December 19, 2017

Design Tips for Digital Signage: Using Color

We’ve covered how to use outdoor digital signage in Chicago before, and even the types of messages to convey. Yet what about the nitty-gritty design philosophy you should employ? You want maximum effect. You want potential customers passing by and being moved to action. Digital signage in Chicago captures attention because we’ve increasingly trained our […]
December 18, 2017

How to Deal with CCTV Camera Vandalism

CCTV cameras in Chicago can be vandalized in a number of ways. This allows criminals to destroy the camera or reduce its effectiveness in a way that lets them continue their crime without visual evidence. It’s a step many burglars employ, but sometimes vandals will do it just to be destructive and cost your business […]
December 17, 2017

What are CCTV Cameras Used for Beside Security?

We write a lot about CCTV cameras in Chicago being used for security. It’s for good reason. They’re effective in deterring crime and providing evidence when and where a crime is committed. A good CCTV system can cover an entire area and record activity for review. Yet this isn’t the only use for CCTV cameras. […]
December 16, 2017

What Type of Fire Alarm is Best for Me?

For larger buildings, a smart fire alert system that can track fires room to room and feed this information to responding emergency personnel is smart. For a store with only a few rooms, you can feel safer in sticking with a more basic alert system that ensure personnel are safe and evacuated. Yet what type […]
December 15, 2017

Businesses Must Practice Fire Safety Drills

There are federal, state, and local laws regarding what employees must know about their business’s fire alert system. First of all, employees must be aware of the type of emergencies they can expect at a place of business. There will be local guidelines for this. Emergency Action Plans You’ll need an emergency action plan for […]
December 14, 2017

Use Smart Cards to Track Personnel Flow in a Facility

Tracking personnel flow in a large facility can be difficult. It’s made easier by using smart cards. These are cards that carry a microprocessor. This microprocessor can interact with access control card readers and provide information to an automated system that’s built to record and log personnel movement. In the event of a theft or […]
December 12, 2017

Don’t Rely on Dummy Cameras

Some business owners may not think that a CCTV system is worth it. They use fake dummy cameras instead when securing their business. Alternately, they may install one or two real cameras along with four or five fake ones. This is a bad idea that can get you into some trouble. Deterrent or Distraction? The […]
December 11, 2017

Advantages and Disadvantages of Electronic Card Access

Electronic card access can break down into a few different categories. Each is more secure than the last, but let’s look at the advantages and disadvantages each type of electronic card access brings to the table when securing your campus or facility: Magnetic Stripe Cards These are good for low level security. They can keep […]
December 10, 2017

The Difference Between Thermal Imaging and Active IR

When we talk security cameras in Chicago, night vision almost always comes up. In the Fall and Winter, we get some long nights. When it’s not freezing, that leaves ample opportunity for burglars to operate at night. One of the most talked about needs is being able to see at night, but not just this. […]