Flexible, Expandable IP/Hybrid Camera & Recording Systems for Offices & Businesses

You can buy security cameras anywhere. But to have a truly functional, robust surveillance/recording/monitoring security camera system for your office in Glendale Heights, IL, you need system design, installation, programming, and integration with your data network from someone who truly understands both. Don't get sucked into contracting services from a "camera installer" for whom IT networks are just a sideline or vice versa.

For decades, Andromeda has served the IT/Security needs of small-to-medium sized organizations like yours in the greater Chicagoland IL/Indy area. We have cultivated expertise in both the data network "brains" as well as the camera/access control/alarm/communication "arms and legs" of office systems and have years of experience integrating these together for a diverse cross-section of businesses, municipalities, and other associations/organizations.

Your timing for creating or expanding a current security camera surveillance system could not be better. There is no longer a need for an expensive, dedicated system to monitor your premises. We also provide great options for expanding an older security camera system with better/newer analog and digital technology without scrapping what you might already have! By leveraging your existing IT network for your security camera system(s), Andromeda can save you time, money, and lots of headaches with efficient integrated systems that can do more than you probably imagined: real-time alerts, automated responses, and more.

Security Camera/Surveillance/Recording Systems -Glendale-Heights, IL 60139

We are a certified Panasonic Network Camera Installer. We utilize the latest in IP Video Camera technology, which allows the cameras, DVR recording and viewing all to be performed on your existing computer data network. This allows you to use your existing investment in your data wiring and data systems and extend that network into the security camera/webcam arena.

^
Panasonic Cameras and Recording Software

• Panasonic manufactures over 20 different types of network video cameras. The following are some of the features that are available:
  Wireless
• Outdoor
• Power-Over-Ethernet (PoE)
• Digital and Optical Zoom
• Very High Resolution
• Low Light, Night Viewing
• Motion and Thermal Activation
• Full Pan, Tilt, and Zoom with Scanning Presets
• 2-Way Audio with Microphone and Speaker

The ability to record and later playback is an important and necessary part of any video security system. There are many options available; from on-camera memory sticks to a full-blown, searchable recording system capable of storing months worth of video from all your cameras. The viewing software is very user-friendly and easy to use.

Andromeda Technology Solutions will work to understand all your needs and provide a solution that exactly fits those needs, and allows for future growth if necessary. Our attention to detail will ensure you receive a system that you will be 100% happy with.

Applications

There are many types of applications where it pays to see there, when you cannot be there. Here are just a few types of oranizations that have benefited from our security camera systems:

• Parking Lots
• Daycare / Nursery School
• Construction Sites
• Car Dealerships
• Retail Stores
• Restaurant / Franchise
• Self Storage
• Hotel / Motel
• Multi-unit Residential

^
Flexible / Programmable / Expandable Surveillance Systems

You can start with just a few cameras and expand the system as you grow. It is very easy to add security cameras to the system, without throwing away any of your initial investment.

There are options to synchronize recordings with your POS receipts, so you can exactly match the video recording with an individual receipt transaction.

The wide variety of camera types and camera options make the system extremely flexible to fit almost any application.

We can also setup remote access for you to view live video or search through recorded video, from any remote location with Internet access. You can keep tabs on your business without having to be there.

Integration: Get The Most From Your Security Systems

How does Integrated Security work?

How does Integrated Security work?

Integrated Security works by allowing you to program a multitude of responses—both in the Cloud and as control back to external hardware—based on any number of triggers from external hardware regardless of origin/type (cameras, access sensors, alarm fault sensors, motion, smoke, temperature,...)

Why is Integrated Security better?

Why is Integrated Security better?

This allows the entire system and designated human responders to more accurately assess the detailed nature of a security event and respond in the most precise/appropriate manner, virtually eliminating undue responses to false alarms.

Triggers:
• Motion in ...more

I.S. Responses:
• Discontinue ...more

Triggers:
• Door opening ...more

I.S. Responses:
• Selective lock ...more

Triggers:
• Zone fault ...more

I.S. Responses:
• Set/Reset ...more

Triggers:
• Manual Pan/Tilt/Zoom signals to designated cameras
• Overrides of any current Access Control statuses
• Set/reset Alarm status

I.S. Programmable Responses:
• Alert Central Station
• Email/text alert to owner/designated responders
• Pop appropriate camera feed(s) to all responders
• Release of appropriate cameras to manual control

Integrated Security works by allowing you to program a multitude of responses—both in the Cloud and as control back to external hardware—based on any number of triggers from external hardware regardless of origin/type (cameras, access sensors, alarm fault sensors, motion, smoke, temperature,...). This allows the entire system to more accurately assess the detailed nature of a security event and respond in the most precise/appropriate manner, virtually eliminating undue responses to false alarms.

AndroPedia Tech Library

As part of our service, it is important to keep our client-partners well informed on Security Camera system developments, news, and best practices. Here is just a sampling of typical items from our AndroPedia^SM library archive:

It’s that time of year again (finally)! Warm weather has returned to the Midwest and the snow has melted for good. Time to open the windows, let in the fresh air and get some spring cleaning done. It’s also a great time to tackle some annual security camera maintenance on your CCTV camera system.

Regular security camera maintenance and upkeep is a great way to make sure that your cameras are functioning properly this year and for many years to come.

So what do you want to make sure and check up on, clean or even adjust during your security camera spring cleanup?

Check out the CCTV Security Camera Maintenance checklist below:

Camera & Camera Mounting Equipment or Housing

1. Check the camera and camera lens for damage
   1. Is there any damage? Dings, Scratches or even cracks in lenses?
2. Check camera field of view
3. Is the camera monitoring the field of view you desire?
4. Clean camera, lens and mounting equipment
5. Dust camera lenses
6. If camera is enclosed inside of a dome or other housing, make sure to clean the enclosure and dry it fully

Wiring/Cabling

1. Visually check any exposed wiring
   1. Is there any wearing?
   2. All cables are firmly connected?
   3. All cable dressings are intact?
   4. All necessary insulation is still intact?
2. If you suspect any wiring issues – contact your CCTV Camera support company for maintenance

Recording Equipment

1. Viewing Permissions Audit
   1. Do all necessary personnel have access to remote viewing software on their PC, tablets or smartphones?
   2. Are there any personnel or devices that need to be disabled from remote viewing?
2. Confirm cameras are recording
   1. Are all cameras showing up on your recorder?
   2. Are cameras recording properly?
3. Check/Update Storage
   1. How much storage do you have for recordings? Do you need more?
4. Confirm Backups
5. Make sure viewing software and equipment are up to date
   1. If you are backing up your footage (we recommend it), test your backups to confirm they are functioning properly.

Ideally, we would suggest that you go through this security camera maintenance checklist quarterly. Far better to regularly check these things than to find that a camera, wire or other piece of equipment has been faulty for months and months. Additionally, today’s systems have updates and patches to their software that are important to maintain.

Andromeda can help you manage this process with ongoing security camera maintenance packages or regularly scheduled visits.

If you’d like to schedule some spring cleaning or get in touch with our team regarding your Security Camera needs you can call our office at (815) 836-0030 or email our team at Contact@WeNetwork.com.

Even Sweeter: Fill out the form below to get 10% OFF for a camera maintenance visit (if booked before 4/30/2019)!

The post SPRING CLEANING FOR YOUR CCTV CAMERAS! HERE’S YOUR ANNUAL SECURITY CAMERA MAINTENANCE CHECKLIST appeared first on Andromeda Technology Solutions.

If you are looking to add a security camera system to your technology mix, here is a simple and overriding factor that you shouldn’t ignore.  Like many things in life, you get what you pay for and CCTV cameras are no exception.

There is a vast difference in a $59 security camera purchased from Costco or Amazon, and a professional grade, $300 camera.  The differences show up in picture quality, reliability, and longevity.

How To Tell If A Security Camera System Is The Right Choice?

Picture Quality

Imagine the unimaginable. A break-in occurs at our business. You did everything you could to prevent this (i.e. a functional burglar system, cameras and even access control at specific entrances). Now, you go to look at footage the security camera caught so you can catch the culprit and the image shows a grainy blob. Now, imagine poor quality mixed with weather or poor lighting . . . you get the picture (or lack thereof).

Reliability ­

Fast forward a few months after you install your system. Two employees get into a fender bender in the parking lot. When the police/employees request footage of the incident you don’t sweat it. You head directly to your DVR and prepare to play back footage . . . but wait . . . looks like your system is malfunctioning and a quarter of your cameras within your security camera system haven’t been recording like you thought they were. Bummer!

Longevity

When spending money on technology, it is important to see it as an investment. Sure, things come and go but investing in a quality system from a reputable vendor ensures that your system will last. Systems installed by professionals typically last years with proper maintenance and system care. That system on sale at Costco is lucky to last you a few months over warranty without some sort of failure.

The one constant with cameras – they need to work. They need to capture what you need; whether that be a parking lot, office space, warehouse or any other number of critical areas in your facility.

If you cut corners here, you’ll get cut corner results.

We’d suggest instead, invest that money into a quality system that will perform when you need it and for years to come.

The post What To Consider When Buying A New Security Camera System appeared first on Andromeda Technology Solutions.

In 2020, hackers around the world have increasingly gravitated to ransomware as their preferred method of attack. This year, there have been dozens of high-profile, successful attacks on companies around the world.

Whirlpool, one of the largest home appliance manufacturers in the world, is the latest company to fall victim to this type of attack.

The company is truly one of the titans in the industry, with nearly sixty locations scattered around the world and employing nearly 80,000 people. Unfortunately, their impressive size made them a tempting target. In their case, the hackers that breached their system utilized the Nefilim ransomware strain, managing to exfiltrate a variety of sensitive data before encrypting files on a number of company servers.

It has become increasingly common for hacking groups to publish some or all of the data they steal in a bid to hurt the company they attacked, and that's precisely what happened in this case. Thus far, the leaked data has included documents relating to accommodation requests, medical information requests, background checks, employee benefits and more.

There's no doubting that the publication of these documents are damaging to the company, but based on Whirlpool's investigation into the matter, the scope and scale of the data breach was quite small. Only a handful of corporate servers were infected and the files that were encrypted didn't impact the company's operations in any way.

It should also be noted that the hackers who control the Nefilim strain aren't terribly active, tending to only make occasional attacks targeting larger corporations. Other recent victims include Luxottica, The Dussman Group, Orange S. A. and the Toll Group.

At this point, all of the impacted Whirlpool servers have been fully restored, but the damage is done. It remains to be seen if the hackers behind the attack will publish more data, or if they've already released everything they stole. Stay vigilant. Your firm could be next.

Aggregated