Business WiFi Tips: How to Fix Slow and Patchy Office WiFi
A plain English guide to better office WiFi, covering where to put access points, which frequency bands to use, what WiFi 6, 6E and 7 actually change, and when a cable is the better answer.
Business CCTV designed around your site
The best CCTV systems start with a clear purpose. Are you trying to deter theft, monitor a car park, cover entrances, protect stock or keep staff safe? The answer shapes where cameras go, what type they are and how footage is recorded.
During a site survey we look at each area with you, considering lighting, distances, what needs to be identified and what should not be recorded, such as neighbouring property or private spaces. We then design a system that covers what matters without unnecessary cameras.
Choosing the right cameras
We install Hikvision CCTV, which offers cameras for almost every situation:
- 2MP HD cameras are a cost effective choice for general overview of rooms and corridors.
- 5MP cameras give more detail, useful for entrances, reception areas and wider spaces.
- 8MP 4K cameras capture the most detail, helpful where you may need to identify faces or vehicle registrations at a distance.
For night time, colour night vision cameras use sensitive sensors and gentle lighting to record in colour in low light, while infrared cameras record clear black and white images in complete darkness. We choose the right type for each position.
Viewing and recording
Cameras connect to a network video recorder (NVR) that stores the footage. You can watch live and recorded footage on a monitor on site and on your phone or tablet through the Hikvision mobile app, wherever you are. Alerts can notify you of motion in selected areas outside working hours.
How long footage is kept depends on the number of cameras, their resolution, whether they record continuously or only on motion, and the storage in the recorder. We will set retention to suit your purpose and your data protection obligations, and size the storage to match.
Door access control
Access control replaces keys with fobs, cards or keypad codes. When someone leaves or loses a fob, you remove their access in seconds rather than changing locks. You can set which doors each person can open and when, and see a log of who has entered. Access control can be combined with CCTV and intercoms at entrances, and is especially useful for offices, multi tenant buildings and businesses with secure areas.
Audio visual
We also install meeting room displays, screens and sound systems, set up to work with Teams and the rest of your IT. Having one company handle CCTV, access control, audio visual and IT means everything works together and there is one number to call.
CCTV and UK data protection law
If your cameras capture images of identifiable people, the footage is personal data and UK data protection law applies, including UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018. The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) publishes guidance on video surveillance for organisations, which it has said is under review following the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025, so check the ICO website for the latest version. Key points from the ICO's approach include:
- Have a clear, justified purpose. Surveillance should be necessary and proportionate to the problem you are addressing. The ICO recommends carrying out a data protection impact assessment, particularly for larger or more intrusive systems.
- Tell people. Use clear, visible signs so people know CCTV is in operation before they enter the area, and say who operates it and how to contact them. Back this up with privacy information.
- Keep footage only as long as you need it. The law does not set a fixed retention period. Decide how long you need footage for your purpose and make sure the system deletes or overwrites it after that.
- Keep footage secure. Limit who can view and export footage, protect recorders and apps with strong passwords and multi factor authentication where available, and keep software updated.
- Respond to subject access requests. People recorded have the right to request a copy of footage of themselves. You normally need to respond within one month, which means being able to find and export footage and, where needed, obscure other people.
- Be careful with audio. Recording conversations is far more intrusive than video and is rarely justified for general business CCTV.
Businesses using CCTV for purposes such as crime prevention will usually also need to pay the ICO data protection fee. We will help with the technical side, such as camera positioning, privacy masking, retention settings, secure access and exporting footage. Your business remains responsible for compliance, and for anything you are unsure about, the ICO's guidance or a legal adviser is the place to go.
Secure, supported systems
CCTV and access control systems connected to the internet need to be secured like any other device: default passwords changed, firmware updated and remote access configured safely. We take care of this during installation and can look after it afterwards as part of our support. Systems can run over your existing network cabling, or we can install dedicated cabling and switches.
We are based in Sunderland and install CCTV and access control for businesses across the North East. Get in touch or call 0191 543 3432 to arrange a site survey.