Use this guide to improve discovery and decision-making. It is general educational information—not a substitute for a site assessment, signed scope, manufacturer guidance, or legal and compliance advice.
Define the business purpose
State what each camera should help the business observe or review. Avoid unnecessary coverage and consider employee, customer, visitor, and neighboring-property privacy.
Design for the environment
Lighting, distance, angle, weather, ceiling height, field of view, image detail, network capacity, power, recording location, and retention all affect the system.
Control access and evidence
Define authorized viewers, administrator ownership, remote access, password and multifactor expectations, export procedures, retention, deletion, and incident handoff.
Confirm U.S. legal and trade requirements
Audio recording, notices, workplace monitoring, permits, electrical work, low-voltage licensing, and retention obligations can vary by state and locality. Confirm applicable requirements before installation.