AG Solutions guide
Planning CCTV installation and monitoring.
What to establish before installing business CCTV or connecting a site to a monitoring service.
Define what needs watching.
Start with the purpose: access points, stock areas, an external boundary or another specific concern. Identify operating hours, lighting, access constraints and who uses the premises. A site survey helps translate that purpose into a practical camera layout.
Review recording and connectivity.
Discuss image detail, the areas covered, recording storage and the connection between cameras, recorder and network. Consider how footage will be accessed and what should happen if connectivity or power is interrupted. Equipment compatibility needs checking before a monitoring proposal is confirmed.
Separate installation from monitoring.
AG Solutions offers CCTV installation. Our partner Echelon Command Information Centre provides alarm and CCTV monitoring. Agree who is responsible for equipment, connectivity, system health, activation and ongoing changes, so the hand-off is clear.
Write usable monitoring instructions.
Identify the events to be monitored, the contact list, site access arrangements and the escalation instructions. Confirm what an operator should do and which response arrangements are included. Monitoring does not automatically mean a guaranteed attendance time or a particular emergency-service response.
Plan access and recording policies.
Decide who can access live images and recordings, how permissions change when staff leave and how recording requirements will be reviewed. Business CCTV can involve personal information; use the ICO’s current guidance when planning your organisation’s responsibilities.
Check the system before activation.
Agree a handover and testing process that covers image views, recording, connectivity, event signals and instructions. Update monitoring contacts when your organisation or premises change. Keep equipment maintenance and monitoring responsibilities clear throughout the service.