CCTV Is not Enough: 7 Home Security Gaps You Might Be Missing

As far as the topic of home security is concerned, installing CCTV cameras seems to be the very first step taken by the property owners. The cameras can help you keep tabs on such areas as entrances, corridors, car parks, and other places that need to be watched. Also, the cameras may offer valuable footage in case of any incidents. However, cameras themselves will not prevent a person from entering your house, as well as may not cover all the possible security issues.

There may be some security issues in your house that are easily overlooked. Some backdoor, some unlocked window, some dimly lit entrance, some unprotected balcony – all this may allow some unwanted access.

Another crucial aspect is the situation when you are not viewing the camera footage. The absence of reliable locks, lighting, alarms, and other preventive means will make your surveillance footage only a post-incident tool. Hence, the whole concept of a comprehensive home security system implies prevention, detection, and monitoring combined.

The good news is that enhancing home security does not necessarily imply purchasing advanced security products that are quite expensive. Even simple measures, including lock installation, proper outdoor lighting, window protection, and camera monitoring, can significantly increase home security.

Here you can read about 7 home security flaws that most people overlook and find out how to secure your home better than just with CCTV cameras.

CCTV Blind Spots: Are You Really Covering Every Entry Point? 

The presence of CCTV cameras in your house gives you a sense of security. But think for a moment, will all your cameras have the capability to observe all the key spots? It’s pointless having cameras if they cannot observe the area you wish to monitor.

Blind Spots to Watch Out For

• Entrances from the back and sides: These areas may be less accessible than the front entrance and hence may get ignored while installing cameras.

• Corners and narrow corridors: There may be walls, columns, shrubs, or other obstacles that can hinder the view of the camera.

• Garages and parking areas: Observe if there are any vehicles or other objects that may block entry-exit points.

• Terraces and balconies: Ground floor or accessible terraces can be turned into blind spots if you don’t keep an eye on them.

• Approach to the main door: The ideal placement of the camera would be such that it can cover the whole approach to the door as well as the door itself. 

Monitor Your Camera Placement Frequently

Your CCTV coverage may vary as time goes by. An installed plant, parked car, building works, or even altered camera placement may end up creating a blind spot. Go to your property and find out what each camera sees.

In order to achieve greater security in your house, do not rely only on one camera or place cameras at places that seem convenient to you. Ensure your attention is on entrances, weak spots, and places which might be out of sight.

Weak Doors, Windows & Locks That Make Homes Vulnerable 

Even if you have the best CCTV system in your area, your home can be vulnerable because your doors and windows are easy to manipulate. They should be the first thing to consider when enhancing your home’s security.

Starting With Your Doors

Your primary door must be sturdy enough to resist daily wear and tear and any unwanted intrusion into your house. Take note of the following:

• Sticking or broken locks – A lock that gets stuck or is broken must be replaced.

• Damaged doorframes – It will be difficult for a sturdy lock to secure your door if the doorframe around it is damaged.

• Back and side doors – Aside from your primary entrance, your back and side doors must also be considered.

• Keys to your front door – Spare keys must never be left outside where someone can easily access them.

Don’t Neglect Your Windows

Your windows, particularly the windows on the ground floor, must also be secured. Ensure that all your windows close effectively and have locks installed in them. The sliding windows may require extra protection due to the weak nature of their locks.

Make Security a Routine

Do a walk-through of your entire house and check every point from where someone can enter into your property. Make sure to look for any handles that are loose, any damaged lock or door that does not close effectively.

Why Poor Lighting Can Undermine Your Security

Let’s say there is a CCTV camera watching your front door, but the surroundings are too dark and the recorded footage becomes hard to recognize. This situation can arise due to bad outdoor lighting, which can pose serious threats to the home security system. The cameras perform better in a place that is easily visible.

Dark Areas Can Provide Opportunities

A burglar can use dark spots to his advantage. Dark spots near your house, an unlighted driveway, dark backdoor area are just examples of how criminals can exploit the situation to their benefit.

Keep in mind:

• Entrances: Front and back doors must be well-lighted.

• Paths and drives: Proper lighting can help you to see clearly anyone approaching your home.

• Side passageways: Don’t leave the narrow passage between walls/buildings dark.

• Outdoor stairs: Adequate lighting also prevents you from falling down accidentally.

• Parking/ garage area: Enough lighting is needed for the parking area.

Consider Motion-Sensor Lights

Lighting that activates automatically when motion is detected can be another useful component in your home’s security setup. It illuminates whenever there’s any movement, highlighting any suspicious activity. It also serves well alongside CCTV cameras, since it will improve their night vision.

Don’t Let Lighting Become an Afterthought 

Make a tour of your property at night, paying attention to those places where you cannot really see what is going on. Such are the locations that need your focus. Though simple, better lighting can really change your CCTV’s effectiveness.

The Risk of Unsecured Balconies, Terraces & Secondary Entrances 

While you examine your house security, you tend to ignore all other points except for the main entry door. However, balconies, terraces, service doors, and side doors can also leave some loopholes for intruders, especially if they are easy to enter and not used often.

Points That Should Not Be Ignored While Examining Your Home Security

• Ground floor balconies: See if the doors and windows that open into the balcony are properly locked.

• Upper floor balconies: Some structures such as roofs, pipes, ledges, and buildings adjacent to the building might provide easy access to these points.

• Terrace doors: Lock the doors while the terrace is not in use and don’t keep keys within easy reach.

• Service doors or back doors: These doors tend to be overlooked but should be equally secured as the main door.

• Shared access areas:  If you live in an apartment society, see if doors to shared areas are properly secured.

Keep These Areas In Sight

Proper lighting and effective CCTV positioning will allow you to keep an eye on the potentially dangerous second entry points. But do not expect from a camera only its monitoring functions. It should go along with locking systems and proper access.

Do a Quick Security Walkaround 

Go around your house and try to answer the following question: “Is it possible to get to this place unnoticed?”. If the answer is positive, you need to think about improving lighting, locks, access and CCTV systems.

Protecting these easily ignored places will give additional security to your property.

Smart Home Devices: Convenience Without Enough Protection 

Smart lockers, doorbells, connected alarms, and other smart gadgets can facilitate monitoring your home more easily. However, here is a twist: how safe your smart device is depends on how you utilize it. Neglecting basic online security precautions makes these convenient gadgets yet another potential vulnerability.

Common Weaknesses in Smart Home Security

• Password weakness: Don’t use easily guessable passwords; use unique passwords for your important accounts.

• Software that is outdated: Often, updates are necessary because they increase security, among other things.

• Too many people have access: Sharing accounts complicates the process of limiting access to devices.

• Unprotected Wi-Fi: Smart devices require your home’s Internet connection to function.

• Old devices: If you do not use some of your smart devices anymore, get rid of them.

Keep Convenience and Security Balanced 

When acquiring a smart security device, ensure that you assess its security settings and upgrade capabilities. Even after installation, it is important to review who has access to the security device and change the password used during setup.

The CCTV, locks, and alarms must be connected to each other and work together as a whole home security system rather than as individual gadgets.

There are only a few things that you need to do, and they include updating your gadgets, safeguarding your accounts, and managing the access permissions.

Why Alarms & Emergency Alerts Matter Alongside CCTV 

While CCTV gives an indication of what's going on, what will happen if there is no one monitoring the recordings at that very time? That's where alarms and emergency alerts play an essential role. The system can help bring unusual events to your notice and allow you to act promptly.

CCTV Watches, Alarms Alert

The main function of the camera is to provide visibility, but alarms notify you about the event right away. It all depends on your system whether you receive alerts on your smartphone or hear an alarm sound.

Add-ons include:

• Door and window sensors: They will alert you when a secure entrance or exit is opened without your permission.

• Motion sensors: Can help in detecting any unusual movements in the selected zones especially when there's no one home.

• Smart alerts: Such a system can notify you on your smartphone whenever something unusual happens.

• Panic or emergency buttons: You can use them to get immediate assistance during an emergency situation.

• Smoke and fire alarms: While security should prevent any intrusion into your house, it also should save your family from fires or other kinds of emergencies.

Be Sure the Alerts Work

Having an alarm does not suffice. Test it periodically and see if the alerts get delivered to the correct receiver. Also, change the batteries when necessary and ensure that all household members know what to do in case of a warning.

Alarms, sensors, and CCTV working in harmony will make your security system proactive rather than reactive.

Creating a Complete Home Security System Beyond Cameras 

The use of CCTV is good, but home security is even more effective when multiple layers are used. Consider your security system as a team, whereby cameras act as the eyes, while locks, lights, alarms, and security practices offer the extra layers of security.

Build Multiple Layers of Protection

• Secure all access points through the use of secure locks in the doors, windows, balconies, garages, and other areas that have easy access.

• Ensure visibility through the use of lights on entrances, passages, parking lots, and dark corners.

• Install door sensors, alarm systems, and motion sensors to alert in case of any suspicious activity.

• Regularly check your cameras to ensure they have the right view angle and that no important area is blocked by walls, plants, cars, or any other objects.

• Protect all smart security systems by keeping them updated with strong passwords.

• Create an emergency response plan.

Do Not Forget About Regular Inspections

Your security system should not be the one-time installation that is forgotten afterward. Periodically inspect your property once or twice a year, and check your locks, lighting, CCTV, alarms, and all your security devices to ensure their proper functioning.

The aim is not to fortify your property like a castle. Your aim should be the elimination of any weak spots and creation of several layers of protection. Once you combine the efforts of CCTV, physical security, lighting, alarms, and your safety practices, you will have a great home security system.

Final Thoughts

CCTV cameras may be useful for the security of your house, yet, they must not be the only thing that you rely on. Indeed, the camera is able to capture anything that is happening within its range, as well as to give you an opportunity to keep track of what is going on, but no matter how good the device is, it will not be able to secure a vulnerable door, to close a window, and to notify you about every danger.

Therefore, along with paying attention to all the aspects of CCTV installation and monitoring, you need to pay attention to smaller details that can affect the security level of your house and find solutions to those issues.

Inspect your property carefully, paying special attention to such things as doors and windows, balconies and terraces, lighting, CCTV coverage, proper functioning of all alarms and sensors, as well as secure smart home devices with complex passwords and updates.

Above all, you must not rely on the security system only after finding out that there is a problem with it. In order to be fully secured, you need to constantly improve your security system according to changes in your surroundings.