What Does a Good Security Camera System Look Like?

Most private clubs have security cameras – commonly 20-30, but many have more than 60. They are usually older systems desperately in need of updating. ?

Private clubs have four major IT technology platforms.?

1. Data (payroll, email, club management software, Word, Excel, and other applications)

2. Phones?

3. Wi-Fi (member, guest, and admin Wi-Fi)

4. Security cameras

Each system requires cabling and support. New security camera systems are based on internet protocol (IP) standards, which are also common in data, phone, and Wi-Fi systems. All four major IT platforms are converging to IP protocol.?

How does a club convert to an IP security camera system? There are two major factors to consider.

1. It’s not easy.

2. It generally takes several years.

The good news is you can often leverage the investment in coax cabling and analog cameras. You can convert the coax cameras to an IP security camera platform. This is a stopgap.?

Most clubs won’t have $75,000 to replace an outdated security camera system all at once. But by strategically replacing cameras and cabling at $10,000 to $15,000 a year over three to four years, you can “step” your way into the IP security platform. Each step builds on those taken earlier.?

What does a good IP security camera system look like? An IP-based security camera system has several attributes.?

• One-time licensing costs. Avoid IP security camera software with annual fees. There are several solid IP security camera software vendors offering one-time license fees, saving the club thousands of dollars over five to 10 years.
• Open architecture. Use IP security software that runs with Microsoft operating systems and Dell, HP, or IBM hardware. The club can then easily change hardware or software vendors or mix and match cameras.?
• Built-in analytics. Use cameras with analytics built right in. Analytics enhance investigations. You can do keyword searches, for example. Looking for a person wearing a blue sweater in a specified time period? Type the key words “blue sweater” to see the movements of everyone wearing blue sweaters.?
• High-resolution cameras. The higher the megapixels (MP), the higher the resolution. IP cameras come in three, five, seven, nine and 10 MP. Clubs generally use five MP for the base camera.
• Built-in infrared. Infrared (IR) cameras yield good clarity in poorly lit areas and at night, so you can see events in your maintenance facility at 3 a.m. as clearly as those at 3 p.m.

The combination of one-time license costs, open architecture and high resolution five MP IP cameras with built-in analytics and infrared should be the cornerstone of every private club’s security camera system. There are many ways to set up and maintain security camera systems, but a good private club security camera system will include at least several of these attributes. ?BR

Noel Wixsom is founder of Country Club Technology Partners (CC Tech), please contact him at [email protected] or (510) 589-4512.