Imagine this: a security incident happens at your business, and you breathe a sigh of relief because you have video footage to back up your insurance claim. But when the time comes to retrieve it, the footage is blurry, has the wrong timestamp, or—worse—is missing altogether. Suddenly, your strongest piece of evidence is rendered useless, leaving you vulnerable to a rejected claim and hefty financial losses.
Too often, businesses install security cameras and assume their job is done. But without proper video management practices, even the most advanced systems can fall short when you need them the most. From inaccurate timestamps to outdated software, these common pitfalls can undermine the credibility of your footage and complicate insurance claims.
The good news? With a few best practices and the right technology, you can ensure your video systems are always reliable, secure, and ready to support your case. This article delves into the best practices for video management and how Angelcam's security video solutions can help you overcome these challenges:
One of the most frequent issues faced in video-based insurance claims is incorrect timestamps. When the time or date is inaccurate, the footage loses its credibility, causing adjusters and investigators to dismiss it as unreliable. The solution? Regularly syncing your cameras' internal clocks using a network time protocol (NTP) server. But adjusting this manually can be an ineffective and time-consuming task.
Angelcam's fix: With Angelcam's cloud platform, you can synchronize timestamps across all connected cameras. Angelcam allows you to set up the date and time stamp, ensuring that every frame recorded reflects the exact date and time of the camera's location, eliminating the possibility of discrepancies. This level of accuracy is especially crucial for high-value industries like finance and logistics, where time-sensitive incidents need precise documentation.
If your cameras are set to low resolution, vital details like license plates, faces, or certain actions can be rendered unrecognizable. For a video to be admissible as evidence, it must provide clear and actionable details. Yet, many companies reduce resolution settings to save on storage, sacrificing quality for quantity. In insurance cases, pixelated images or poor-quality videos can render your evidence virtually useless.
Angelcam's fix: Angelcam's scalable Cloud Recording solution lets you record and store footage in high-definition without worrying about running out of space. Whether you need HD or 5MP, your video remains clear, detailed, and fully accessible, giving you peace of mind that your footage will stand up under scrutiny. If your cameras have a lower resolution, you can opt for Angelcam's AngelCamera One to ensure that every recording is clear, detailed, and ready for review when it matters most.
Like all technology, security cameras require regular updates to function properly. Outdated firmware can lead to outages, missed footage, and vulnerabilities that open the door to cyberattacks. Worse yet, your system might not capture incidents at all, leaving you with gaps in your coverage.
Angelcam's fix: Angelcam's automatic firmware update feature ensures that all connected cameras are always running the latest software versions. This means businesses no longer have to manually track updates or worry about vulnerabilities. With continuous updates and AI-powered monitoring, Angelcam proactively detects when a camera is offline or malfunctioning, allowing teams to address issues before they impact evidence collection.
Many businesses make the mistake of keeping short retention periods to save on storage costs. But when an incident occurs, valuable footage may already be overwritten by the time the claim is initiated. Establishing appropriate footage retention policies is essential for supporting any insurance claim.
Angelcam's fix: Angelcam's Cloud Recording options allow businesses to customize their storage periods based on their specific needs. Companies can choose to store footage for as short as a week or as long as three years. Cloud storage means you won't have to worry about local hardware limitations like DVR's, and every recording remains encrypted and secure, acting as a reliable backup until it's no longer needed. If your retention policy doesn't match your needs, your evidence could disappear when you need it most.
It's not enough to have quality footage if you can't access it quickly during an investigation. Delays in accessing video files can lead to missed deadlines and a breakdown in the claims process. Equally important is ensuring that data is stored securely to prevent tampering or unauthorized access. Plus, making sure that only authorized personnel can access the footage is key to maintaining data integrity.
Angelcam's fix: Angelcam's cloud platform offers instant access to stored footage from any device, enabling fast retrieval of footage without compromising on security. With secure servers, TLS-encrypted communications and multi-factor authentication, businesses can ensure that their data remains intact and accessible only to authorized personnel. This robust combination of security and accessibility keeps companies in control of their footage, whether they need to share it with adjusters or law enforcement.
When an incident happens, the last thing you want is confusion over how to report and share the footage. Lack of a clear protocol can result in miscommunication, missed deadlines, and loss of valuable evidence. Establishing a clear, step-by-step protocol for how video should be accessed, reviewed, and shared is crucial for maintaining the chain of custody and ensuring smooth claims processing.
Angelcam's fix: Angelcam's Real-Time Security comes with an integrated incident-sharing platform that makes it easy to distribute footage as they happen through secure channels like SMS, email, or Slack with local authorities, central monitoring stations or internal security staff. This streamlined approach ensures that the right people have the right footage at the right time, with detailed logs tracking every access point. By automating much of the sharing process, Angelcam minimizes the risk of human error and keeps the entire workflow transparent and secure.
Whether you're running a small business or managing a large industrial facility, video footage is a critical part of your security strategy. But without the right infrastructure, even the best cameras can fail you when it matters most. By adopting these best practices and leveraging Angelcam's cloud-based solutions, you can ensure that your video footage is always reliable, secure, and ready to support your insurance claims.
Protect your business's future by upgrading to smart security video management with Angelcam. Contact us today to learn how our solutions can keep your assets safe while simplifying your claims process when needed. Request a demo, schedule a call, or contact us directly at hello@angelcam.com or +1 (415) 767 0758 between 8:00 am and 3:00 pm EST.