Federation Security Services · Insights
Many businesses buy CCTV by counting cameras. A better approach is to decide what the system needs to achieve, then design the cameras, recording and monitoring around that. Here is how we approach it on NSW sites.
1. Define what you need to see
List the areas that matter most: entrances and exits, car parks, loading docks, cash handling points, stock rooms and perimeter fences. For each area, decide whether you need to detect activity, recognise a person you know, or identify an unknown person clearly enough for police. Identification needs far more detail than general overview coverage.
2. Plan for lighting, day and night
Most incidents happen outside business hours. Check each location after dark, and consider cameras with good low-light performance, infrared, or added site lighting. Glare from headlights, glass frontages and direct sun can make footage unusable, so camera placement matters as much as camera quality.
3. Decide how long to keep footage
Retention should match how quickly incidents are usually discovered. Theft or damage is often noticed days later, so a short retention period can mean the footage is gone before anyone looks. Make sure storage is sized for the resolution and number of cameras you actually run.
4. Control access to the system
Recorders should be secured, passwords changed from defaults, and access limited to the people who need it. Keep a simple record of who can view and export footage, and how it is handed to police or insurers.
5. Know who responds
Cameras record what happens; they do not stop it. Decide whether footage will be reviewed after an incident, monitored live, or linked to alarms and a patrol response. Pairing CCTV with alarm monitoring and mobile patrols is often what turns recordings into real protection.
6. Stay compliant
In NSW, surveillance of employees is covered by the Workplace Surveillance Act 2005, which includes notice and signage requirements. Clear signage also acts as a deterrent. If you are unsure of your obligations, get advice before installation.
Talk to FSS
Want a second opinion on your site? Our team can walk through your requirements and recommend a practical security plan. Call 0494 798 420 or request a security review.