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Home > How to setup a church video surveillance system to
safeguard the ministries and buildings of your local church
October 03, 2006
By: Lynn Bryant
Security is being ramped up in public places all over the
world. Security measures in any public place cannot be taken
lightly; the local church is no exception. Any time you have
a place where large groups of people gather, you need to pay
special attention to security procedures.
If you are considering having a church video surveillance
system installed in your church, several things need to be
considered. This article takes a detailed look at all of the
areas that need to be addressed when implementing
comprehensive church security procedures that involve a
surveillance system.
Map out your church's surveillance needs
Any good security system begins with a well thought out
plan. To begin the process of mapping out the specific
security needs of your church building, review all of the
possible access points into and out of the building. You
will also want to consider what types of activities will be
taking place inside your church throughout the week.
Is their a church daycare center that will need to be
monitored on a daily basis? Is their an outside playground
or activity area that may need to be watched throughout the
week? What are the potential reasons these areas will need
to be monitored? Are you concerned about potential
vandalism? These are all security concerns that will have to
be addressed based on the specific location and ministry of
your specific church.
Determine specific equipment requirements
Once you have thoroughly assessed your church's specific
security needs, you are ready to determine the exact
equipment requirements for your new security surveillance
system. Some of the basic equipment components you may need
are reviewed below. The exact number and specific type of
components will vary based on your exact specifications.
- Surveillance cameras -- The type of camera
needed is determined based on where the camera will be
mounted. There are different types of surveillance cameras
required for outdoor installations, covert installations,
low light installations, etc.
- Software -- Your software needs will also vary
based on the size of the church and the configuration of
your security surveillance network. A basic software
package is generally included with your camera purchase
and will probably be fine for a small-scale network. If
you have more unique needs like remote viewing, multi-site
monitoring, or the need to integrate with other security
components, you will need a much more advanced package.
- Digital video recorders (DVRs) -- Digital video
recorders allow you to capture images from your
surveillance cameras and save them to your computer hard
drive. This gives you a great deal of flexibility in how
you can view and manage images captured by the
surveillance cameras in your network. You may be able to
get away without a DVR if you have a very small church and
do not really have a need to monitor after hours. However,
if you have a large network of surveillance cameras, this
device is almost a necessity.
- Monitors -- Monitors are devices that allow you
to view the images captured from your surveillance
cameras. With many of the newer surveillance systems that
integrate directly to your PC, you can use your computer
monitor to view captured images. Stand-alone monitors can
be purchased however if you are in need of additional
viewing devices.
Research available options
Once you have determined the exact number of video
cameras needed for your church's surveillance system, as
well as the required peripheral, you will need to pick out
the specific equipment for purchase. A good place to start
your research for security surveillance equipment is online.
Many different websites offer a comprehensive array of
surveillance equipment. A few good websites to consider that
offer video surveillance cameras and equipment are
EZWatch
Pro, LukWerks, and
BuyerZone.
There is a wide array of surveillance camera and options
available for every price point.
Select appropriate equipment
Once you have conducted your online research of the
different surveillance camera equipment available, you will
need to narrow down your selections. Make sure you purchase
camera equipment that contains all of the features you need
for your installation. You will definitely want to consider
future expansion needs of your surveillance network and
purchase equipment that can easily integrate and upgrade
accordingly. However, if you church's security needs are
very simple, be careful that you do not spend extra on
options that you do not need and will never use.
Install and maintain
The final step in the process of implementing a security
plan for your church is installing and maintaining the
actual surveillance equipment. Many of the newer wireless
systems on the market today are very easy to install. If you
are taking on the project yourself and do not have a lot of
experience with video technology, you should definitely
consider wireless security cameras. However, if you have no
desire to tackle the project yourself, a professional
installation will more than likely be the way to go.
Once the security cameras are fully installed, you will
need to have someone responsible to monitor the network.
Again, the complexity of this function is dependant on the
specific security needs of your church. If your security
system is very small, the necessary monitoring will be
minimal. If you need to maintain a high level of security,
you will probably need to employ full time monitoring
personnel. You can have the most advanced surveillance
equipment on the market, but if you are not monitoring the
security system itself, the technology is useless.
There are many issues to consider when mapping out and
setting up a security plan for your church. In the end
though, the increased safety and peace of mind everyone will
experience will make your efforts all worth it.
About the Author
Lynn Bryant is a successful freelance writer and
contributor to Video-Surveillance-Guide.com. Your
definitive guide to video surveillance equipment, CCTV
cameras and wireless security systems for home and business.
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