Author: Interactive Protection

When it comes to calm composure, nothing replaces the ability to knowingly rest safely. Safe and sound is the primary way to get around whether on the interior or exterior of your home or business. Thankfully, with the advancements and constant adaptation that surrounds the world of technology our video surveillance systems always maintain your safety. The main importance of a surveillance system deals with the ability to provide peace and harmony for the important individuals that reside or work within the dwelling.

When it comes to deciding upon which security camera might best fit your needs it is important to note all of the specifics.

Is it alright if your camera rests in plain sight? If not, there are possible models to choose from which create discretion regarding the location of your surveillance. By scale, box cameras prove to be the most cumbersome and obvious while some drone cameras are so miniscule and compact that they could easily be concealed.

Another determining factor besides size is the location of your camera. Depending on your choice to mount the camera on the interior or exterior plays a major role in deciding between characteristics. It would be wise to consider the conditions regarding weather elements and any potential vibrational factors that may alter the quality of the camera footage. If you choose to install your surveillance in an area where particles may fill the air it would be wise to build a housing unit to protect the camera. The surveillance housing ensures footage clarity and maintains the vital characteristics such as lens, power supplies and rotation.

Most of the times when it comes to purchasing a quality camera you want to know what will coincide with its characteristics. There are specific instances where some cameras will span a wide range of ground, thus capturing a great deal of visual information with great certainty. Other cameras may only capture the static area which means that their depth is not as great and can only cover what may appear in a direct proximity. When deciding which camera to purchase, you must know the details required regarding detail, space assessment and dexterity.

Something else that may slip your mind when searching for the ideal camera is the audio factor. Most of the time, a camera can receive necessary footage information solely with the optical component features. Although, depending on the situational context it may be important for your surveillance to hear sound as well. Other important factors to consider deal with built in audio integration and how it may impact deterrence in terms of threshold variance. What this means is that if your camera can detect audio it may be able to trigger an alarm if the sound it receives breaks a certain barrier or threshold that may be deemed intrusive.

One of the most pivotal characteristics to consider is what ways a video surveillance system can provide the utmost value to your home or company residence. A video surveillance system in Columbus, Ohio provides necessary coverage, deters unwanted activity and helps to give everyone situated within a peaceful state of mind. Each surveillance system is unique and with constant technology advancement, our Interactive Tech Services team consistently provides the best value in all realms of home protection. Set up your installation by filling out an online inquiry or calling 740-483-0823.

When it comes to video surveillance cameras for commercial buildings, it can be hard to find the sweet spot between price and efficiency. You want a camera that will do it all to cover a commercial building, but without a hefty price tag.
Well, we’ve put together the six best video surveillance cameras for commercial buildings. And when you’re ready to outfit or upgrade your building’s with commercial video surveillance system, contact IPS Tech for professional and trusted security techs.

1. NETGEAR Arlo Q

Known worldwide for its tech and IT products, NETGEAR delivers again with this camera. While it makes a variety of cameras, the Arlo Q takes the cake with its 7-day free cloud storage. Its night vision is almost unbeatable, with crystal-clear footage of what’s going on, even in the dark. The Arlo Q streams 1080 pixels resolution and has a 130-degree viewing field. Furthermore, easy installation is available with mounting done either magnetically or with hardware.

2. Lorex 8-Channel 8-Camera Surveillance System

Although its price tag may ward off some people, the Lorex 8-channel system comes with eight cameras and 2 TB of storage. It’s perfect for indoor and outdoor installation, and is packed with plenty of features that your business needs for security, including night vision, 4K ultra HD recording, temperature tolerance, and infrared capabilities.

3. Swann 8-Channel System

With many different models available at different price points, it’ll be easy to find a video surveillance camera for a commercial building in the Swann 8-Channel. Users can view the video stream from a mobile app for all eight cameras and is equipped with 100 feet of night vision, as well as 2 TB of footage storage in a DVR setup.

4. Zmodo Wireless Security Camera

Hailed as the most flexible camera, it’s easy to set up and customize a configuration with Zmodo. Because it’s wireless and weatherproof, this camera can be used indoors or outdoors and its night vision automatically turns on after dark and can see up to 65 feet. That’s not as impressive as other night vision capabilities, but it’s better than most.

5. Reolink RLC 410

With 36 infrared LEDs, the Reolink RLC can see and record up to 100 feet away in the dark. This camera can also be remote-controlled by either sending an email or using an app. It only requires one Ethernet cable and can be scheduled to move and detect motion after business hours.

6. Foscam F19901EP

Although it doesn’t use wifi and instead is connected via an Ethernet cord, the Foscam is durable, is equipped with HD recording either local or on the cloud and has industry-standard night-vision range of 30 feet in the dark. Because of its tank-like build, you can expect this camera to hold up to weather conditions when installed outdoors, making it a good contender in video surveillance cameras for commercial buildings.

Despite home security being a major concern of many homeowners, only 18 million homes have a home alarm system installed in the United States as of a 2010 consensus. Out of the 138.45 million in total in the country, 18 million isn’t that much.

And even those with home alarm systems aren’t safe from intruders, thieves, and robbers, as home alarm systems are still hackable, despite smart home technology features. Here’s how thieves can hack and disable your home alarm system

Physical Tampering

If a robber has already cased a home with an alarm system, then they probably already know where the cameras, motion-activated lights, and doorbell alarm equipment is. If the equipment is lightweight and not connected to a cloud-based, real-time system, then obstructing a camera’s view for a few hours can give a thief the opportunity to act. Furthermore, simply damaging an alarm system will result in at least a few days of no security that a trespasser may take advantage of.

Software Loopholes

Many software developers will post parts of their code to an open-source community, much like GitHub. This is not done in malice or ignorance, as these types of communities encourage collaboration and make software-based products better. However, this also gives hackers the opportunity to better understand the software behind a home alarm system and find its loopholes. For example, this may make it easy to remotely unlock smart locks, even without the password or authentication.

Signal Interruption and Interception

Many home alarm systems rely on signals for cameras and sensors to communicate with one another. When these signals are faked or interrupted, it creates a vulnerability in the home alarm system. A signal transmitter used from no more than 250 yards away can create false alarms, interrupt a signal from a window sensor or completely intercept a notification to authorities.

Preventing Hacking and Disabling

When it’s time to install a home alarm system for your house, don’t be discouraged by possible hacking or tampering. In fact, most of these things are completely preventable with the right security system and equipment. For instance, well-secured, high-mounted cameras will prevent someone from obstructing or damaging a camera. Furthermore, choosing a home alarm system with positive customer reviews and no security scandals will help prevent these issues.

Contact IPS for Home Alarm System Professionals

Interactive Protection Services offers clients comprehensive technology overviews for home alarm systems. When homeowners need that peace of mind and extra layer of security in their homes, we’re the ones they call. Contact our professionals to get started.

If you’re on the fence about getting a CCTV security system for your business, then you’ve come to the right place. Having a CCTV security system installed on your business premises not only means you can keep an eye on everything, even while you’re away, but the benefits of security system are almost endless. There’s no reason to not have a closed-circuit television security system, but here are six reasons why your business does need a CCTV security system.

1. Deter criminals

When there’s a camera system installed on your business property, then there’s a lower chance that vandals, thieves and other criminals will target you. If criminals know that there’s a chance that they can be caught on footage stealing, vandalizing, or participating in other criminal activity, then they will stay away from your business.

2. Keep employees accountable

Not only will cameras be able to catch if an employee is stealing from the register or taking a three-hour lunch break instead of just an hour, but you’ll be able to pinpoint any serious mistakes. Some situations end up being a “he-said-she-said” scenario, but with a CCTV security system, you can get to the bottom of any discrepancies by keeping an eye on employees.

3. Insurance

If any damage is done to your business property, sometimes you have to prove to insurance companies that it’s not fraud on your behalf. Unfortunately, insurance fraud is a common crime among business owners looking to cash out and start over. But when damage is caused by fire, floods, other weather events, criminals, or otherwise, you’ll be able to easily hand over footage that details exactly what happens.

4. Community safety

When you own a business, especially a small, local business, it’s part of your responsibility to keep your community safe. After all, if your customers or employees don’t feel safe around your area, they won’t work or shop with you. Having a CCTV security system increases safety and will help keep your business — and the area around it — even safer.

5. Review footage

With a CCTV security system, you can easily review footage of the day to see how busy you were, what customers were interested in, and even to check in on the activities of your employees to ensure they’re happy and productive. Reviewing footage every now and then is important to staying connect to your business, even if you’re not there.

6. Notifying authorities

Using a CCTV security system is easy, and if you can check in on your business and see that a crime is taking place, you can easily call the authorities and alert them to the location of your business and the crime occurring. With footage, this means that they are able to respond to your emergency quickly and have the evidence to back up an arrest.

Contact IPS Technology and Security Solutions for CCTV Security System

When you’re ready to install a CCTV security system, contact the professionals at IPS. With years of experience and trusted services, the technology and security team can help you pick out your security system and install it with ease. Contact IPS today for a technology review.

Do wireless security cameras need to be plugged in? The short answer: it depends! When it comes to wireless security cameras, there’s a variety of products and options on the market, some needs to be plugged in and some don’t.

However, it needs to be said that wireless security cameras may be a bit of a misnomer. That means it was quite named properly. Wireless security cameras mean that they don’t need to be plugged into an internet source in order to operate and send video footage to storage systems or the cloud.

But do wireless security cameras need to be plugged in to an electricity source to operate?

For battery-operated wireless security cameras, no. It needs no cable for wi-fi internet connection. And because it’s battery-operated, it obviously doesn’t need to be plugged in for a power source. However, a main concern with these types of wireless security cameras is the life of the battery. How often they need changed and the range of capabilities can be a concern for any homeowner using these cameras. With battery-operated security cameras, infrared footage, motion-detectors, and data transmission can be limited, as the power source needs to be reserved for longevity. But the advantage of these cameras is that they’re useful for both indoor and outdoor use.

For wireless security cameras that do need to be plugged in, it’s important to consider the placement of the camera. Depending on the brand chosen, it can become difficult to find a cable that’s long enough to bridge the distance between the camera and its power source. Furthermore, setting up multiple cameras to a single power source can be a daunting task. But the upside is that unless there’s a power outage, you don’t have to worry about batteries running out.

For many businesses, however, solar-powered external security cameras are the way to go. With many wireless solar-powered security cameras, the solar panel only needs about 6 to 7 hours of direct sunlight to power the camera for 7 continuous days. This model of camera normally doesn’t need to be plugged in to any power source, except for the solar panel.

Contact IPS Tech for Wireless Security Cameras and Installation

Whether you want to opt for battery-powered wireless security cameras or cameras that need a direct power source, Interactive Protection Solutions offers high-tech lines of home security systems and professional installation to go with it. Contact IPS Tech today for a technology review to determine what solution will best fir your needs.

Before the tech boom, the only security cameras that were on the market were companies like ADT and CPI. But now, the market is saturated with a myriad of options to choose from, pushing the industry to adapt in order to make better security camera innovations. New features like remote phone access and easy installation are now standard across what a good security camera is.

Here are six security camera innovations that are revolutionizing the industry.

1. Frontpoint

Frontpoint incorporated the do-it-yourself aspect into security camera installation. Using a proprietary mobile system, the company will walk customers step-by-step through the installation process. And since there’s no drilling required, the process is less invasive and easy to pack up if you happen to move.

2. Vivint

With this security camera innovation, Vivint made sure that customers could integrate their security camera system with their smart home automation system. Vivint offers Alexa compatibility and uses Google Assistant voice control. Currently, new smart home systems from Vivint also come with two Google Home Minis so customers can use voice commands to control the temperate, lock doors, and more.

3. Ring

Known most for its doorbell security camera, Ring has brought other security camera innovations into its support platform. When customers set up and connect their Ring cameras, they’re prompted to enter their location for a feature called Neighbors. This feature aggregates all the crime reports in your area and compiles your neighbors’ experiences with package thieves or suspicious activity.

4. Google Nest

The great thing about the Google Nest’s security camera innovation is how easy it is to use. With key fobs, customers can check in and out of the system. Furthermore, there are two sets of motion-detecting sensors to set on windows or doors to detect unauthorized movement or opening.

And, because it’s Google, it works with the Google Assistant for voice commands like arming the system, playing music or Nest thermostat temperature change

5. SimpliSafe

SimpliSafe has comparable equipment, but the true security camera innovation in this company has no contracts for its monitoring system. You can choose to either monitor your system yourself or opt for its monthly professional monitoring plan. The innovation is in the choice is gives customers.

6. Abode

Abode thinks about the conveniences of the customer with its easy access. Much like the Google Nest, it comes with a fob that has three settings: away, standby/disarm, and home. With these settings, users can approach their front door and disarm the system instead of a mad dash to the control panel in 30 seconds.

Contact Interactive Protection Services

With IPS, you can have all the innovations of the security camera industry professionally installed in your home. Our tech experts can recommend the perfect home security system to install along with a free technology review. Contact us today to get started.

Not all homes or businesses are the same, so why would you use a cookie-cutter home security system to protect yours?

Custom home security systems, which can be used in a business as well, help protect your property and monitor your things while you’re not there.

But what may work for one home or business isn’t going to work for all of them. This is why it’s important to explore your options when picking out a security system for your home or business. Here’s how a custom home security system will benefit you more than a cookie-cutter one:

1. Need more cameras? No problem

Even if you have a smaller home or business, using a custom home security system mean having the exact number of cameras you need. No more, no less. Larger houses will need more cameras to cover important areas, like living rooms, garages, backyards, side yards, and front yards. Businesses on busy blocks may need cameras in the stock room, near the back door and in customer-facing areas to ensure that you always know what’s going on in your place of business. Security camera installation columbus ohio

2. Customize alerts and notifications

Motion detectors don’t need to be turned on when you’re at home or running the business. Customers will be filing in and out of your store or restaurant, so of course there’s no need to be alerted whenever someone walks in or out. When you’re away for work, you’ll need those motion detectors to ensure that no one is breaking in or home when they’re not supposed to be.

3. Lights on, not out

When the standard alarm system goes off, all you hear is a loud noise, but you don’t really know what’s going on. With a smart custom home security system, an alarm can also trigger the lights, turning them on so you can see. Furthermore, smart custom home security systems will be able to tell you which sensor is tripped or which room the motion detector went off in.

Contact IPS for a Custom Home Security System

At Interactive Protection Services, we believe that everyone should have a custom home security system for their home or business., which is why we offer high-quality and comprehensive monitoring and installation. Our experts can help you find the right system for home or business while giving key insights on how home security can improve your life. Contact us today for a technology review and get started with a premier custom home security system company.

Carbon monoxide occurs naturally in homes that have gas-powered appliances or attached garages. Homeowners with kitchens equipped with gas ovens and stoves are at an especially high risk of a dangerous CO leak, but everyone needs CO detectors installed in their homes. Even if everything is working perfectly, a simple leak could be life-threatening.

Before going into smoke and carbon monoxide detector installation for Columbus, Ohio homes, let’s discuss how CO is measured and what safe levels are.

First, carbon monoxide is measured in parts per million (ppm). CO levels of 20 ppm means that for every million molecules in the air, 20 of them are carbon monoxide molecules. Now, this may seem like a very small amount, but the usual range of CO levels in a home are .5 to 5 ppm. Under 70 ppm has no ill effects for most people, but prolonged exposure can cause beginning symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning, and even higher concentrations can lead to headaches, disorientation, unconsciousness, and death.

When it comes to carbon monoxide detector installation for your Ohio home, there are important guidelines to follow to avoid the ill effects of carbon monoxide sickness or poisoning. You should also follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer when installing a CO or smoke detector in your home.

1. The Height of Installation

The difference between smoke and carbon monoxide detector installation for Columbus, Ohio homes is the height at which the devices are installed. As smoke rises and sets off alarms for smoke detectors, carbon monoxide blends with the air in your home. A CO detector must be installed no higher than 5 feet in order to accurately measure the levels of CO in the air. However, be sure to keep the CO detector out of reach of kids and pets who may tamper with it.

2. How Many and Where to Install

The general guidelines usually dictate that you need at least one CO detector on every level of your house. This includes homes that have basements. Furthermore, homes with attached garages need a carbon monoxide detector installed no more than 10 feet away from the garage. Cars that are stored in garages can emit more carbon monoxide emission that can seep into the home and cause rises in CO levels.

CO detectors should be installed near sleeping areas and have loud alarms in order to wake up homeowners in the event of rising carbon monoxide levels.

3. Maintenance After Carbon Monoxide Detector Installation in Columbus, Ohio

After installing your carbon monoxide detectors, it’s important to perform routine maintenance to ensure they are working properly. This means periodically cleaning them to wipe away any accumulated dust and debris to allow them to accurately measure the CO levels in the home. Additionally, it’s important to test your carbon monoxide detectors after installation. Simply press the “test” button, and it should emit a loud beep to prove that it is functioning. Furthermore, it’s recommended to periodically change the batteries to ensure the alarms are not dead when you need it most. Pick a day in the year and commit to changing the batteries yearly.

When you need an upgraded smoke and carbon monoxide detector installation in your Columbus, Ohio home, contact Interactive Protective Services for technology and security updates in your home. Our expert tech team will help you decide which carbon monoxide detectors are best suited for your house and place them strategically in your home for optimal monitoring. Contact IPS today to get started.