The Best Security Cameras for Small Businesses Have These 7 Features

Your helpful eye in the sky

Cameras are a staple of the modern security system, from small businesses to major governments. While technological advancements from improved resolutions to night vision are appealing, the biggest consideration for many business owners will be cost. Which features are vital for protecting your business and which are extras that you can safely ignore? Let’s take a closer look at popular features in the best small business security cameras, so owners and security specialists know what they should look for.

Standout features of the best security cameras for small business

1. High video quality

Video quality is one of the most important factors for any security camera. Reviewing blurry footage to determine who stole from your business is an exercise in frustration, and the police you forward it to will feel the same way. The easiest way to avoid this scenario is to check the camera’s resolution. At a minimum, choose products that support 1080p, a video standard that offers the best balance between visual detail and affordability.

You can move into higher definition resolutions—such as 2K or 4K—to capture more details. However, note that footage from these cameras may require specialized displays and exponentially larger hard drive storage. They’ll likely have higher price tags, too. 

2. Wide field of view

Older security cameras would oscillate back and forth to track a wide area from a single vantage point. Today, it’s easier to buy a camera that supports a wide field of view (FOV). When placed correctly, these devices capture footage over large areas while reducing the number of cameras needed to monitor a facility.

The exact FOV a business needs to monitor will vary based on area size, camera placement and various environmental factors. In small rooms and hallways, a 130-degree perspective is usually more than enough. For large rooms and outdoor spaces, a 160-degree view will capture footage in front of the camera and across its immediate periphery.

3. Solid frame rate

We tend to forgive motion blur when using our phones to take pictures of family and friends. Unfortunately, blur can become a big problem when you’re reviewing security footage with an insurance company.

Security cameras work by capturing a specific number of frames per second (FPS) and stringing them together as video footage. If something is moving too fast for the camera to process—like a speeding car—the image will blur various details of the object.

The best small business security cameras use a high frame rate to reduce blur and produce smooth motion in video. 30 FPS is the ideal benchmark for capturing all relevant details from the camera’s surroundings. If cost or data storage is an obstacle, you can reduce that to 15 FPS. Some cameras are capable of 60 FPS or higher, but that’s more than you’d need for monitoring most situations.

4. Night vision

For burglars, the best time to break into any business is at night—partly because there are fewer witnesses, but mostly because of visibility. After closing, most on-site lighting will be lowered or turned off entirely, making it easier to approach unseen.

Leaving the lights on 24/7 isn’t a practical solution, especially if you’re trying to be energy efficient. Instead, focus on security cameras that offer night vision capabilities.

• Infrared illumination bathes the surroundings with invisible infrared light that the camera can detect. This is generally the most reliable night vision option since it’s low-cost and doesn’t require ambient light.

• Low-light amplification enhances available ambient light to record at night in full color. This footage looks the most natural, but may not function in total darkness.

• Thermal imaging cameras don’t rely on light at all—instead, they record temperature differences such as body heat. Thermal footage isn’t always helpful when identifying individuals but is highly effective at pinpointing their location.

Note that the best security camera systems for small businesses combine features of all three types, although this may not be necessary for your security needs. If infrared meets your needs, make sure that feature is covered.

5. Motion detection

For all the benefits of digital security cameras, it’s not always practical to record everything they see 24 hours a day. Hard drives still have storage limits—even those in the cloud—and a constant feed will fill them quickly. Motion detection features are a useful solution because they only activate the camera when it detects movement or sudden light changes. If a break-in, accident or other event occurs, you don’t need to scan through footage to see when it happened.

6. Remote access

While it’s easy to manage security cameras locally during business hours, that isn’t much help after hours when nobody is on site. Remote capabilities let you access cameras from any internet connection to check on recorded footage or view the live feed. These connections also make it easier to attempt remote troubleshooting and maintenance at any time of day.

Perhaps the most important feature remote access provides is peace of mind. Cameras that support it typically use motion detectors to send automated notifications the moment an activity occurs. That means you’ll only need to check the camera when a person, animal or accident triggers the sensor unexpectedly.

7. Compatibility & interoperability

The best wireless security camera system for small businesses won’t help you if it doesn’t integrate with technology like CCTV devices, local hard drives and cloud storage platforms. If you buy an otherwise feature-rich camera that’s not compatible with other devices on the system, it’s basically a paperweight.

Before you buy any particular model, put in the research to determine its connectivity and compatibility. For example, does it require a direct network connection or can it operate on WiFi? Do you have a computer or monitor that can play back any footage? Can it be used with any kind of storage, or does it have to be cloud-based? These are the kinds of questions to ask yourself as you review your camera options.

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 Walmart Business+ 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 in addition to 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).