Solution Topics

IP Video Surveillance for Museums

Topic: Museums

Everyone loves a good museum. They show rare pieces of art, exquisite artifacts of days gone by and much, much more. Because of the rarity and often extreme value of items on display in a museum, these places can also become a major target for thieves. IP video surveillance is an integral part of any museum�s security system.

Benefits of IP Video Surveillance for Museums

IP video cameras are powerful tools, but they are also simple to install. This makes setup of your IP video surveillance system less of a hassle, while still providing invaluable video surveillance. Because IP cameras transmit images over a network, remote monitoring is also a snap. Images can be viewed by any computer on a Local Area Network or over the Internet for extreme remote access.

With a video surveillance system in place, precious artifacts can be monitored day and night to watch for any suspicious activity. Systems can be programmed to send automatic alerts and sound alarms based on a number of factors such as motion detection and more. This helps to prevent thefts and vandalism within the museum.

An IP video surveillance system can also be used to monitor employees to ensure that they are not indulging in theft. It is an unfortunate fact that occasionally employees will turn to stealing from their own place of work, but a video surveillance system can help curtail this potential threat.

Questions to Consider

When pondering the idea of installing an IP video surveillance system, there are several questions you should ask yourself. What do you feel the threat is to the artifacts in your museum? What areas do you feel are most susceptible to theft or vandalism? Do you feel there is a threat of employee theft?

While taking this important step, you should also look at your overall security system. What other security measures do you have in place? How many security personnel are on staff? If something were to happen within the museum, how quickly would personnel be able to respond? Is this an adequate response time? An IP video surveillance system can assist with maximizing security personnel efficiency and making sure they get to where they need to be at the right time.

Placement of IP Security Cameras

When installing any video surveillance system, the proper placement of cameras is essential. Improper placement can make a system all but worthless, regardless of the quality of cameras and networks. When installing your system, go over the facility closely and look for any potential vulnerable spots and security loopholes.

Placement at all entrances and exits to the facility is a must. This gives you firsthand information onto who is on the premises at any given time. Security cameras at entrances to restricted areas of the museum can also be helpful, as they give you information as to whether or not any unauthorized persons have gained access to these areas. Also place cameras to the entrances and exits to each hall, gallery, exhibit, etc.

In areas where there are especially valuable objects, ensure that you have good coverage. The more valuable the objects in a location, the bigger a target they are for thieves. If you have one or two particularly priceless artifacts, you might want to designate specific cameras just for these pieces.

Other Considerations

While security is important, it should not always trump privacy. Private areas such as restrooms should be avoided when installing your IP video surveillance system. This will provide privacy both for employees and visitors to the museum.