CCTV for Small Businesses: What You Actually Need (And What You Don’t)
April 11, 2026 — by admin
CCTV is one of the best investments a small business can make. It deters opportunist theft, protects staff, helps resolve disputes, and can reduce your insurance premiums. But the options out there are overwhelming — and plenty of businesses end up with systems that are either inadequate or far more complex than they need.
Here’s a practical guide to get you started.
What Type of Cameras Do You Actually Need?
For most small business premises, IP cameras are the right choice. They record in HD, connect over your existing network, and can be viewed remotely from your phone. They’re far superior to the older analogue systems and don’t cost significantly more.
You’ll typically want:
- External cameras covering entrances, car parks, and loading areas
- Internal cameras for reception areas, stockrooms, or cash handling areas
- A dedicated recorder (NVR) or cloud storage to retain footage
Resolution and Storage
4MP or higher is recommended for any camera that needs to capture readable number plates or facial features. Lower resolution cameras may look fine on a monitor but can be too blurry to be evidentially useful when you need them most.
Storage: most businesses need a minimum of 30 days of retained footage. We’ll calculate the right storage capacity based on your number of cameras and recording schedule.
Outdoor vs Indoor Cameras
Outdoor cameras must be rated IP66 or higher for weatherproofing. Don’t assume any camera will do outside — water ingress is the most common reason cameras fail prematurely.
The Importance of Professional Installation
Positioning is everything. A camera that’s pointed slightly wrong, too high, or placed where it’ll be obscured by a delivery van won’t capture what you need. We carry out a site survey before every installation to ensure full coverage with no blind spots.
At Geni-Tech, we supply and install CCTV systems for businesses across Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire — all fully configured and tested before we leave, with remote access set up on your phone.