Privacy: The weak link for video security

Video surveillance and the rise of body-worn cameras have drawn attention to the many ways government creates records about its citizens. This growing volume of data – and concerns regarding its storage and use – has not gone unnoticed by law enforcement agencies and officials at the highest levels of the government. In March, the Obama administration released a report from the President's Task Force on 21^st Century Policing. The report calls attention to the increased use of body-worn cameras and the associated privacy concerns. The report comes as the administration and Washington are focused on cybersecurity and the challenges and opportunities associated with the vast troves of data collected by government and technology companies alike.

However, neither the president's report nor the conversation in Washington have honed in on the need for law enforcement agencies to improve their ability to safeguard citizens' privacy and provide security for video data. Today, police body-worn camera programs are being rolled out across the country. The Washington Post recently reported that the Justice Department plans to spend $20 million on police body cameras nationwide. While video surveillance helps law enforcement to protect citizens, it's important to understand that video data also creates risks to citizens' privacy that we must address. This involves taking a look at the existing protocols and identifying new measures that need to be implemented. 

The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) is doing exactly that.

Video Surveillance and the Cloud: Opportunities and Challenges
The collection and analysis of video data has become the norm. However, storing sensitive information is currently regulated by outdated security standards—or by no standards at all—that do not offer the necessary protections to prevent hackers or bad actors. Law enforcement, led by the IACP, is addressing this issue head-on with its recently released guidance on video data and cloud computing. The guidelines focus on law enforcement's operational needs and, most importantly, ensure the security of systems and video data.

As the updated guidelines state: "Recent calls for the expansion of data collection by law enforcement officers through, for example, the use of body-worn cameras and other sensor devices, only serve to reemphasize the need for clearly articulated policies regarding cloud-based data storage."

As the volume of video surveillance data stored by law enforcement grows, it is imperative that agencies establish the necessary legal and compliance framework for the storage and sharing of highly sensitive video data, including full compliance with the FBI's Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) security policy. Complying with CJIS standards provides an added layer of security to support the processes already in place, such as routine audits and vigilant background checks for data center employees. Moving forward, IACP's updated guidelines are particularly important given the risk of rogue insiders, as evidenced by actors such as Edward Snowden. 

Hacking, unauthorized access, or even the misuse of video data has staggering implications for the privacy and safety of victims, perpetrators and law enforcement officials. At a local level, there have been instances of unauthorized access. For example, the city of Redlands, California had its city-wide surveillance system accessed and compromised through an unsecured wireless network. The use of video surveillance, while deemed necessary, must not jeopardize citizens' privacy.

A Look at FedRAMP, NIEM, and Video Surveillance 

Law enforcement and the IACP understand the need to address these concerns, and the recently released IACP guidance helps drive the debate on the need to address privacy and data security concerns at all levels of law enforcement by addressing the shortcomings of security policies today. While existing security policies have established a set of standards within silos of the federal government, there is still a need to safeguard sensitive information stored and shared across agencies via the cloud. 

To that end, two existing frameworks should look to incorporate IACP's new video data guidelines. This includes: 

·National Information Exchange Model (NIEM): A framework voluntarily used by all 50 states and many federal agencies that establishes a common language and set of rules to govern information exchange; and 

·Federal Risk Authorization and Management Program (FedRAMP): A program that provides a standard approach to securing cloud computing. 

NIEM and FedRAMP can serve as the much-needed platform to implement necessary changes across the government. The adoption of the IACP's guidance on video data by these institutional actors would establish the necessary protections for the sharing and use of video data across federal agencies and states. 

A Call to Action
The Obama administration fully understands the ubiquity of big data and the risks and rewards. And since all signs point toward the increased use of video surveillance and analysis, this may need to be the focus of the administration's next report on 21^st Century Policing. Ultimately, the adoption of the updated IACP guidelines by NIEM and FedRAMP would provide important safeguards to bolster law enforcement agencies' security, protect citizens' privacy, and mitigate the risks associated with video data.

Council approves video surveillance in parking platforms

The third time’s the charm, at least for those in favor of having security cameras installed in the $12 million parking platforms being built in downtown Rochester.

Rochester Mayor Jeffrey Cuthbertson said the City Council has debated the issue twice, each time opting to leave surveillance cameras out of the equation for a number of reasons — including the city’s low crime rate and its active and efficient Police Department. But a grass-roots effort — namely a petition organized by local business owner Linda Lucaj, of Main Street Deli, and signed by nearly 2,500 people — helped encourage the council to reconsider the issue for a third time due to unease in the community about the lack of cameras.

On June 8, following the recommendation of the Parking Advisory Committee, the Rochester City Council unanimously approved a “passively monitored” security system with cameras at the gates and in enclosed areas.

Cuthbertson said all seven council members voted to not have cameras at one point in time, but said he was glad the council found a compromise that works.
“This process wasn’t always neat and wasn’t always measured, in my estimation, but sometimes good compromises can come from a tough debate,” he said.

Rochester City Councilman Stuart Bikson agreed.

“I didn’t think we were going to get there, so I am very pleased to support this. I think it’s a good compromise. I think people will feel safer, and I think that’s what we are about. We are a safe city. That, to me, was never an issue,” he said.

PAC member Eldon Thompson said a tremendous amount of discussion, debate and resources went into the recommendation. The PAC considered four options — a fully monitored camera system with capital costs ranging from about $270,000 to $356,000, a passively monitored camera system at $131,000, a record-only system with no active or passive monitoring at a cost of $87,000, and a passively monitored system for only the gate and enclosed areas at $60,000.

“When we looked at the risk in our city versus the cost, there just was no real justification for the high-end camera system. We just don’t have that kind of problem in our city. When we look at the number of instances where there have been police calls to each of the parking areas, in 2014, some of them were as low as 13 instances during an entire year. The top one was 58. When you look at the risk versus the cost, it just didn’t justify spending the extra dollars,” Thompson said.

Passively monitored in the dispatch center by the on-duty dispatchers, the system will include a number of cameras focused on the entry and exit gates, the stairways and the city’s lone parking platform elevator in the west platform. Police Chief Steve Schettenhelm said the system will cost approximately $60,201, with annual ongoing costs of approximately $4,257.

The cameras, he said, will not only help with visitors’ perception of safety and security in the platforms — even though he said Rochester is already safe — but will also allow for operational improvements.

“If the parking platform is backing up, we can see that right away; if someone is having a problem — perhaps a medical issue and trips on the stairwell, that sort of thing — we will be able to see those things as they happen. So, the (system) … is certainly an addition, and a valuable improvement, to the parking platforms going forward. I certainly have been a supporter of video cameras in the parking structures, and I stand by that,” Schettenhelm said.

The good news, Schettenhelm said, is that Rochester is already a very safe city.
“There are a lot of reasons why that is — the police protection, the clientele that arrives here in the city, the fact that we have a vibrant downtown and there are people that see things, and that’s what helps keep the downtown safe. That said, we have a responsibility — with the new parking platforms — to not only provide safety, but the feeling of safety and that sense of security to the people that are visiting our downtown,” he said.

For Cuthbertson, the move was a business decision.

“For me, spending $60,000 so that people can feel safer is a business decision. At the end of the day, it’s a business decision I’m willing to make, based on the fact that there are two new sets of spaces that exist that are unlike anything we have in this community now — that’s the stairwells and elevators,” he said.

He feels the suggested system was a good compromise for the council.

“I hope it will be judged to be a wise decision in the future, and one which is not a bridge to a camera-laden city of Rochester. I certainly don’t want any part of that,” he said.

Cuthbertson said he was excited to close what he referred to as “a rough and tumble debate” and move toward an environment where the city’s downtown business district has more parking than at any time in Rochester’s history.

“This truly is a foundational building block for future success and, in some time, this debate will be something of an afterthought,” he said.

A grand opening ceremony for the east parking platform will be held at 4 p.m. June 25 on East Street, between Fourth and University.


If your city or business is looking for the right team to install and provide high end top resolution cameras please visit our website at www.hdview360.com



source: http://www.candgnews.com/news/council-approves-video-surveillance-parking-platforms-84236

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source: http://www.summitsource.com/antennacraft-hdms9100-mini-state-hdview360-omni-directional-hdtv-antenna-view-amplified-outdoor-aerial-with-internal-programmable-rotator-remote-control-light-green-zone-part-9100-p-6748.html 

Privacy in an age of video surveillance

When it comes to video surveillance and its increasing scope, security and law enforcement officials have great stories.

Facts

Trending

Merchants, law enforcement officials, citizens and others are using video and audio surveillance in more and varied ways. The trending smart surveillance and video analytics global market, at $13.5 billion in 2012, is expected to be more than $35 billion by 2020.

There was the time, according to Bill Stone of ADT Security Services, a business owner was watching over his store via a camera linked to his home laptop and noticed a customer swipe a lighter when the clerk turned to snag a pack of cigarettes. The owner immediately called the store and told the clerk to charge the customer for the lighter in addition to the cigarettes. In other cases, officers tell of cutting through heated arguments when witnesses surface with cellphone videos.

To be sure, the Internet, mobile devices and advanced surveillance equipment have helped the good guys keep a better eye on the bad guys. But, these days, such sophisticated and abundant technology also means all people are being watched and recorded much more often and in many more places.

You likely are being recorded walking into stores and banks, gassing up vehicles, visiting parks and handing over your license and registration during a traffic stop. “Video analytics” more and more often automatically analyze camera feeds to count people, register temperature changes and, via statistical algorithms, identify suspicious behavior. A New York Times/CBS News poll revealed that 78 percent of Americans welcome video monitoring.

For those who sell the equipment, this is big business: A ReportsNReports analysis estimated the size of the smart surveillance and video analytics global market at $13.5 billion in 2012; it is expected to reach more than $35 billion by 2020.

Add in the eyes on social media — from Facebook and Snapchat to YouTube and Twitter — and the days of complete privacy are a thing of the past.

“NO SECRETS”

Robert Allan, an employee at Tattoo Gallery, in Pine Plaza a few steps from the Ocala Police Department, is not fazed by having a surveillance camera trained on him at work.

“I appreciate having it. It keeps everything safe, and there are no secrets,” Allan said.

The shop has about 20 security cameras that watch and record everything that happens — except in the bathroom and piercing room.

In a business where clients sometimes ask the artists to tattoo sensitive body parts, it is important to have cameras watching every move so there’s no misunderstanding, Allan said.

“I’d rather have it than not,” added the shop’s manager, Jayson Duncan.

Duncan said another reason they have cameras in the building is the shop is a “cash-based business,” and employees need to see everything occurring around them.

Allan said the surveillance system also helps with their insurance carrier in the event there is a dispute; they receive a discount because of the added layer of protection.

Inside Ocala city limits, surveillance cameras are mounted on utility polls, roof tops and other areas.

Mayor Kent Guinn said the cameras have been in place for years. He said city officials are not spying on people, but that the cameras are useful in catching people committing crimes and identifying traffic accident hot spots.

“I don’t feel we’re trampling on anyone’s rights,” Guinn said. “We’re just monitoring criminal activities.”

ACCOUNTABILITY AND PUBLIC SAFETY

Law enforcement has long used a variety of surveillance mechanisms. The latest trend is equipping officers with body cameras.

Lt. Terry Holland of the Belleview Police Department said his agency has only had body cameras for two months but that the number of complaints against officers have become “almost non-existent.”

Holland said the body cameras are particularly useful during an active investigation.

“At the crime scene, the officer can walk around and take pictures and tape interviews,” he said.

OPD also uses surveillance capabilities to ensure officers do their jobs effectively.

OPD spokeswoman Sgt. Angy Scroble said when officers get inside their marked patrol vehicles and turn on the computer, a signal from the laptop is sent to the communication center, where the officer’s activities can be tracked and monitored.

“It’s safety, as well as an accountability measure,” Scroble said.

If, for example, an officer is on a call and no one has heard from him or her in an appropriate amount of time, another officer can investigate to see why the initial officer has not responded. In terms of accountability, officials can see the different areas an officer has visited and the calls they have worked.

Each in-car camera can also serve as a body camera.

Recently, Scroble said, an officer who had the green light at the intersection of Interstate 75 and West State Road 40 was hit when a motorist ran the red light. The camera clearly showed the motorist violated the officer’s right of way.

“We’re a walking, talking public record,” Scroble said.

PUBLIC/PRIVATE

There are varying state and national laws that address video and audio taping, both publicly and privately.

Scroble said it is not against the law for a citizen to snap a picture of law enforcement officials or videotape them while doing their jobs.

“We’re subjected to being more video-taped than anyone else because of what we do and the powers of the law that we’re entrusted with,” she said.

In a recent MCSO case, however, following a supervisor’s review of surveillance images from a business in Marion Oaks, five deputies wound up being suspended without pay.

At the conclusion of a drug operation, MCSO officials were closing in on Derrick Price, the alleged ring leader, when Price saw authorities on his home surveillance video. Price ran to a business area less than 2 miles away, where he allegedly surrendered. During the routine review of surveillance images associated with the case, the supervisor raised concerns about excessive use of force. After an internal review, the deputies were suspended. Federal agencies are continuing to investigate the case.

WHAT CUSTOMERS WANT

Dennis Mancino, CEO of HDVIEW360 , said their customers want surveillance cameras for several reasons, including keeping an eye on employees, who may be misbehaving or stealing, and as a deterrent for robbers.

He estimated that 60 percent of people who install security alarms at businesses and homes also want security cameras.

“That’s huge when you have more than one business. It’s a big plus,” Mancino said.

With the technology rapidly changing, Stone said, cameras can range from as small as a match box to as large as one-liter soda bottle.

The higher-end systems, of course, are the most effective. As proof, he tells another story about one of his video systems catching a bad guy. The clerk, he said, was robbed at gunpoint by a masked man. But law enforcement officials identified the suspect by zooming in on the surveillance images and documenting the unique tattoo on the gunman’s wrist.

For more information please visit HDVIEW360.com for more details

source: http://www.ocala.com/article/20150620/articles/150629972

DHS Admits to "Behavioral Detection" Video Surveillance Program at Airports

The current surveillance state has reached a place where it is beginning to resemble the 2002 film Minority Report. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is now attempting to predict crime by doing behavioral analysis of crowds at airports via video surveillance. The program is in the experimental stages and is being conducted using "trained actors posing as passengers, as well as members of the traveling public" according to the 14-page report published online by DHS earlier this month.

The report, which The New American has studied in its entirety, is startling not just in its audacity, but also in its premise. In the beginning of the "war on terror," which was launched in the wake of 9/11, few would have believed that in a decade and a half the American public would have become so desensitized to blanket surveillance that such a program could ever happen in the open.

The experiment, which the DHS plans to conduct at an unspecified time at the Theodore Francis Green Memorial State Airport in Providence, Rhode Island, centers around the "Behavioral Detection Officers (BDOs)" already employed at airports around the country. These BDOs observe passengers and "are trained to identify passengers exemplifying a discrete subset of behavioral indicators" of "malicious intent" in an attempt to prevent acts of terrorism and other crimes at our nation's airports. How effective these BDOs are is a matter of debate. How proper they are is another matter altogether. Any program that relies on spying on the behavior of all travelers to detect "malicious intent" by a few is rightly considered by many to be a breach of the proper province of government.
This new development raises exponentially the stakes in the battle for balancing the needs of security with those of liberty and privacy. The purpose of introducing video surveillance technology into this program is to expand it without expanding personnel. The BDOs will be able to conduct their surveillance from a remote location via video monitors and assess more travelers at a faster rate. Of course, this increases the privacy concerns already present by casting an even broader net and allowing the video images to be archived.
DHS attempts to address these concerns in a Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) also published online. The New American reviewed this PIA and found the following sections concerning:

1.7 Privacy Impact Analysis: Given the amount and type of data collected, discuss the privacy risks identified and how they were mitigated.

Video recordings, without sound, of screening interviews conducted in a DHS screening environment will be collected and analyzed. The privacy risks associated with this effort exist only because the on-site interviewer knows the identity of the individual at the time of the interview. However, PHI will not have access to names or other identifying data other than the video recordings and no record of the identity of the individual will be created or sought as part of the PHI effort. As an additional safeguard during testing, the PHI collection system used in field testing will not include the use of processing algorithms onsite and will not have video display capability, thus ensuring that no information, outcomes, or results can be transferred from the PHI research to the operational environment.

So DHS claims that the Project Hostile Intent (PHI) program will not use "processing algorithms" that could identify the persons who are subjects of this program and that "no information, outcomes, or results can be transferred from the PHI research to the operational environment." So what is all the fuss? They make it sound entirely innocuous. It is — after all — for your protection. And they are taking great pains to insure your privacy. Stop worrying. It's fine.
Even if the deliberately calming tones and language used in section 1.7 of the PIA were true, there would be much to be concerned about. For instance, the past record of TSA agents selecting men and women for pat-downs and full-body scans based on the TSA agents' sexual attraction to particular travelers, as well as other accounts of the abuses and failures of the agency, leave little room to take them at their word that this technology will not likewise be abused.
But even if the public is tempted — beyond reason — to take them at their word, another section of the PIA quickly disabuses them of that misplaced trust.

2.2 What types of tools are used to analyze data and what type of data may be produced?

For this testing period, the computer algorithms will be used to analyze the video images after completion of the videotaping back in the laboratory. The data produced by the algorithms will be an analysis of the individual's behavior based on the situation and environment. Statistical analysis techniques will be used to compare the effectiveness of the computer system to the effectiveness of manual analysis of behavior during screening and against the operational outcome of screening interviews (i.e. did the system accurately identify behaviors that correlate with deception/hostile intent?). When operationally deployed, the information from the computer system will only be used to enable the screener to better determine when to ask additional questions. Asking more questions will enable the screener to determine if an individual's behavior is related to deception or a local environmental variable. During the PHI experiment, screeners will not see or use any output of the PHI system during the actual interview process. No operational decisions will be made using PHI technology. The ultimate goal of the PHI system, when operationally deployed, will be to focus screening on individuals who the PHI system indicate are exhibiting behaviors that suggest deception and further minimize the screening process for other individuals.

After saying in section 1.7 that the video data would not use " processing algorithms onsite" and will not "be transferred from the PHI research to the operational environment," section 2.2 says that "computer algorithms will be used to analyze the video images after completion of the videotaping back in the laboratory." It looks like DHS officials are talking out of both sides of their mouths again.
It is also of note that the PIA — as convoluted as it is — really addresses the privacy concerns of the program only in its testing phase. Once it is operational, the guidelines for testing won't apply.
Setting aside the obviously hollow language of the PIA, the report on the program itself admits, "The video data collection will collect Personally Identifiable Information (PII) in the form of facial images and anthropomorphic data." Furthermore, the video surveillance will also capture video of travelers "at designated areas throughout the airport, including a TSA security checkpoint, ticket counter, baggage claim, and airport entrance."

So on top of having the 2015 version of Minority Report's psychic "precogs" in the role of BDOs attempting to interpret a traveler's irritation at being questioned by TSA agents while he is already chasing the clock trying to catch a flight as "malicious intent," all travelers will be subjected to this type of video surveillance and analysis.

The effectiveness of this program (and of the current role of BDOs) assumes that terrorists aren't training to appear non-plussed and casual as they go about their activities. It also assumes that all travelers are prospective terrorists. If the goal of the 9/11 terrorists was to alter life in the United States to a place where Americans are less free than before, it looks like they succeeded beyond their darkest dreams.

source: http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/item/21088-dhs-admits-to-behavioral-detection-video-surveillance-program-at-airports

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Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Security Cameras

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Here at HD view 360 we want you to have the full scope on the Advantages and disadvantages to Security cameras.. We believe that the Advantages far outweigh any disadvantages one would have with cameras. 

Technology is a double-edged sword. While innovation and upgrades can have several benefits for us, they can also be used to cause trouble.
The majority of us reap its advantages, but a few with vested interests continue to abuse it and make the lives for the rest of us miserable.
The security camera is one of the wonders of modern technology, which is used at homes as well as in offices. It has gained immense popularity as an effective security measure, thanks to the plethora of benefits it offers.
But just like other inventions, security cameras have a few drawbacks as well.
The advantages, however, outnumber the disadvantages, and this revolutionary equipment continues to be popular with those serious about keeping their loved ones and assets safe and secure.
If you’re thinking of installing security cameras at your home or office, but are still in two minds, this post should help clear your confusion.

Advantages

1. Deter Crime

This is the biggest and the most obvious benefit of installing security cameras. Once they are placed, you will be able to see their effect on people almost immediately. Even if they are placed discreetly, you will start feeling a sense of security, which is priceless.
Whether you install the cameras in your home or at the workplace, you can prevent crime from occurring. The mere sight of the camera staring back at them, and the sheer thought of getting caught red-handed are intimidating enough for mischief-makers to be on their best behavior as they would know that their identity and illegal activity have been captured.
Whether you’re experiencing problems related to theft, punctuality, or productivity, your security camera can provide you with the solutions. It empowers you and prevents your home and office from becoming easy targets.

2. Monitor Scenarios and Activities

It is extremely easy to work with security camera systems as they can be placed anywhere as long as there is a power source close by. They come in all shapes and sizes; some are tiny enough to be hidden in plants, pictures, photo frames, etc. Depending on your needs you can buy either hidden cameras or mountable ones.
Never let anyone or anything suspicious out of your sight with security cameras. And while it is recommended that you avoid buying dummy cameras, one cannot stress enough on the importance of fixing real cameras as a solid security measure. Criminals are smart and dummy cameras give themselves away, so there’s really no point in having them.
Real cameras, on the other hand, are extremely helpful as they enable you to monitor the activities of people visiting your home and office as well as the goings-on at these places. This is a great way to detect suspicious people and keep tabs on their activities.

3. Gather Evidence

Having cameras installed in strategic places comes in handy when you need to monitor actions and words of people or during an event. Modern security cameras are not only equipped with high-quality video capabilities, but audio as well. The clear images coupled with flawless sound makes them more efficient than ever at recording a series of happenings.
This is particularly helpful when dealing with a legal scenario, wherein the eye witness may have forgotten a certain important detail or may be providing with an accurate account of what really transpired. With a security camera, the legal authorities can see the series of events as they really unfolded.

4. Arrive at the Right Decisions

Footage from security cameras can help you make correct and fair decisions when settling disputes, both in domestic as well as professional scenarios. Whether it is dealing with a situation involving disagreements within your family, among your employees, or between a customer and your service staff, your doubts can be laid to rest with the help of your camera.
Incorrect, inappropriate or fabricated claims made by customers or other authorities can be sorted out when you make your security camera your ally.

5. Maintain Records

So you got to know of something that happened outside your home or office about a fortnight ago and curiosity is getting the better of you? You can douse it by simply looking up your security records. Cameras record and document everything they see systematically, i.e. as per the date and the time of the event.
Whether it is a crime or a minor tiff, your camera chronicles it, thereby making it easy for you to investigate the actual happenings.

 

 

Disadvantages

1. Privacy Is an Issue

There have been a few instances in the past where security cameras have stirred up controversies, especially in professional setups. There have been cases where employees have objected to being under constant surveillance without their permission and citing the ‘invasion of privacy’ as the reason. A few have also resorted to taking legal action against their employers in relation to this.
Critics of security camera systems have taken offense to them being placed in offices and argued that doing so implies that the employer has either already assumed or is convinced that his employees are up to no good and will do something wrong which is why their activities need to be recorded.

2. It Can be a Costly Affair

While dummy cameras may not be expensive, the real ones costs hundreds, even thousands of dollars depending on the features and the number of cameras and monitoring systems you buy. Getting them installed and their maintenance means added costs. If you’re thinking of installing them yourself, lay that idea to rest unless you have good knowledge of wiring systems or you may end up damaging the cameras.

3. They Can be Vulnerable

When we, as users of security cameras, try to keep ourselves updated on the latest in security systems, we should not forget that intruders and criminals are doing the same too. A clever trespasser will probably know all about them and may have figured out a way to go undetected.
Further, tech-savvy criminals might have understood the technology and worked out ways to disable/disconnect them from their power source. Plus, if he detects your cameras as fake/dummies, they can be utterly useless in any crime prevention.
In worst cases, hackers can play havoc with your security camera system by using the Internet and use them to spy on you instead.
This makes security cameras vulnerable to damage and/or misuse.

4. Can’t Stop Theft

Cameras enable users to record footage for later viewing, and to help nab criminals, and receive justice from the law. They cannot, however, stop a crime when it is in progress. They do not alert neighbors or the police like an alarm system would. This means that you will incur losses even as you run to the court, make insurance claims and reorder stolen inventory, which may no longer make you feel absolutely safe and even cause you to lose faith in them.

Conclusion

Before making the important decision of installing security camera systems, it is better to be equipped with complete knowledge about them, as that will enable you to make an informed decision and help you choose a camera that fulfills your needs and expectations. Once you’ve weighed the pros and cons of setting up this technological marvel, please contact HD View 360 for more information and a comprehensive analysis on what cameras will fit for you needs.

www.hdview360.com


further credit to: http://www.a1securitycameras.com/blog/advantages-disadvantages-using-security-cameras/

Workplace Cameras and Surveillance

Workplace Cameras and Surveillance: Rules for Employers

Filming employees at work may violate their right to privacy.

 

Many employers use cameras and video surveillance in the workplace, often to prevent theft or to monitor what employees are actually doing while on the clock. As long as the company has a legitimate need to film, the areas under surveillance are public, and employees know about the filming, these practices are likely to be upheld by a court. Because filming can implicate privacy rights, however, employers must be very careful not to cross the line. (Employers can learn more about their workers' privacy rights in Nolo's Your Employees' Right to Privacy section.)
Most employees don't mind if retail establishments conduct video surveillance to guard against theft by outsiders. For example, there might be a video camera that tapes everyone who comes in the door or stands in front of the register. But what about employers that use hidden cameras to try to catch their own employees stealing? What about video surveillance of employees while they're working? Or cameras in the bathrooms or locker rooms?

MORE THAN HALF OF EMPLOYERS USE VIDEO SURVEILLANCE

A 2005 survey by the American Management Association showed that more than half of the employers who responded use video surveillance at work to counter theft, violence, or sabotage. And 16% of the employers surveyed used video surveillance to monitor employee performance.

Whether filming employees at work is legal depends on state law and on what images are being captured.

State Laws on Workplace Privacy

Privacy is a cherished value for most of us, and state legislators know it. Most states have passed at least some privacy-related laws. Many of these laws are intended to protect consumers by, for example, limiting the ways companies may use personal information or requiring businesses to maintain the confidentiality of medical information or Social Security numbers.
Some states have also passed laws that deal with workplace privacy, including the use of cameras and video equipment. In California, for example, it's a crime to install a surveillance mirror (one that can be seen through from only one side and looks like a mirror on the other side) in a restroom, shower, fitting room, or locker room. In Connecticut, employers may not operate surveillance equipment in areas designed for employee rest or comfort -- such as restrooms, locker rooms, or employee lounges.
To find out more about your state's workplace privacy laws, contact your state labor department.

Privacy for Certain Employee Activities

Even if your state hasn't passed laws that specifically protect workplace privacy, you almost certainly can't tape or film employees while they are doing certain things at work, such as using the restroom or changing clothes.
If there's no state law that specifically allows or prohibits surveillance, courts determine whether an employee's privacy has been violated by looking at two competing interests: the employer's need to conduct surveillance and the employee's reasonable expectation of privacy. An employee who is using the bathroom or getting undressed has a very strong, and very reasonable, expectation of privacy -- and few (if any) employers will have a substantial enough need to justify filming employees doing these things.

Other activities may also be off-limits for employer surveillance. For example, employers may not secretly film or tape union meetings. Although some courts have ruled against employees who challenged employer surveillance of their activities while on leave for a medical condition or workers' comp injury, these cases often involve fairly clear employee abuse of leave laws. (For example, one employee who was too ill to work was apparently well enough to spend the day at the gym; another took FMLA leave when his request to use vacation time was denied, then recuperated in Las Vegas.) A court could well rule differently if an employer's surveillance strayed into private activities and effectively deterred employees with a legitimate need for leave from exercising their legal rights.

 credit to : http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/workplace-cameras-surveillance-employer-rules-35730.html

Security: IP Cameras vs. Analog Cameras

 

Have you ever seen a crime drama movie or TV show where a bunch of police are gathered around surveillance footage and suddenly one of them says: “Wait! Zoom in on that guy! Enhance the image!” and then suddenly, miraculously, the grainy and blurry footage of what might be vaguely a human becomes a precise, crystal clear vision of the culprit? They identify the perp, bring him in, and case closed.

Well, that's total fiction. In reality, that grainy footage from that analog security camera is only going to get blurrier and grainier when you zoom in for a closer look. But all is not lost! We are indeed living in the future, and IP cameras are the wave of it. No longer does security camera footage have to consist of the poor quality, narrowly focused images we're used to seeing on analog CCTV.
However, it comes at a cost. Not some metaphorical cost, like “your soul” or something, but an actual monetary cost. So you have to ask yourself…Should you hop on the IP train? Well, that's why we're here: to give you the run down so you can decide for yourself if the upgrade is worth it.

What's an IP Camera and how is it Different from Analog?

IP stands for Internet Protocol, and basically refers to a digital video camera that can send and receive data via a computer network, as opposed to sending a feed to a Digital Video Recorder (DVR). This is advantageous for a lot of reasons:

• Picture Quality: The best analog surveillance camera still can't hold a candle to the worst IP camera when it comes to the resolution of the image it captures. At best, an analog camera can manage the equivalent of less than half a megapixel, whereas a Megapixel camera wouldn't be much good if it didn't produce an image of at least ONE of the things it's named after. Many of the HD View 360 cameras we stock are available in 1.3, 2, or 3mp configurations, which is far better quality than you could hope to achieve with a traditional CCTV camera. Additionally, IP cameras capture a much wider field of view than comparable analog cameras, meaning a single IP camera is potentially able to do the job of three to four of the old school cams.
• Video Analytics: This is a fancy term that basically means you can set your network to flag “events” that occur in the cameras' field of vision. This could be anything from motion detection to missing objects to tampering with the camera itself. Instead of poring over hours of footage, your network can tell you exactly when these events occurred and point you right to them.
• Flexibility and Scalability: In a traditional analog DVR set-up, each camera must be connected directly to the DVR. IP cameras can circumvent this through the use of switches, which allow cameras in close proximity to each other to be connected to a single switch, which then runs a single wire to the NVR (Network Video Recorder). This reduces the amount of cabling runs, which makes it ultimately less labor intensive, and also allows you to connect more cameras because you're no longer limited by the number of ports on your DVR. On top of that, using a PoE (Power over Ethernet) switch allows your Cat 5e or Cat 6 cable to run the signal AND provide power to your camera, eliminating the need for a separate power supply.

Wait, What's PoE?

Edgar Allen Poe was a 19th century writer generally known for his macabre short stories – just kidding, that's obviously not the right Poe. The PoE we're concerned with is an acronym for “Power over Ethernet” and refers to a system that passes electrical power along with data on an Ethernet cable. As we mentioned, this bundles power and data together and removes the necessity of a separate power source, which just adds more cables. A POE switch also allows you to rig more cameras together to the same NVR. These switches can provide several ports for connecting cameras, and then those PoEs in turn can be connected to a single NVR in a “tree” style configuration, provided your switch is able to handle the power and network traffic. A similar amount of cameras would require additional DVRs in an analog set-up, and that means more cables, and more work.

Types of IP Cameras

At CableOrganizer, we stock a wide variety of Megapixel IP surveillance cameras from Everfocus. Let's take a moment to explore the different types available:

• EAN Plus (Box Camera): a box camera is optimal for when you need a small, specific area that you may want to zoom in close on, since its aim is fixed in a single direction. No lens is included, so you'll need to separately purchase a C/CS mount lens.
• EHN (Outdoor) & EDN (Indoor) Dome Cameras: this camera's lens can be manually pointed in the desired direction, and features true day/night capabilities, with infra-red that kicks in in low-light situations. It also features a P-Iris Lens that ensures a wide depth of field that allows the foreground, background and everything in between to be in focus. The outdoor model features the highest ratings in vandal proofing (IK-10) and weatherproofing (IP 68), so it can take a beating AND be submerged up to two meters in water.
• EZN Bullet Camera: like dome cameras, bullet cameras can be adjusted to point at a specific desired location, but they usually have a better range and zoom capabilities than most dome cameras. However, they are far less discreet – while a dome camera is small and unobtrusive, pretty much everything about a bullet screams “HEY! CAMERA OVER HERE!” So, your choice may depend on whether or not you WANT your cameras to be noticed. The housing on many domes also helps disguise the exact area the lens is oriented toward, whereas a bullet makes it abundantly clear what is being filmed. Also, while bullet cameras are typically rated highly in weatherproofing and are often used outdoors (Everfocus's model is rated IP 66 which is nothing to sneeze at), their design makes them more susceptible to damaged or tampering, as they lack the compact enclosure design of domes.
• EPN PTZ Camera: PTZ stands for Point-Tilt-Zoom, and they're pretty much the be-all end-all of surveillance cameras. Box cameras can only be pointed at one location, and even domes and bullets have to be manually adjusted to look at a different area. PTZ cameras can be remotely controlled to look at what you want, when you want. The EPN features 20x Optical Zoom and 10x Digital Zoom, and an auto pan feature that allows you to program it to scan a specific area. 

DVR vs. NVR

If you're familiar with a traditional analog CCTV set up, you know that your cameras need to be linked to a Digital Video Recorder (DVR) that records, processes, and stores all the data. IP cameras require a Network Video Recorder (NVR) that serves much the same purpose. So what's the difference? Well, as we mentioned, through the use of switches you can connect many more cameras to a single NVR. There is also more freedom and versatility in their placement, as it only needs to be on the same LAN (local area network) as your IP based cameras.
From a technical standpoint, the two recorders differ in where the video footage is actually processed. In an analog set-up, a DVR is responsible for this, while in an IP set-up this is done in-camera and then streamed to the NVR. In actuality, an NVR is more or less a software program, and while it is usually run on a dedicated, standalone device, there are pure software NVR options available.
When selecting the right NVR, one of the most important things to keep in mind is throughput, which is the standard for determining an NVR's performance (measured in megabits per second [Mbps]). The higher the throughput, the more bandwidth the NVR is capable of handling. The higher the resolution and frame rate of your camera, the more bandwidth it'll take up.

Bottom Line: Is It All Worth It?

So after all this you may be wondering if it's even worth your while to make the switch from analog to IP Cameras. Well, there are a few things to consider. The initial cost is certainly substantial, but it's important to remember that a single IP camera can take the place of three or four comparable analog cameras due to the increased coverage area, so while a single unit may cost more, you're ultimately buying less cameras. Additionally, switches allow you to connect more cameras per NVR than you'd be able to connect to a DVR. So depending on the size of your set-up, you're buying less recorders as well, provided you keep an eye on the throughput and make sure your NVR can handle it. Also important to remember: separate power sources aren't necessary for IP cameras if you use a POE switch, so you can save money on power supplies.

So if you're looking into setting up a new surveillance and security system, IP cameras may be the way to go for you. If you already have a system in place that you're happy with, you might want to refrain from installing an entirely new system, at least at this point. However, “analog” is quickly becoming synonymous with “outdated” so it's certainly something to think about: maybe it's time to step into the future.


 for credit: http://www.cableorganizer.com/articles/ip-cameras-vs-analog-cameras.html