Comprehensive guide to warehouse security camera systems

What are warehouse security camera systems?

Warehouse security camera systems are specially designed video surveillance installations positioned to help business owners and security teams observe key locations continuously.

Surveillance systems for warehouses contain multiple components, including cameras, video recorders, monitoring devices and video management solutions. These technologies work in unison to record, store and organize footage for operators to investigate and analyze further.

Given that the average size of a warehouse space in the US is over 15,000 sq ft, security camera systems for warehouses must be carefully designed to ensure ample coverage of high-traffic and high-risk areas. The main goal of a warehouse surveillance system is to help business owners and security staff identify and address threats promptly and efficiently 24/7.

How do warehouse security cameras work?

Warehouse security cameras work by capturing live footage of important locations like work stations, storage rooms, entrances and exits. This footage is then sent to a central location to be stored, managed and monitored. Some cameras in warehouses will record footage on a continuous basis, while others can be activated by real-time activities like motion or sound.

Depending on the needs of the business, warehouse surveillance cameras may capture live footage in an analog or digital format. Analog warehouse cameras transmit data via coaxial cables installed throughout the property, while digital cameras send data via Ethernet cables.

Each format has its advantages and disadvantages. Analog camera systems are less prone to interference, but usually record footage at a lower resolution and can be more expensive to install. Digital warehouse cameras are often easier to integrate into wider systems, but can be weak to cyberattacks if not adequately protected.

A typical warehouse video surveillance system will contain the following components:

• Warehouse cameras: Installed to cover key locations like entrances, storage rooms and work areas, and configured to send live footage to recorders and monitoring devices.

• Video recorders: Footage is sent to an NVR (analog) or DVR (digital) unit installed in a central location to be processed into a viewable format for operators to analyze.

• Monitoring devices: Physical monitors installed in a central location enable on-site staff to view feeds. Some systems provide remote viewing via cloud communications.

• Video management systems: Enable security personnel and business owners to store, organize and interact with recorded footage to support security investigations.

The importance of warehouse cameras for security

To ensure a safe and secure environment, it’s vital that warehouse security personnel and business owners have a reliable way to observe key areas at all times. Given the expansive layout of warehouse environments, the large quantities of valuable assets they hold and the dangerous nature of warehouse work, manual observation operations are often challenging.

By installing appropriate types of warehouse cameras to cover different areas, security staff can ensure all suspicious activities and potential threats are identified promptly. Additionally, warehouse cameras can capture clear evidence of criminal activity to aid later investigations.

Warehouse surveillance cameras can help address the following unique safety concerns:

External theft

Theft is a significant issue in logistics and supply chain management, with data revealing cargo thefts alone cost US businesses $15 – 30 billion annually. Of 766 thefts reported in Q4 2023, almost 33% occurred in warehouses, underlining the prevalence of such security risks.

By installing visible warehouse security cameras outside the facility, warehouse owners can both deter criminality and capture evidence of suspicious activity. Equally, security cameras installed inside warehouses enable security staff to observe valuable inventory continuously.

Internal theft

Internal theft must also be accounted for. Employees with access to high-risk locations like storage areas and loading bays may attempt to steal valuable assets. One recent incident reported by Amazon resulted in a loss of $100,000 worth of stored warehouse merchandise.

Warehouse video surveillance cameras ensure security teams have continuous visibility over high-risk areas to deter criminal activity. If warehouse cameras are also linked to alarms and motion sensors, teams can be instantly warned of events, improving incident response times.

Health and safety risks

Occupational safety risks are also a real concern in warehouses. Workers face many threats related to machinery, heavy objects, dangerous chemicals and environmental hazards. For business owners to mitigate these risks, they need a way to observe daily operations.

Warehouse security cameras can record evidence of accidents to aid OSHA investigations and help owners adjust processes to prevent future safety issues. Warehouse cameras with video analytics tools can also identify dangerous actions and alert staff instantly to mitigate threats.

Effective types of security cameras for warehouses

To develop an effective warehouse video surveillance system, business owners will need to install appropriate camera types in different areas to ensure suitable coverage and visibility at all times. Different types of warehouse cameras are well-suited to different environments. Below are some examples of common warehouse camera types and appropriate use cases.

Bullet cameras

Bullet cameras capture high-quality images at long-range, though they have a narrow field of view. These types of warehouse cameras are best used to observe areas like building perimeters, loading bays and parking lots where reliable and clear long-distance surveillance is required.

Bullet models can also act as effective visible crime deterrents, as they’re viewed as the most recognizable type of security camera. Research shows the presence of visible surveillance cameras may deter as many as 60% of criminals from targeting a property to commit crimes.

Dome cameras

Dome cameras produce images with a wide-angle field of view at the expense of some long-distance functionality. These models are ideally suited for wide open areas like workstations, storage rooms, offices and similar areas where subjects are likely to be closer to the camera.

Dome warehouse cameras also feature a durable dome-shaped enclosure fitted around the lens that can mask the camera’s viewing position from intruders. However, this enclosure must be cleaned regularly to prevent dirt, dust or damage from obscuring the camera’s view.

Turret cameras

Turret cameras, when comparing to dome cameras, feature a unique ball-and-socket design that enables operators to adjust the camera’s viewing position as and when required. This makes these types of cameras ideal for areas where layouts are often adjusted, like loading bays and inventory storage facilities.

While the adjustable nature of turret warehouse cameras affords more flexibility than many other styles of cameras, the viewing angle usually needs to be changed manually. However, some modern models have motorized hinges that allow for remote adjustments to be made.

PTZ cameras

Pan-Tilt-Zoom (PTZ) cameras are designed to be adjusted remotely during operation. This enables operators to follow events and zoom into live images from remote viewing positions. They’re best suited for high-traffic areas where multiple moving subjects require observation.

Choosing to install PTZ warehouse cameras also enables operators to cover key locations with less hardware, making them a great choice for areas where wiring space is limited. But as these types of PTZ cameras have multiple moving parts, they often require additional maintenance. 

Fisheye cameras

Fisheye cameras, sometimes called 360° surveillance cameras, provide a panoramic view of target areas from a fixed viewing angle. These types of warehouse cameras offer good coverage of open spaces like shop floors, parking lots and storage rooms with minimal hardware requirements.

360° cameras are not ideally suited for busy environments like workstations or loading bays, as they usually produce lower-quality images than other camera types. Additionally, special software is required to ​“dewarp” recorded images as they are presented in a circular format.

Key features to look for in warehouse camera systems

Alongside selecting appropriate types of cameras to be used in warehouse security systems, business owners must consider which key features to prioritize. Effective warehouse camera installations will produce clear footage continuously while facing minimal risks of impairment from expected environmental factors or tampering. Below are some key features to consider.

Resolution

Security cameras for warehouses must be able to capture clear footage of suspicious activity to aid security teams in investigating and addressing threats. Security staff may need to spot subtle movements or actions to understand how a security breach occurred. They may also require high-quality images of a suspect to aid law enforcement in apprehending offenders.

The resolution of a warehouse security camera indicates the level of detail operators will see in recorded footage. For effective warehouse surveillance, business owners should look for cameras with a resolution of at least 1080p, though 4K cameras will be even more effective.

Frame rate

The frame rate of the camera tells operators how many images (frames) the device records per second during normal operation. The higher the frame rate, the smoother the recorded images will look when played back at the monitoring station. However, cameras that record at a higher frame rate require more data storage. So, quality and storage must be balanced. 

To ensure accurate footage is recorded in busy warehouse environments, business owners should look for warehouse cameras with a frame rate of around 10 fps. This will ensure that moving objects and subjects can be observed clearly without suffering data storage issues.

Low-light functionality

Security camera systems for warehouses must be able to capture clear images continuously, meaning considerations must be made for variable light conditions. If cameras are intended to operate overnight, or in unlit spaces, low-light and night-vision features will be necessary.

Two options to weigh for a low light warehouse security camera solution are infrared vs thermal security cameras. Infrared warehouse security cameras record clear footage in low-light by capturing images based on reflected IR radiation, while thermal cameras record footage based on heat. If intending to operate in dark or unlit environments, look for cameras with these features. 

Indoor/​outdoor use

Considerations must also be made for indoor and outdoor surveillance. Generally speaking, most types of cameras can be used indoors. However, in warehouse environments that may be filled with dust and fine particles, cameras with hard-wearing casings must be prioritized.

Business owners should look for warehouse security cameras featuring IP66 or IP67-rated enclosures if they’re intended to be installed in dust-filled or outdoor locations. These ratings indicate that cameras will be protected from water and dust ingress during normal operation.

Smart integrations for warehouse video surveillance systems

The best security camera systems for warehouse environments will be designed with wider integrations in mind. While capturing footage of suspicious activity is important, developing ways to enhance the operation of installed cameras through integrations with wider security devices enables security teams to identify, address and deter threats much more effectively.

Remote monitoring tools

As warehouses are often large environments featuring multiple potential hazards and filled with high quantities of valuable goods, continuous surveillance should be prioritized. In many cases, stationing security guards in a central monitoring room 24/7 may not be financially or logistically possible. Integrations with remote monitoring tools can help address this issue.

Cloud-based security camera systems enable warehouse teams to stream live surveillance footage to remote devices continuously. On-site teams can then view real-time feeds while performing patrols to ensure their presence is felt in appropriate locations. Equally, admins can view live camera feeds remotely at any time to ensure the site remains protected 24/7.

Video analytics software

Video analytics software integrated into active warehouse security cameras can be used to autonomously detect suspicious activity and alert operators, improving response times. AI programs continuously observe key locations to understand normal activity. If an anomalous event occurs, warnings will be sent to security staff remotely, requesting an instant response.

AI video analytics tools can also detect threats like persons carrying contraband items, unusual motion in high-risk areas and dangerous practices related to OSHA violations. For example, if a worker is caught operating machinery improperly, instant alerts can be sent to managers.

License plate recognition

Similarly to video analytics software, license plate recognition tools can autonomously detect suspicious or dangerous events related to vehicular activity. LPR cameras installed outside the property can capture images of unknown vehicles using access roads or loitering around private locations. Images can then be sent to law enforcement to investigate suspicious activities.

LPR cameras for warehouses can also be used to manage access to the site at external access roads and checkpoints. Data associated with authorized vehicles can be stored in a central database, with access gates programmed to open only when known vehicles enter the site.

Smart sensors and alarms

Threat detection and response capabilities can be dramatically improved via integrations with smart sensors and alarms. Warehouse security cameras can be linked to Internet of Things (IoT) motion, sound, pressure and temperature sensors. If IoT sensors detect stimuli consistent with criminal activity, cameras can record and flag footage to aid investigations.

On-site alarms can also be integrated into warehouse security camera systems, with devices programmed to sound instantly in response to suspicious activity in high-risk areas. Security teams can then be notified remotely, enabling staff to view live feeds and enact responses. 

Access control systems

Warehouse camera systems linked to access control products can help security staff prevent unauthorized intrusion events. Cameras installed at access points can be programmed to record and flag footage in response to failed access attempts. Images can then be reviewed by operators to aid in the identification of suspects and further analyze anomalous events.

Warehouse cameras may also be used to control access to high-security areas inside the property. Cameras equipped with facial recognition software can act as additional credential readers, restricting access to high-risk areas. Biometric credentials like facial recognition are considered highly secure as no two people share the exact same physical characteristics.

Best practices for developing warehouse camera systems

Once appropriate camera types and key features have been identified, business owners will need to carefully consider how warehouse security camera systems should be implemented. Important considerations include assessing security needs, determining camera placements, ensuring maintenance can be performed and ensuring systems can be upgraded as needed.

1. Assess security requirements 

Business owners must work with security teams to assess the unique security requirements of their facilities. Teams must review previous security incidents to identify weaknesses that have been exploited in the past, as well as consider ways to enhance incident responses.

If a site has had issues related to unauthorized access events, integrating warehouse cameras into access control systems may be a priority. If attempted break-ins have occurred frequently overnight, perimeter warehouse CCTV cameras with night-vision functionality will be a worthwhile investment. Factor these considerations into the planning of the installation.

2. Determine camera placements

With a good understanding of the common threats facing their facilities, business owners can determine appropriate placements for warehouse cameras. Consider which types of cameras are best suited for different environments. For example, bullet cameras should be installed to cover building perimeters, while dome models are ideal for large indoor spaces. 

Tests should be conducted to ensure cameras provide reliable coverage of key areas, and considerations should be made for installation requirements. If limited space is available for wiring, PTZ or 360° cameras may be required to ensure good coverage with less hardware. 

3. Consider maintenance needs

Warehouse video surveillance cameras must be frequently inspected and maintained to ensure systems are operating as intended. Think about how cameras might be accessed to perform routine maintenance, while equally ensuring they remain out of reach to intruders. 

Extra considerations must be made for cameras with moving parts. Wireless cameras will need their batteries changed frequently, and teams must ensure CCTV software solutions are updated regularly to defend against novel cybersecurity threats. It’s wise to keep a maintenance log book on-site that security staff can reference to ensure routines are kept. 

4. Allow for future improvements

Business needs and security threats will change over time, meaning warehouse security camera systems may need to be updated with new hardware and software components. If new cameras need to be installed, video recorders will need spare inputs, and installation teams will need to find appropriate locations to wire and set up new warehouse cameras.

Keep these factors in mind when planning warehouse video surveillance installations to ensure security systems can continue to provide adequate protection for as long as possible.

Conclusion

Ensuring people, property and valuable assets are well-protected at all times is a top priority for warehouse operators. However, the complex nature of warehouse operations can make it difficult to reliably observe key areas and respond to threats without technological support.

By installing warehouse security cameras to cover high-risk and high-traffic areas throughout the property, business owners and security teams can ensure key areas are protected at all times. Considerations must be made regarding appropriate security camera types for different areas, which key features to prioritize and how warehouse cameras will be observed by operators.

Choosing to integrate warehouse video surveillance systems into wider security systems will help improve incident responses and defend against common threats. Taking note of the advice in this guide should help business owners develop effective security camera systems.

For additional insights on warehouse security, you might find this Warehouse Security Checklist helpful.