The security industry has gone through a momentous transformation over the past couple of years and there are a few key areas where the improvement has been drastic. The progression of day/night cameras, wireless signal transmission, and the development of digital recording has been the biggest advancement in the CCTV industry.
So, what does this mean for the self-storage facility owner? Simply put, superior access control. You get a better crime fighting asset that will reduce daily operational struggles, protect tenants’ possessions, which all can be done remotely, and in real time. This is allowing self-storage operators to customize their self-storage security solutions to help manage their properties and reduce staff overhead. Live-video monitoring is making facility owners rethink their routine operations and approach their business from a totally different vantage point.
Facility owners decide to invest in self-storage security systems with CCTV for a variety of reasons.
Your tenants expect your security features to be competitive with other local storage facilities in the area. Quality surveillance gives you knowledge of facts you otherwise would not have known at an affordable price. Providing insight into the activity on your property and delivering new avenues for problem-solving.
Planning and choosing a security system for your self-storage facility is a major player in what sets you apart from your competitors. Deciding which quality system to go with, where the cameras would be placed and understanding the capabilities of the equipment are all factors that should be considered before taking that leap. Not all CCTV cameras are the same. The traditional directional camera, called a bullet camera, is generally fixed and points only in one direction, whereas dome cameras provide 360-degree coverage. Cameras need to be chosen based on the kind of coverage you need and the type of quality they can provide.
Here is a checklist that will help you determine which type of CCTV surveillance system fits your
facility’s needs.
Study your property’s landscape to find any weak spots at your facility that make it easy for people to break-in undetected. Are you trying to cover wide-range or short-range distances? This will help you determine the specific camera and lens equipment you’ll need. Making sure there is adequate lighting in these areas is also another key factor to consider before installing your system.
Do you need basic coverage, focusing on single entry points or do you need to a cover central high traffic area from multiple directions? Asking yourself this will not only help you determine what type of camera but also how many cameras you will need.
It’s always good to have a price point in mind but you shouldn’t let it dictate what type of equipment you need. View your security system as an investment. This technology can reduce costs and improve daily operations that will give your business a competitive edge. Remember, you always get what you pay for!
Today, because of technology advances, some self-storage operators are even moving towards full property automation. It's time to start rethinking the way you do business. As a storage owner, it is wise to start taking steps to invest in smarter security technology. In the end you will win the confidence of tenants, maintain customer loyalty and will see a positive impact on their bottom line.
Listen to our exclusive podcast interview with Josh Boyd of OnGuard Storage to learn how he's using security, technology, and advanced CCTV technology to run a fully unattended self storage facility:
