CCTV Surveillance Solutions

We prefer to ask the question, which type of camera system is right and most cost-effective for your site? IP and Analogue systems both have benefits which we will discuss with you during a consultation. We will advise you as to the best CCTV camera options to improve your site’s security.

You need to make people aware that their image is being recorded, for what purpose and who is in charge of processing the data. If you choose Almas as your CCTV provider, we will fit GDPR-compliant signage for you and advise you of your GDPR obligations.

When we survey your site, we will agree with you as to how many cameras you need. Up to 30 days of recording is generally advisable and we will provide a DVR with sufficient memory to achieve this. If you want to keep images for longer you should address this in your Privacy Impact Assessment. Not sure what that is? Get in touch and we can help advise you.

CCTV cameras have a certain field of vision, depending on the type and lens. It is important to cover the vulnerable access points to your site and any high-risk internal areas. We always conduct a no-obligation site survey to discern which areas need protecting and whether alerts are required. Get in touch if you’d like to arrange a free site survey and security consultation.

Yes, our security cameras are equipped with the ability to record sound.

It is illegal to record a conversation without the individuals knowing or accepting the fact that they will be monitored. This is usually declared through correct CCTV signage.

Employees should be aware that audio is being recorded, usually declared through correct CCTV signage. In rare circumstances, covert recording may be warranted, but we would advise against this unless the police/ Garda have requested it as part of a wider investigation.

CCTV footage can be used as evidence in court as long as it is considered reliable and has been collected and stored in a manner that complies with the law.

A clear sign that displays the details of the organisation operating the system, the reason for the CCTV and its contact details. The site must ensure that it is an appropriate size for the location and are visible to everyone that may be able to view it. Additionally, the sign should be large enough that it can act as a deterrent.

There is a bit of a misnomer that 4k is the best quality CCTV system on the market. Essentially, 4k means that image sensors are capturing video at a higher resolution – 3840 x 2160. You get the total number of pixels by multiplying these together (over 8 million for 4k). This produces extremely high quality video. Standard HD resolution is 1080p; this is 1920 pixels horizontally, by 1080 vertically (so a 1080p image has over 2 million pixels). Full HD means exactly the same as HD. So, is 4k better than HD? Yes, 4 times as many pixels are being recorded. However, it also means that recordings use a lot of storage on the NVR… 4 times as much, meaning you need a much larger (and by extension, more expensive) hard drive for storage footage.

However, the real question should be – when you’re recording CCTV footage, what are you wanting to achieve? Normally, you aren’t worried about whether the blue of a jacket is the truest blue, or whether you can see the detail on a bird’s wing. What you want to achieve is to be able to clearly capture people, vehicles and events. Generally, this can be achieved with Full HD cameras. The time that 4k may be of benefit is if you want to zoom in closer to an object that is further away (say 65-100ft away) for specific details.

To get the full benefit of your 4k CCTV cameras, you need to upgrade to a 4k screen too, while 4k will still look clearer on a 1080p standard monitor, you’re losing much of the detail. Simply, 4k cameras systems when it comes to CCTV are not always necessary or worth the extra cost.

Interesting fact: often, when installing 4k security cameras, engineers often dial back the quality from 4k to HD.. ask us for more information as to why

Yes, you usually do not require permission to install CCTV at your commercial site unless you rent the building (in which you need to gain permission from the owner). Exceptions to this would be listed buildings or in a conservation area.

You should not install CCTV outside your site’s boundaries and images must only be captured on your property; if a camera view takes in public thoroughfares or pavements, you should mask these out on the field of view.

You must also have compliant signage – you can read more about this here.

There are strict laws around the capture, storage, access to and retention of CCTV footage, this is covered under the GDPR and falls under the governance of the ICO. Ask us for guidance on your responsibilities.

Yes, CCTV systems can often be integrated with other security systems such as intruder alarms and access control systems.