Make Arming Yourself for Protection More Effective With Surveillance

Aaron Spuler is a firearms enthusiast and recreational shooter. Follow more or his work at The Weapon Blog

When it comes to protecting your family and home – or even your business – there’s no room to take chances. An easily accessible firearm is one great tool for protection, but it’s not the only option. Information and situational awareness are key to making your self-defense most effective. For the best of home office protection, the addition of a reliable closed-circuit television (CCTV) system can be a significant help. A security system used the right way can be a valuable tool in protecting the important people and property in your life from threats.

Identifying Potential Threats

In order to identify all of the potential threats to your home or business, it is important to cover as many bases as possible. You have to ensure cameras cover the most important areas and angles to maximize protection. Determining how many cameras you need and the most vulnerable spots on your property is critical when setting up your system.

Key Coverage Areas:

• Doors & entryways
• Cash registers & safes
• Parking lots & driveways

Once your perimeter is properly covered you’ll have a better idea of any on-site at any time, along with the potential weapons they may have. This assists you by not only giving you time to mentally prepare to protect yourself, but give you an idea of the proper response you’ll need to be effective.

More Effective Protection through Deterrence

A CCTV system can also work as a deterrent in addition to your firearms. If an intruder or assailant expects to cross you undetected or without being identified, their tune may change when they know they’re on camera.

In many ways, a security system is a safer deterrent than firearms. While brandishing your weapon is certainly more effective, it also makes you a threat. In that moment the intruder may be face to face with you and any number of potential things could go wrong. But with a CCTV system in place, intruders can be persuaded to avoid your property before things even become an issue. This fends off a variety of minor threats that could result in not only harm but also theft and vandalism.

Advanced Warning

If you do not have your gun on your person at the time it’s needed, it will not be helpful. The further in advance you know about a threat, the better prepared you can be.

Modern CCTV systems will connect through apps for your phone to enable remote viewing and push alerts when motion is detected. These systems can be used to provide real-time updates on the number and location of any threats in dangerous situations. With a CCTV system in place, you can stay informed about their movements and any other changes. This can help you relay important information to authorities, determine if it is safe to fend off a threat, or show a safe way out.

The True Cost

Investing in a security system may seem costly at first. But with advances in technology, many systems are relatively inexpensive. They are also a lot more effective than what people may realize. Once you’ve decided on using a gun for protection, a security system is the next step to make using it more effective for protecting yourself, your family, or your employees.

About the author:

Lance Waterly is a freelance writer based in California. He spent nearly twenty years in the T&M industry, and now enjoys writing about his experiences and giving advice to businesses including CCTV Security Pros, testing and developing new equipment. In his free time, he takes his grandkids on long walks through their neighborhood.