Security glass is widely used as a method of cordoning off areas, using a material that is visually appealing and functional. Security glass is defined by two terms; safety and security.

• The term “Safety” is applied to glazing used to reduce the risk of accident by impact, fracture, shattering, or in a fire
• the term “Security” is applied to glazing, which in addition to “Safety”, is able to withstand a variety of deliberate attacks such as manual, ballistic or blast resistant.

Using the right type of glass for security applications is usually not enough to ensure the necessary resistance to severe attacks and pressures. This is because the glass can behave differently in different framing systems, it is usually the case that high performance glazing is combined with high quality framing systems to attain a high level of protection.

A high quality frame and glass is a far safer alternative to the cheaper variations. Allowing for a secure and reliable system.

Many cameras are fitted with a rangefinder mechanism. This is used to focus the camera and adjust its ability to ‘see’. Over the course of a cameras lifetime, the internal mechanisms can shift and move due to everyday use. As a result the rangefinder will need to be adjusted in order to recalibrate the visual acuity of the camera.

In order to calibrate the settings of the rangefinder, the camera needs to be focused on something far away, (the moon works well). Then adjustments to the rangefinder are made until the images coincide.

In order to aid in focusing the rangefinder, a laser pointer can be used to point onto the wall, so that the camera can be focused against it. It will be necessary to know the exact distance to the focal plane, but this works well as the dot is small and coherent.

Security smoke is a thermally generated white smoke. Otherwise known as ‘security fog’ or ‘smoke screen’, the smoke is breathable, used primarily as a deterrent as opposed to an actual defence.

The smoke is composed of particles that settle very slowly, allowing for an area of space to be visibly blocked for a long period of time. The composition of particles also greatly lowers the possibility of residue forming or contamination.

Because of the longevity of the smoke screen, security smoke is best used around valuable goods or areas which are deemed vulnerable to intrusion.

When activated the smoke will shroud the area completely, making the actions of intruders very difficult due to lack of visibility. For this reason, it is recommended that the smoke be used in an area that intruders would spend a lot of time in. As this will hinder their progress and often cause the intruders to abandon their activities.

As the seasons change so to do many different outdoor elements. The temperature, hours of daylight, humidity and other weather conditions will all vary and may impact your security devices. As these devices are outside, it is important to take the seasons into consideration, doing so can improve the strength of your security and the overall coverage it provides.

Daylight Hours

In winter there are fewer hours of daylight, in summer there are more. While this is common knowledge, these hours of daylight can have a big impact on the types of security devices that would be best suited for the job. In winter it may be advantageous to use night vision cameras because of the small amount of daylight hours.

Humid And Foggy Weather

Humidity, fog and mist can all have an impact on what your security devices can detect. Some cameras will simply not be able to detect anything if these weather conditions get too extreme. In this case, small motion activated cameras mounted closer to areas of detection may suit the task better.

The garden of our home can be an awkward thing to keep secure. After all it is outdoors and not many of us are able to keep an eye on it 24/7.

However, there are some simple tips you can follow to make sure it is secured, away from people and creatures who might want in.

• Fences and walls are an obvious solution. A solid perimeter around your garden space is a great way to maintain some basic security.
• A metal shed is a great way to keep things safe, that you might normally leave lying around. Metal sheds can be locked shut and are much stronger than standard wooden models.
• Some security cameras overlooking the garden will not only record intruders entering, but scare of those who can see what they are for.
• Unwelcoming plants like nettles and thorns are great at keeping unwanted wildlife out.

Cameras are delicately tuned pieces of equipment. It just takes one small crack on a camera lens for the entire vision ability of the camera to be hindered.

Its important to know how the weather can cause adverse affects such as this, and to take appropriate measures to avoid any unnecessary damage.

A method for protecting your camera is to consider where you are placing it. Is it in a sheltered area? Is it in a place that the wind usually wails through violently? Can you see if there are any potential branches that may swipe into the vicinity of the camera? If so it may be wise to select a safer spot.

Its also to important to consider the quality of the camera. Is it weather proof? It may seem obvious but cameras range in quality, some are not designed for outdoor use whatsoever. Take some time in assessing if the camera you have or are looking at is suited for all weather conditions.

Being aware of potential weather threats can go a long way in preventing unwanted mishaps.

Securing temporary buildings can be a tricky task. Generally buildings of this nature, while on a private site do not benefit from the security of the site itself, because they are geographically detached from the main site.

This is an issue, because assuming your site has a security system installed, it will be designed to secure buildings that were there when the system was being designed and temporary structures have been added at a later time to the existing area.

Temporary structures can in fact reduce the security of the site. Large structural additions to the site can act as cover for approaching intruders and may provide a protected route around the site.

The best way to secure the site is to consider and design the security system after the temporary buildings have been installed. If this is not possible then make allowances for temporary buildings if you think they may be used in he future.

UK troops have suffered over the years because of constant explosive devices. They are mostly targeted when on foot and happen just randomly. It ends up killing more troops than expected and over the years measures have been put in place for IED protection to guard troops to protect troops from these attacks and most of them haven’t worked. All the strategies that were put in place never worked and an option of withdrawing the troops from the areas was never an option. New measures have now been proposed, and these are being touted to be more effective and will help keep troops alert and will minimize casualties if not to eliminate the chances of troops losing their lives.

Troops are advised to tag the suspected areas that might contain improvised explosive devices. This may be done using devices that will make it possible for easier identification. It will be like calling in support from the air using helicopters. Vehicles that the troops travel in should be protected using reactive armour on the bottom of the vehicle because that is where the vehicle is mostly hit. This should be used instead of the small plates that are kept under the vehicles.

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Using fake cameras around a property can act as a serious deterrent and can offer more protection than you might think.

• Fake cameras are much cheaper their real counterparts. This allows security funding to be put into other areas of the business or on more critical areas of the security infrastructure.
• Fake cameras do not require an electricity source and do not need to be wired to monitors and recording systems. This in itself is a great advantage as the cameras can be placed anywhere on the property.
• Because of the low cost, fake cameras can be placed in large quantities around a property creating a visually intimidating countermeasure against criminals.
• Fake cameras have no running costs and do not need to be operated or maintained by a person.
• Fake copies of high-end real cameras will make criminals think that the security of a property is much more sophisticated than it actually is.

For CCTV to provide the best security the cameras need to be running and recording 24/7. This can use an extensive amount of data and as a result, a large amount of data storage is required. The traditional method of storing recordings was via tape recorders. However CCTV footage using tape is time consuming to look through and sometimes causes the tape to get jammed or snapped. Data storage has since evolved, become more efficient, and easier to use. A new and effective method of storing data is using Cloud Storage.

Could Storage involves the process of instantly uploading recordings to a server, hosted via the internet. These recordings are then readily accessible via a computer or laptop. This can be an effective way of storing data as it removes the need of holding onto a vast array of tapes or CDs, all of which quickly accumulate as the CCTV is continuously used.