There are two risks that cannot be overlooked when considering a CCTV camera system in your laboratory.

• Damage, vandalism, and theft: Vandals and thieves, eager to conceal their identities, may destroy or steal security cameras, rendering them useless. Other sources of damage can occur from moving large equipment or other accidents.

• Privacy issues can arise if cameras are placed in break rooms or rest rooms. Only install CCTV camera systems in public areas, and include appropriate signage to indicate employees and visitors are being recorded.

The benefits of laboratory video surveillance are numerous, including:

• Enhanced security with CCTV cameras in the lab can keep you and your work safe from trespassers, vandals, and intellectual thieves.

• Research can be protected from tampering in attempts to manipulate study outcomes. CCTV cameras in labs keep watch over long-running experiments that cannot be “put away” or secured overnight.

• Observation can be easier with the addition of video surveillance - when close observation is a must, CCTV systems can aid in such research.

• Remote viewing at a central location can help security teams work logistically to stop crimes in progress and to better investigate suspicious activity.

Because laboratories are diverse places with all kinds of research going on at once, there are specialized considerations for review when adding a CCTV camera system to your lab:

• What are your current and past security features? Do you have controlled access with ID badges and other access control systems, as well as burglar alarms in the labs? Even the alarm systems and access control systems can benefit from video surveillance - cameras near access points can enhance security and identify intruders.

• What are the biggest threats to your lab's security? How are you addressing them, and how will the addition of a CCTV camera system enhance your current safety controls? If your lab is handling sensitive government contracts, or corporate proprietary formulas, CCTV camera systems can help give an extra layer of insurance that your data stay safe.

• What kind of research do you conduct - and is it vulnerable to intellectual theft or espionage threats? Would the research benefit from close observation? Knowing this can help you place your cameras in strategic places.

• Where is your lab the most vulnerable in terms of security? What points of entry can be compromised during a break-in? Cameras in such locations can deter crime and aid in investigations.

When installing CCTV camera systems in your lab, understanding the risks can help you diminish them, and understanding the benefits can help you enhance your current security measures. Most security features, such as burglar alarms in labs, and access control systems are greatly enhanced with the addition of a CCTV camera system.