Does My Business Need Security Cameras?

When you own or manage a business, there are a lot of decisions to make. One that has probably crossed your desk is what security devices to purchase. Alarms? Sensors? Special locks? Are security cameras still useful, or are they “old hat”? Use this guide to determine whether your business needs security cameras—and, if so, what kind.

Quiz: Does Your Business Need Security Cameras?

To gauge whether your business could benefit from surveillance cameras, answer the questions below.

1. Do you have a physical brick-and-mortar presence?
2. Does your business sell goods (versus services) or any kind?
3. In particular, does your business fall into any of these retail categories: pharmacy, big box, home improvement, grocery, soft goods, electronics, luxury, liquor, or cannabis?
4. Does your business accept cash payments?
5. Do you have concerns about employee theft?
6. Do you want another avenue to ensure employee productivity when you’re not onsite?
7. Have your team members experienced angry or violent customers?
8. Do you wish you could afford onsite security guards and are looking for alternate solutions?
9. Are you looking for a security solution that both prevents and solves crime?
10. Do local regulations in your industry require security cameras?

Did you answer yes to any of the questions? More than one? If you answered “YES” to more than three questions, your business is a great candidate for cameras.

Now, more than ever, it’s worthwhile to investigate how surveillance can protect you, your employees, and your business. In today’s world, it’s a common denominator that businesses need to have security cameras.

Data Speaks Volumes

Consider this: Inflation is real, and while the numbers are slowly declining, Americans are still getting walloped. Supermarket prices are 25% higher than in January 2020 while inflation increased 19% over that period. Americans also report inflation impacting their gas prices and rent. Criminologists agree some higher crime rates relate to inflation, including robbery, burglary, and theft.

Shoplifting rings in at nearly $50 billion in retail crime every year. To drill down, one in 11 Americans shoplift. On average, shoplifters say they are caught, on average, once every 49 times they steal. And chronic offenders admit they are arrested only once every 100 times they steal, according to the National Association for Shoplifting Prevention.

Businesses are also contending with the growing threat of organized retail crime. About 70% of retailers believed ORC has become a more prevalent threat over the last five years. In a 2022 U.S. Chamber of Commerce survey, 56% of small retail businesses report they have experienced theft in the last year. Most business owners state it’s getting worse.

In both individual and organized thefts, there’s also an increase in violence. The number of violent shoplifting events rose more than one-third from 2022 to 2023, with 88% of retailers saying today’s shoplifters are more aggressive than in the past.

But the threats aren’t simply from the outside. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce reports that 75% of employees have stolen from their employer, and half steal repeatedly. This can threaten a business’s survival. Approximately 30% of failed businesses are the result of employee theft or embezzlement, according to the Better Business Bureau. Small businesses are especially vulnerable because they run on such small margins.

Why Does a Business Need to Have Security Cameras?

When you consider the factors above—and more—in their totality, investing in surveillance cameras for business becomes a fundamental investment in your business’s livelihood. The benefits include:

• Deterring theft and burglary: The mere presence of security cameras is a deterrent to theft and burglary, be it by outsiders or your own employees.
• Encouraging productivity: Employees stay focused and take fewer extended breaks when there’s someone watching.
• Ensuring employee safety: The reality is that there has been an increase in violent crimes, including smash and grabs. Employees want some reassurance they aren’t alone in dealing with challenging customers.
• Collecting evidence: If it comes down to it, surveillance camera recording can aid during an incident investigation or insurance claim.

It should go without saying, but retailers aren’t the only ones who need security. They simply have the most obvious need because of the inventory that’s at risk every day. Other industries that benefit from the boosted protection security cameras offer include agriculture, multifamily housing, self-storage, construction, hospitality, and automotive.

Camera Options at the Ready

You can’t expect to solve all of your security woes with just any cameras off the shelf. It’s all about adding the right surveillance cameras to your business’s arsenal.

Thanks to Deep Sentinel, the days of simply running a camera and reviewing recordings are gone. Instead, these advanced commercial security cameras leverage the latest in AI combined with live guards to detect threats to your business. Sophisticated algorithms evaluate activities on your property. When a threat appears, a professional security guard responds promptly to deliver a real-time response to the situation.

Regardless of your specific needs, Deep Sentinel can deliver.

Power-over-Ethernet Security Cameras

PoE security camera systems transfer electric power and data over Ethernet cabling. That gives you the ability to place cameras wherever you need them with the assurance that your cameras will stay securely connected to the local AI hub. For this reason, PoE systems are perfect for larger properties. These cameras also feature high-capacity storage and advanced features like best-in-class night vision.

There are several camera options, including a 4K turret camera with a two-way speaker, a 4K turret camera with a line out for an external speaker, and even the ability to integrate with select approved models of third-party cameras.

Wireless Security Cameras

Some smaller business properties are good candidates for simple wireless surveillance cameras. Deep Sentinel’s DS2 system offers a simple DIY installation that can improve your commercial building’s security in under 30 minutes. Business owners looking for a smaller system and a lower price point might find the DS2 to be just right for their needs—without sacrificing must-have features.

The DS2 incorporates top-of-the-line features including night vision with an LED floodlight, a powerful AI processor, HD resolution, and an integrated USB charger. Each camera offers two-way, 104db audio—useful when one of the real-time guards needs to intervene—and a 130-degree viewing angle to keep an eye on an expansive area.

So, does your business need security cameras? In this day and age, yes. Be proactive. Take charge of your business and your people by employing the surveillance cameras and system right for you.

Need a Solution that Prevents Crime? Deep Sentinel is the only security technology that delivers the experience of a personal guard on every customer’s home and business. Visit deepsentinel.com/business or call 833.983.6006.