two security cameras

How to Make Your Business Premises Safer in Pensacola

Security is one of those critical elements of any business premises that cannot be ignored.

Commercial properties of any size typically hold several valuable assets and business owners are required to go the extra mile to safeguard their employees, expensive furniture pieces, cash, sensitive documents, and other valuables from robberies and vandalism.

Read ahead to learn how to maximize security at your business premise in Pensacola.

Security Procedures

Firstly, make sure all the occupants of your building are made aware of security procedures and ensure that they’re following them consistently.

For example, don’t let unauthorized personnel enter restricted areas in the building without authorization. Don’t let employees without authorization piggyback on another employee who has. This can lead to several security concerns that could easily be prevented with safety measures.

Also, encourage your employees to interact with anyone who looks a little suspicious. They could start with, “can I help you?” or “is there something that I can help you find?” to identify if the person is safe or not.

Install Monitored Alarm Systems

One piece of technology that can provide security to your commercial building is a monitored alarm system. Whenever there is any lurker outside your building or someone involved in suspicious activity, these alarms will instantly notify you and the authorities.

Monitored system alarms are very effective when it comes to alerting the authorities so they can arrive right on time. Their high-decibel siren will also make anyone else present in the building aware of the danger and prepare themselves.

Alarm systems are also very useful for detecting any incoming storm, flood, or earthquake that could impact the structure of your building.

Security Cameras

security cameras outside a building

File name: white-security-cameras

Alt-text: security cameras outside a building

A high-tech security or surveillance system is an excellent way to maximize security in your commercial property. Security systems not only discourage criminals from targeting your building but help to deter crime because they allow you to monitor the entire building from every angle.

Security staff can monitor the cameras and look for suspicious movement around your building.

You can consider installing security cameras in the following locations:

  • Storage facility or warehouse
  • All entry and exit points
  • Parking lot or garage
  • Elevator
  • Restricted rooms and areas
  • Loading docks
  • Where employees usually work

Ready to invest in high-quality security and surveillance systems in Pensacola?

Reach out to us at MAX Video Security today! We are one of Florida’s leading security service providers and have over a decade of experience providing robust security solutions at the most competitive rates.

Our range of services includes B2B IT services, home security system installation, media room custom theatre setup, digital signage, and more.

Drop us a message here today for more information.

a room with a TV screen and a plant.

4 Tips to Design a Stunning Media Room in Your Pensacola Home

A media room is a must in every home.

Whether you have limited square footage in your home or renting your living space, indulging in high-quality entertainment from a cozy room with comfortable furnishings, a coffee table for snacks, and breathable accessories is essential.

The holiday season is all about family gatherings and spending time with your friends. So what better reason to craft an inspiring media room that sparks joy?

Read ahead to learn all the tips to design a stunning media room in your Pensacola home.

1. The Lighting Can Make All the Difference

The right kind of lighting in your media room can make it appear more luxurious and instantly elevate your living space.

Indulge in new and modern light fixtures like statement-making pendants or table lamps with alabaster shades to set a comforting mood. Make sure to invest in a dimmer to set the mood whenever you’re hosting a movie night or having a cozy evening by yourself.

2. The Perfect Coffee Table

A well-crafted coffee table can entirely change the look of your living space.

Consider getting a strikingly bold coffee table in a soothing creamy hue, and you can create a stunning tablescape with objects of varying heights. A coffee table is a media room staple that can add unrestrained artsy elegance no matter where you place it.

3. Craft a Cozy Seating Area

a room with wooden floors.

Don’t forget to add a cozy seating area where you can sit and enjoy TV shows and movies for endless hours into the night. You can consider adding your favorite vintage furnishings or something more modern, like a plush velvet couch with channel tufting.

4. Get Professional Media Room Installations

Now that we have decided on all the design elements of your media room, it’s time to focus on its technical aspects.

Finding the perfect spot to add all the technical and audio-visual elements to your media room is essential. This is where our skilled technicians can help.

We will evaluate your space and find the best spot where we can install custom wiring for appropriate lighting and get internet access. We will also ensure that we expertly hide away any hanging wire out of sight behind discreet tubing.

We will also help you select the most suitable electronic and audio-visual equipment that is appropriate for the size of your media room.

Having trouble identifying the right space to set up your media room?

Our professionals in Pensacola can help.

At MAX Video Security, we provide the most top-notch home theatre setup services all over Florida. With our in-depth understanding and expertise, we can help you turn any corner of your home into the perfect multipurpose media room.

We also provide a range of other services, including business security system installation, home security system installation, B2B IT services, digital signage security, and more.

Just drop us a message here, and we will be more than happy to provide you with any required information.

two cameras

How to Keep Your Home Safer in Tallahassee

The idea of getting burglarized or a victim of property crime is no less than a nightmare. According to a report, there were around 11,794 burglary incidents in the US in 2021.

Whether it’s a lurker, a burglar, or an intruder, it’s essential to take all the precautionary steps to keep your family safe from any harm.

Having a robust security system installed in your home is a surefire way to prevent any break-ins and theft cases. It’s also important to properly assess your property and identify any vulnerabilities that can enable a burglar.

Read ahead to learn how to make your home safe from any home invasions and burglaries.

Get Two Locks

a blue door with a lock.

Trust us when we say this, get two locks. A home with a single lock is an easy target for any burglary. Opportunists will observe whether your home is easy to break into or requires extra effort.

It’s more than likely that a burglar will choose the one that requires less effort.

Close the Garage Door

An open garage door is an open invitation for any intruder who’s looking to barge into your home. You could also be providing anyone access to come in and steal your lawn-care equipment, tools, or bicycles.

Make a mental note to always shut the garage door each time you’re exiting or entering the house. If you’re someone who’s constantly forgetting to close the garage door, you can consider investing in an automatic garage door opener to control the garage door from your phone.

An automatic garage door opener will also notify you if you’ve left the door open and it needs to be closed.

Install a High-Quality Home Security System

A good home security system will provide you with maximized safety and ease of mind.

Firstly, a home security system protects your property from every angle. A home security system will instantly alarm you whether a burglar is lurking outside the property or if there is an incoming storm that could do major structural damage to your home.

A home security system comes with a control panel and a professional monitoring device that will keep you prepared for all types of emergencies.

Home security systems deter burglars. A study conducted by a professor at the Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology revealed that 60% of break-ins are planned 24 hours before the attempt, and 83% always look for a sign of an alarm before they proceed.

A home security system also features home automation features that give homeowners a chance to save energy and secure their doors and windows.

Ready to invest in a high-quality home security and surveillance system? Get in touch with us at MAX Video Security today! We have over a decade of experience providing the most reliable security solutions in Tallahassee

Our range of services includes home security system installations, B2B IT services, media room, custom theatre setup, and digital signage security.

Contact us today to learn more about our security services.

a bunch of security cameras.

4 Reasons to Have Surveillance Solutions for Your Retail Locations in Tallahassee

Retail is a competitive industry, especially in a populated city like Tallahassee. Many reports reveal that retail locations lose the most items due to sheer negligence and theft daily. Even the smallest of incidents can lead to significant losses.

This is why retail locations need to have surveillance cameras and a robust security system that keeps the area safe from every angle.

Let’s take a comprehensive look at why you should consider investing in surveillance solutions for your retail locations in Tallahassee.

1. To Prevent Employee Theft

According to a statistics report, 75% of employees admit they stole at least once from their employer.

Internal thefts are the cause of a third of business bankruptcies in the US and the loss of 5% of the annual revenue of an organization. Companies typically have to lower the payroll or delay promotions to cover the losses. But these thefts can be dramatically minimized by implementing a quality security and surveillance system.

The presence of a surveillance system helps to deter employee theft and even capture visual evidence if a staff member is involved in stealing from their place of employment.

2. Get Criminal Evidence

a camera installed on a white wall.

Criminal evidence is essential when it comes to determining how the crime was committed and who is connected to the case. Without any clear evidence, it’s possible that you won’t have a strong case and an innocent individual can suffer the consequences.

With a top-notch surveillance system, you will be able to provide proof that a crime was committed at the premises and this will ensure that any valuable assets are protected.

You wouldn’t even know valuable items are being pocketed or siphoned off until it’s too late. Make sure you have security cameras installed on all the floors of your retail store including the storage area and the warehouses.

3. Maximized Safety for Employees and Customers

Every business’s main goal is to ensure the safety of its employees and customers. It’s important to have a high-quality security and surveillance system to provide maximum protection in any retail store. Even a single event of theft or vandalism can cost a business significant dollars.

4. Remote Monitoring

Security camera installation helps business owners remotely monitor all business activities from the comfort of their desks. No matter how many retail stores you’re managing, a good surveillance system will help you oversee all business operations and employee and customer behavior regardless of the geographical location of the subunit.

This gives you better control of your business operations and helps protect your valuable assets.

Looking for professional and reliable security camera installation services in Tallahassee? Get in touch with us at MAX Video Security. We have some of the most advanced security systems with special AI technology and custom servers.

Reach out to us today for home automation systems, digital signage security, B2B surveillance, or audio and security system installations.

A person breaking into a house with a security camera pointed at them

5 Factors To Consider When Installing Security Cameras For Your Daytona Beach Home

From the boardwalk and pier to the stunning beaches and amazing entertainment opportunities, Daytona Beach has a lot to offer.

Having a home here is like being on a dream vacation, except for the violent crime rate of the city which can turn your dream into a living nightmare. Statistics show that Daytona Beach’s violent crime is Crime in Daytona Beach Florida which is much higher than the US average.

So, if you’ve invested in a home here, investing in security camera installations should be the next step.

Here’s everything you need to consider, though.  

Your Budget

For obvious reasons, you need to start by considering your budget. There are several different kinds of surveillance systems, starting from the most basic features to more advanced ones.

Your budget will help decide what kind of system you can pick and how many security cameras you can fit in it, along with some other useful add-ons. Having a fixed budget is important because we assure you the world of surveillance is wide and fascinating, and you’d want to buy it all!

Consider All Entry and Exit Points

The next thing you’d want to consider is the most vulnerable spots of your home, i.e., the entrances and exits. Generally, front doors and back doors are obvious candidates for surveillance because this is where most people would enter.

However, burglars aren’t known for their politeness, so there’s a significant chance they won’t knock on your front door and would prefer the window—make sure you have security cameras covering all windows and balconies.

Think About the Power Source

All outdoor security cameras need a power source, and this is something that really does need to be considered. Many years ago, the only option was wired security cameras, and that’s where the cameras got their power from the nearest power outlet. However, these wires can easily be cut to make your cameras useless.

The second option with wired security cameras is to just hide the cables. Or you could consider wireless security cameras or battery-operated ones. These options, of course, have their own pros and cons that you need to assess with your security system supplier.

Make Sure the Cameras Are Easily Visible

One mistake many people make when installing home security cameras is hiding the cameras. This is not very helpful unless you’re trying to catch a specific person or incident on camera—which is not the case for most home security installations.

Ideally, you should consider camera placement in which the camera is clearly visible. In this way, it’ll serve as a deterrent for potential criminals.

DIY or Professional Home Security System Installation?

A person installing a security camera

A final thing you need to consider is DIY versus professional installations. With all the YouTube tutorials and easily accessible security and surveillance kits on Amazon, it can be very tempting to do this on your own and save a few bucks, but that’s not a very smart choice as a long-term investment.

Professional security experts like the ones we have on our team at Max Video & Security know which security and surveillance solutions are best for a specific home, neighborhood, and family.

DIY installations aren’t necessarily that long-lasting or customized.

Get in touch with us to discuss this further.

A security camera installed in a retail store

5 Ways To Prevent Employee Theft In Your Daytona Beach Store

When we’re running a business, we’re naturally more wary of outsiders than we are of our own team when it comes to security. However, you can’t ignore the fact that about 95% of all businesses do experience employee theft at some point.

It’s also no surprise that one of the most common types of employee theft is money theft which is something most retail store owners may experience.

As Daytona Beach’s top security system suppliers, we have a few tips that may help you prevent employee theft at your store.

Do Background Checks Before Hiring

This pretty much goes without saying, but any new employees you’re hiring need to go through rigorous background checks. This means asking for and cross-checking their references, taking drug tests, and running a quick search online in available public records.

And of course, if you come across any red flags at all, especially ones that put their professionalism and ethics in question, do not hire them.

Take Time to Get To Know Your Employees

Once you hire an employee with a squeaky-clean record, your job is done, right? Wrong. Your investigation and background check could have loopholes, and people and their circumstances can change at any time, so you need to really know your employees to notice these subtle changes.

Always, look out for these behavior changes that point toward potential theft:

  • Sudden interest in working late
  • A sudden lifestyle upgrade (where their paycheck doesn’t explain it)
  • Drinking habits and drug use
  • Persisting borrowing
  • Strong objections to stricter policies

If you notice any such signs, try and keep a closer check on such employees, at least for a while.

Stick to Good Bookkeeping Habits

Retail stores have a great deal of bookkeeping to take care of, but you can’t be careless with it. Proper bookkeeping will ensure there is no loophole to enable employee theft.

So, for instance, you should ensure no single employee is handling all or too many parts of a transaction. Also, any purchases, reimbursements, payrolls, and other financial proceeds should go through a senior employee or manager. Also, consider hiring a professional bookkeeper to review everything once a month to ensure everything is in order.

Do Random Checks

A person hiding a product inside a bag in a store

If you’re closely involved in your store’s tasks, you’re likely to notice any discrepancies. However, many store owners make the mistake of having a set schedule of checking the books, cash registers, supplies, inventory, and other financial aspects.

If someone is stealing from you, they can easily hide evidence in time before your checks. A better approach is to make a habit of doing random checks. This will deter all potential in-house thieves.

Consider the Best Surveillance Options

One of the most basic ways to prevent employee theft is to install high-tech security gear in your store. However, make sure to not DIY the security camera installation, but get a professional security team on board. Not only will they help you with the right camera choices, but they will also help you figure out the perfect placement and installation.

Not sure where to find the perfect business security systems? Let us help!

At Max Video & Security, we offer some of the best security and surveillance solutions for commercial and residential properties in Daytona Beach.

Get in touch with us for more information.

A 360-degree camera placed on a high wall.

How Security Cameras And Surveillance Solutions Have Evolved Over The Years

Security cameras and surveillance solutions are instrumental in protecting homes and businesses across the world and play a vital role in ensuring that residents, clients, and employees feel safe on the premises.

While technology such as our PTZ cameras and surveillance camera in Florida and Indianapolis are some of the most advanced, things weren’t always this straightforward. These systems have undergone years of development and evolution to be as complex as they are now, and here is a brief overview of that process:

The origin of CCTV cameras for wartime

Like many incredible inventions that we use in our daily lives now, CCTV cameras also originated during wartime. Like computers, radars, and of course, WiFi was invented by Hedy Lamarr; cameras were also devised to track and monitor enemy activity, particularly weapons. The man responsible for designing them was named Walter Burch. He initially created them to monitor Nazi V-2 rocket testing, and it was his technology that later evolved and was brought into the mainstream over the next few decades.

The migration of surveillance technology to the US

Eventually, video surveillance and security solutions and technology made their way to American shores, enabling scientists to test nuclear technology from a distance. The technology helped researchers develop nuclear technology and weapons, which eventually helped the US become a nuclear power. In fact, special fake towns known as doom towns were constructed to test out bombs and see the extent of damage and devastation from each bomb.

Soon the technology was adapted for commercial use and distributed to businesses and commercial clients by a company known as Vericon, and several decades later, companies like ours offer surveillance solutions in Florida and the Midwest. Eventually, the technology went on to be used by other distributors and agencies across the world, including the UK.

The use of CCTV for the Royals and UK transportation

As CCTV surveillance cameras made their way into the public domain, many countries, including the US, and the UK, began implementing their use for widespread protection and monitoring. British intelligence used CCTV cameras for securing the premises when royalty from other countries would visit, and then eventually made use of these cameras on public transportation. The use of CCTV cameras at bus stations and train stations started off in London but became popular in other cities, including Liverpool and other areas in the UK. Currently, advanced technology has enabled the use of ‘invisible’ cameras on the London tube, offering greater protection to passengers and commuters each day, recording thousands of hours of footage each year.

A rotating camera placed on a high beam on the roof.

The development of home surveillance systems

A major breakthrough in security cameras and surveillance solutions came when home surveillance became an option. The first real, home-use security camera was developed by a woman in the US, named Marie Van Brittan Brown in 1966. With a little help from her husband, who was also an electrician, she prototyped and created an audio-visual security system that enabled her to see who was at the door due to a camera and monitor setup. This invention came out of necessity, as she was a nurse and often worked late hours, and needed to feel secure in her own home, which was in a sketchy neighborhood with high crime rates.

The couple received a patent for their invention in 1969, officially making them the original inventors of the home surveillance and security system. Their patent and the closed-circuit system eventually became the basis for other developments used by inventors, and the duo were also recipients of an award from the National Science Committee.

The introduction of video recording technology

The next major development in security cameras and technology was the ability to record footage. Rather than just monitoring it in real-time, developers found the ability to use VCRs, tapes, and eventually DVDs and other digital recording methods. This enabled homeowners, businesses, and law enforcement to record large volumes of footage efficiently, storing it for different periods of time and using it when needed. They were able to track and monitor criminal activity, break-ins, and footfall and keep an eye out on their properties more conveniently without worrying about losing this valuable footage and data.

Soon, surveillance systems became commonplace in public places, especially high-crime areas and other locations where protection and close monitoring were necessary.  

The use of multiplex video streaming and viewing

Another breakthrough that happened in the 1990s and 2000s was the use of multiplex video streaming and viewing. Developers were able to stream footage from multiple cameras across a building or region onto a single screen using wireless technology and software, which was a game changer. More and more commercial clients began adopting business security systems in Indianapolis and other states.

Again, though, the advancement from multiplexes to DVRs and the use of SD cards further streamlined and made video surveillance more accessible, efficient, and reducing the need for physical records such as CDs and videotapes.

A camera in a parking lot recording movement.

The security and surveillance systems of the present

Today, security cameras in Indianapolis and across the US are incredibly advanced. They can record in higher definition and have the ability to zoom, pan, tilt, and offer 180-360 degree coverage. You can cover a larger surveillance area with a single camera and record more precise details such as number plates, faces, names, and key identifiers if needed.

Invest in state-of-the-art surveillance and security systems for your home and business in Florida and Indianapolis through us, and we’ll ensure that your property is well-protected and secure. We offer both business security systems and home security system installation focusing on developing unique security systems that are scaled and designed to your needs and requirements. We’re offering free estimates here, or contact us to learn more about our services.