoor spaces. When positioned correctly, your home security camera system can cover all the external spaces surrounding your home.
Monitor Children and Pets
Remote monitoring enables you to keep an eye on children and pets from anywhere in real time. This can be especially beneficial for those who have a lot of land or who need to leave pets unsupervised for periods of time at home.
Insurance Benefits
A home security camera system can reduce your insurance premiums and streamline the insurance claim process in the case of theft, vandalism, or property damage. The video evidence they provide can save you valuable time and money not only in the case of criminal activity but also when confronted with damage due to extreme weather events or natural disasters.
Is the Camera System, Itself, Safe to Use?
As with any internet-connected device, there is always a risk that your home security camera system could be hacked. This is why it’s important to implement good safety protocols, especially if the camera feeds cover any private areas of your home. There are some important steps to take when selecting, installing, and implementing your system to ensure that it is safe for you and your family to use:
1. Do Your Homework
Before buying home security cameras, investigate what security and privacy settings each one offers. You want a system that has built-in encryption options so that hackers cannot access your account information, live stream, or saved videos.
2. Secure Your Home Network
Many, if not most, home security camera systems now operate on Wi-Fi through your home router. Ensure that yours is encrypted with WPA2 or WPA3 protection, uses a strong password, and has its firewall turned on. If practical, you may want to consider installing your home security system on a separate network from existing networked devices. This prevents a hacker who’s gotten into your home computer from easily hacking into your camera system as well.
3. Keep Your Software Up To Date
Both your router and your camera should have regular software updates to patch any potential security risks. Set these up to install automatically, and check back in periodically to make sure you’re using the latest version of any relevant software.
4. Utilise Available Security Features
If you’ve selected the right camera, it should come with built-in encryption and firewall features. Turn these on, ensure that any time you access your camera online it is from a website address with an “https” prefix, and use complex and unique passwords for each component of your system.
5. Optimise Remote Viewing
Remote viewing is one of the key benefits of a home security camera system, but it needs to be implemented carefully. Make sure your feed is encrypted and that any viewing devices you use to access it are fully secure. You may also want to consider using a system with the ability to disable remote viewing.
Secure Your Home Today
A DIY home camera security system can be a great way to protect you and your property. When chosen carefully and installed and implemented properly, these systems are a safe and effective way to guard your home. But, alone, they may not be enough to provide true peace of mind for you and your family.
Ultimately, there is no substitute for security expertise and round-the-clock support. Frontline Security can equip you with continuous alarm monitoring and as-needed mobile patrols or a combination of both.
Get in touch with us today to discuss a tailored security solution that is perfect for your home.