Security cameras that actually work when you need them
Most businesses that have CCTV footage they actually need — after a theft, an incident, an insurance claim — discover too late that their cameras were poorly positioned, the image quality too low to identify anyone, or the storage had overwritten the footage weeks ago. A CCTV system is only useful if it's designed with purpose. We design ours to capture what matters.
We work with business clients across hospitality, retail, and commercial property — installing and managing IP camera systems that integrate with your network and give you remote access to footage from your phone or laptop. No proprietary DVR boxes with a single point of failure. No cameras that stop working when the vendor goes out of business.
Camera placement and selection
Placement is the most important decision in any CCTV install. An expensive camera in the wrong position is less useful than a modest camera covering the right angle. Entry and exit points, tills and registers, car parks, storage areas — we work through your specific property with you and specify the right coverage. Indoor cameras have different requirements to outdoor cameras: weatherproofing ratings (IP66 or IP67 for outdoor), low-light or IR capability, and vandal resistance all matter.
Resolution matters too. For insurance claims and identifying individuals, you need at minimum 2MP (1080p) for close-range coverage, and higher resolution for wider angles. We specify what's appropriate for each location — not the cheapest that fits the budget, but the minimum that will actually serve your purpose.
Privacy Act compliance in NZ
Under the Privacy Act 2020, businesses operating CCTV systems have obligations. Signage must be visible at camera locations advising people they are being recorded. Footage must be retained only as long as necessary and then securely deleted. Access to footage must be controlled. If someone makes a privacy request, you have obligations around responding. We build these requirements into how we configure your system — retention schedules, access logs, and camera coverage areas that avoid capturing areas where people have a reasonable expectation of privacy (like changing rooms or bathrooms).
Storage — cloud vs on-site
On-site network video recorders (NVRs) give you storage independence and no ongoing cloud costs, but require physical security for the recorder itself. Cloud-based storage gives you off-site redundancy and remote access without on-premises hardware, but involves ongoing subscription costs and relies on your internet connection. Many of our clients use a hybrid — local recording with cloud backup for critical footage. We'll recommend the right approach based on your budget, internet connection, and risk tolerance.