Cameras placed for the evidence you will need
We design surveillance and access control from the incidents you want to prevent or investigate, then size recording, retention and network capacity so the footage exists when it matters.
What a CCTV and access control engagement covers
Physical security systems depend on the network, power and accurate time as much as on the cameras themselves.
A good fit when
- Existing cameras record, but footage is too dark, too distant or missing when an incident happens.
- Several standalone recorders make searching and exporting footage slow.
- You want door access events linked to video for faster investigations.
- You are fitting out a new warehouse, campus, branch or facility.
What the work covers
- Site survey of areas, lighting, mounting points, cable routes and network rooms.
- Camera selection and placement for detection, observation or identification at each location.
- Video management platform selection, user roles and evidence export procedures.
- Recording storage sized from measured bitrates, retention periods and redundancy.
- Access control for doors and gates, integrated with video where the platforms support it.
- Video analytics for defined use cases, tested on real footage before anyone relies on the alerts.
What you receive
- D1Camera schedule stating the purpose of each camera's view
- D2Storage and retention calculation
- D3Network design for camera traffic
- D4Commissioning checklist with sample footage from every camera
- D5Operator guide for searching and exporting footage
What it depends on
- A decision on retention periods, informed by your policies, investigations and privacy obligations.
- Power, including PoE capacity and UPS runtime for recorders and critical cameras.
- Network capacity and a separate network segment for camera traffic.
- Privacy signage and a policy on who may view and export footage.
How a CCTV or access control project runs
STEP 01
Define the purpose
List the incidents, areas and evidence needs, and agree retention and viewing rights.
D1Requirements and privacy considerations
STEP 02
Survey
Check lighting by day and night, mounting points, distances, pathways and power.
D2Site survey report
STEP 03
Design
Camera placement, platform, storage, network segment and door integration.
D3Camera schedule and design
STEP 04
Install and commission
Mount, aim and configure every camera, and record sample footage from each.
D4Commissioning checklist
STEP 05
Train and hand over
Operators practice searching and exporting; health alerts are routed to a named person.
D5Operator guide
What decides whether footage is useful
- Pixel density at the point of interest
- Identifying a face or reading a plate needs far more pixels across the target than seeing that someone is present. Placement is planned for the task at each location.
- Lighting
- Backlit entrances and dark yards defeat good cameras. Wide dynamic range, infrared or added lighting is chosen for each scene.
- Real bitrate, not brochure figures
- Storage depends on resolution, frame rate, codec and how busy the scene is. We size from measured or tested bitrates plus a growth margin.
- Time synchronization
- Cameras, recorders and access controllers must share the same accurate time, or events cannot be matched during an investigation.
- Health monitoring
- Alerts for offline cameras, full disks and recording failures prevent discovering gaps only after an incident.
Common questions
How long should we keep footage?
Long enough to notice and investigate the incidents that matter to you, and no longer than needed. Common choices range from a few weeks to three months; the decision should consider investigations, insurance and privacy obligations.
Can video analytics replace security guards?
No. Analytics can flag specific events such as line crossing or loitering in controlled scenes, but they produce false alarms and miss events. They work best when they direct a person's attention.
Do we need a video management system or just a recorder?
A recorder can be enough for a small site. A video management system becomes worthwhile with several sites or recorders, multiple operators, access control integration or strict evidence export procedures.
Does CCTV fall under the Data Privacy Act?
Images of identifiable people are personal information. The National Privacy Commission has issued guidance on CCTV use, covering matters such as notices and access; your data protection officer should confirm what applies in your setting.
Related guides and scenarios
Guides
Planning cameras or door access?
A site survey tells us what each camera needs to see and what the network and storage must handle.