How to Audit Your Current Video Surveillance System

Underperforming video surveillance puts your Houston business at serious risk. Outdated cameras miss critical details, storage systems fail during important moments, and poor image quality renders footage useless for investigations.

Your current system might appear functional, but it may be outdated in ways you don’t realize. What worked five years ago is not enough to handle advanced threats. You should conduct a comprehensive audit to find vulnerabilities before they become costly security breaches.

SEE MORE: How Diverse Businesses Benefit from Advanced Commercial Video Surveillance 

Evaluate Image Quality and Coverage

Begin by examining every camera feed throughout your facility. Blurry footage provides no value when police need to identify suspects or when you're documenting theft incidents. Your cameras should capture faces clearly from at least 15 feet away and record license plates in parking areas.

Test your system across different lighting conditions. Many older cameras fail in low light or direct sunlight, resulting in useless footage during critical hours. Check recording quality during early morning, midday, and evening operations to identify performance gaps.

Coverage blind spots are another thing to look for, as they create prime opportunities for criminal activity. Map all camera angles and document unsurveilled areas. Retail businesses commonly lose inventory in uncovered zones like loading docks, storage rooms, and employee areas where monitoring is inadequate.

Assess Storage and Access Capabilities

How much storage capacity does your video surveillance have? This impacts detention periods and in turn legal and insurance investigations. Most investigations require video evidence from weeks or months prior to incidents. Calculate your current storage against these actual business needs.

Does your system offer remote access? Business owners with remote monitoring maintain better control over deliveries and inventory management. Limited access means reduced operational visibility.

Examine your backup systems thoroughly. Hardware failures occur without warning, and lost surveillance footage during investigations creates serious legal and financial exposure. 

Cloud-based solutions like those from Verkada don’t limit your storage capacity based on hardware. You can retain footage for longer since it’s stored in the cloud, not locally. 

Review Maintenance and Integration

Track your annual maintenance costs and system downtime. Calculate repair expenses, service calls, and component replacements over the past three years. If repairs are frequent, then a replacement will likely provide a better financial return than continued maintenance.

Video surveillance that connects with access control, alarm systems, and building management creates comprehensive security coverage. Isolated cameras leave you exposed to risk.

Staff training also directly impacts system effectiveness. Complex interfaces reduce adoption rates and slow emergency response. Security systems perform best when your team operates them confidently and consistently.

Strengthen Your Security Infrastructure

Your audit findings should determine your upgrade priorities. Modern surveillance systems like Verkada deliver clearer images, reliable storage, dependable remote access, and lower total ownership costs compared to maintaining outdated equipment.

ASAP Security Services designs comprehensive surveillance solutions for our commercial clients. We evaluate existing systems, identify security gaps, and implement technology that addresses your specific operational requirements. Our partnerships with leading manufacturers give you access to the best surveillance features on the market. 

Contact ASAP Security Services at (877) 418-ASAP to schedule your security audit. We will assess your current surveillance infrastructure and recommend solutions that protect your business investment.