CCTV vs Security Alarms: Which is better?
Both CCTV and intruder alarms are stalwarts of the modern security industry but the debate over which is more important is one that has raged within the security industry for many years.
Of course, an expert in security and CCTV, Prime Secure, for example, would never tell you that these technologies are one or the other, and are both far more effective working together as part of one cohesive security system than they are individually.
That said there is still a conversation to have in the CCTV vs alarm system debate, and we are here to have it.
First we must look at the importance of the two systems in the modern security world.
CCTV
CCTV is one of the only security tools that will actually record incidents that occur, rather than simply detecting them.
This makes them far and away the best tool for law enforcement to use to identify and track down the perpetrators of crime.
Many criminals have been brought to justice over the past 50 years thanks to the rise in CCTV technology that has also occurred during this period.
Alarm Systems
Alarm systems might not visually track intruders on your site, but when it comes to real-time detection and crime prevention, they absolutely thrive.
CCTV might be great for recording crimes happening, but the vast majority of systems won’t do anything to prevent them from happening, beyond their presence alone that is a significant deterrent if it is spotted by a would-be intruder.
Alarm systems are designed to alert home or business owners, their neighbours, and any security firm that is responsible for security on a certain property to the presence of an intruder. They are also designed to scare away said intruder by alerting him to the fact he has been spotted.
Nothing sends a criminal fleeing faster than the blare of an alarm after all. Over the years, alarm systems have become far more effective and reliable thanks to technological developments such as the integration of features such as motion detectors and glass break detectors.
Monitored alarm systems are by far the most effective in preventing crime as all activations will be sent immediately to a designated security company, or the police, who will then respond in real time.
Which is best?
At the end of the day, if there was a world where you have to pick directly between CCTV and alarm systems your decision would depend on the security requirements of your company.
If real-time detection is the number one priority, an alarm system is slightly superior, whilst CCTV is more effective for criminal identification and law enforcement investigations.
That said, modern CCTV systems often have features of an alarm system built in, such as motion detection and intruder detection. This, combined with the peace of mind that if something does happen it will be recorded in HD, may give CCTV the edge.
Luckily, we don’t live in a world where you need to choose. Do yourself a favour, pick both, and create a safe and happy environment on your property today.