The Best Security Cameras for Business Have These 6 Features

Your checklist for comprehensive security

As your business grows, its security needs grow with it. The average company typically requires anywhere from 16 to 60 security cameras per location, some of which will operate in outdoor environments. For owners, the challenge is finding state-of-the-art models that can scale and choosing the feature set that fits their day-to-day needs. So what’s the best security camera for business? The short answer is: it depends.

Let’s examine some of the features owners and security specialists should watch for when comparing different models.

6 key features the best security cameras for business share

1. High-resolution video

Grainy and blurry video footage isn’t acceptable for modern security cameras, especially when you’re delivering it to police or insurance companies. That’s why it’s so important to choose cameras with high-definition resolution. The overall video can range from 720p to 4K, but 1080p is the ideal target since it strikes a balance between quality and cost.

Any cameras you buy that go over 1080p won’t just be expensive—they’ll usually require an equally powerful monitor that can render the image correctly. What’s more, these cameras will have enormous storage requirements that don’t correlate with visual gains. That level of visual fidelity is overkill for most security situations, so consider your needs before making that kind of investment.

2. Night vision capabilities

Burglars would much rather break into a business at night when darkness will obscure them and there are fewer people around to identify them. That’s why the best outdoor security camera system for businesses will include night vision features to reveal exactly what’s happening.

From a technical perspective, night vision can refer to three different settings. Infrared illumination deploys infrared light that is invisible to the human eye but visible to the camera in black and white. Low-light amplification increases the illumination of ambient light so viewers can make out details in full color. Finally, thermal imaging cameras record heat sources within view, particularly body heat from a nervous burglar.

Each night vision type has different benefits for a security system, but infrared cameras are the most reliable in varied lighting conditions. Low-light footage, on the other hand, picks up more visual details while infrared doesn’t require light at all. Some cameras offer multiple night vision modes, although you can expect to pay a premium for each device. 

3. Integration with existing security systems

Security cameras need to be compatible and interoperable with alarm systems, CCTV monitors, storage platforms and even computer systems. If you don’t have the right wiring, most feature-rich security cameras won’t even connect to the rest of your security system.

It’s crucial to not only do your research on compatibility but coordinate with other departments to avoid potential conflicts. For example, if you buy HD cameras but don’t have HD monitors, you’ll run into problems trying to view the footage. If the cameras support WiFi, make sure they’re compatible with hotspots and within range to avoid connectivity issues. The more comprehensive you are about addressing integration, the easier it will be to design the best business security camera system.

4. Field of view

There are several ways to increase camera coverage, from installing multiple cameras to buying rotators that oscillate the camera back and forth. Perhaps the simplest and easiest is thinking about the field of view (FOV). When a camera with a wide FOV is placed in the right location, it captures footage from larger areas and reduces the total number of cameras needed at a facility.

The overall FOV can vary depending on the space a camera needs to monitor. Small rooms and hallways rarely need more than a 130-degree FOV. Outdoor environments, like parking lots, benefit from a 160-degree perspective that incorporates peripheral vision.

5. Motion detectors

Recorded footage requires a great deal of digital storage, which makes recording around the clock difficult to sustain. To be more efficient, look for cameras that offer motion-activated sensors. These cameras will start recording only when movement or light changes occur within their range. As a result, they’ll only record when there’s something to see, and you’ll need less storage space as a result.

6. Frame rate

Security cameras create footage by taking thousands of pictures and connecting them at a speed the brain can process. Unfortunately, when something moves too quickly for the camera to track—such as someone running from a break-in—it creates motion blur that obscures identifying features.

To minimize blur, the best security cameras for business will prioritize reliable frame rates. For most purposes, 30 frames per second (FPS) is a strong baseline since it captures activity while preserving most identifying details. Going higher will produce recordings with more fluid movement, but not necessarily enough visual details to warrant the higher cost.

Need the right security camera? Walmart can help.

Even when you know the exact security camera features you need, finding the right model for the right value is a challenge. That’s where Walmart Business comes in. We offer a wide selection of indoor and outdoor security cameras to help you protect your business. If you already have an account with us, upgrade to a Walmart Business+ membership for free shipping access,¹ free delivery from store on orders over $35² and 2% rewards back for purchases over $250.³ And that’s before the chance to save over $500 each year!⁴ Learn more here.

¹ Excludes most Marketplace items, freight and certain location surcharges.

² Restrictions apply.

³ Rewards can only be used toward future purchases on Walmart Business. Additional terms apply.

⁴ Savings based on 1 free $35+ delivery order vs. $9.95 fee and 1 free shipping order under $35 vs. $6.99 fee biweekly, plus 2% Walmart Business Rewards on monthly order >$250 (average value of $400).