Protecting a home or office is a full-time job. Making this duty even more complex is the need to maintain this protection when you are not physically on the premises. Thankfully, there are solutions to this scenario. One solution is to install a home video surveillance system that can keep an electronic “eye” on your property when you are not there.

Several years ago, shocking news footage circulated featuring a babysitter captured on hidden camera abusing a young infant in her charge. As disturbing and sobering as this footage was, it also raised a very important point. Without the aforementioned surveillance equipment, the abuses may never have been discovered.

This proves a quality home video surveillance system is critical for maintaining safety and security on your property. In the past, installing a surveillance system was neither easy nor inexpensive. That is why the new USB-DVR system is such a welcome addition to the home security market. It is a cost-effective and simple to operate system that can maintain a reliable protective eye on your home or office.

Installing this system to your computer is not complicated. The USB DVR cord plugs directly into a laptop or personal computer via the USB port. Then, you connect the camera directly to the hard drive of the computer via the audio and video cables. Actually, you could connect this device to up to FOUR cameras. This allows for the maximum surveillance of a wide perimeter. As such, there will be no blind spots out of your range of vision.

But, how do you monitor the surveillance footage? In the aforementioned babysitter case, the video camera was on record mode and the tape was reviewed later. Therefore, the actual incident was not discovered until after the fact.

Sadly, in some cases, too much time could have passed to respond adequately. With the USB-DVR, you can monitor activity in real time and without any closed circuit monitor hookups. Instead, you are able to view the images on the internet. Simply log into your system with your IP address and you will have full remote access from anywhere in the world via Internet Explorer. Additionally, you can zoom or tilt the video display with a remote device. This adds much needed flexibility that ensures you will not miss an image.

If you do wish to save or review the footage later, the USB DVR allows you to record images directly on your hard drive. You can adjust the speed of the recording as a means of extending recording time as well as saving hard drive space. There is an also five different options for video recording quality. This allows you to select specific video qualities depending upon the task at hand.

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Many homeowners don’t consider options for protecting their property from invaders, fires, and other accidents until disaster strikes. Although everyone likes to think of the home as a safe haven, houses are always vulnerable to damage and intrusion. As a result, homeowners may lose priceless valuables or face increased insurance costs that further aggravate the situation. For homeowners who want to make sure that property stays safe and secure even when you’re away, the best defense solution might be a monitored security system.

Home security systems are generally designed to quickly alert homeowners that the house has been invaded by burglars or exposed to hazardous substances, such as fire or carbon monoxide. With a basic security system, an alarm is activated to warn residents that a security breach has occurred and must be attended to. However, for further precaution a monitored system offers the added security of providing 24-hour monitoring by the security company, with an experienced staff trained to respond quickly and notify both homeowners and the proper authorities.

The security monitoring center usually takes several steps to protect homeowners. For example, to safeguard against burglary and other dangers involving trespassers, the security company installs sensors and motion detectors throughout the house on doors, windows, walls, and other areas. Homeowners can activate the various features of a security system using a personal security code, and when someone enters the house without deactivating the system, the monitoring center is alerted. The company prevents false alarms by contacting the homeowners for confirmation, and in the event of a genuine emergency, the company alerts the police.

Additional safety measures include heat and carbon monoxide detectors to guard against fires and gas leakages. Choosing to install a monitored security system means that disasters will be averted even when homeowners are unable to respond to security alarms themselves. With an advanced security system, homeowners have the freedom to travel or go on vacation and leave concerns about property protection at home where they belong.

Besides safeguarding your property, a security system also provides peace of mind for the owners, who can feel at ease in their own homes. When a burglar alarm is set off, the intruders are alerted that they have been detected and are more likely to leave the property, preventing violence against unsuspecting residents. A monitored system is also useful for home emergencies and medical alerts, and some residents carry a panic button that can provide immediate communication with the monitoring center when there is an attack or serious health concern.

There are countless reasons why a monitored home security system is beneficial to a private homeowner. From a practical standpoint, they often help to cut other property expenses, such as home insurance. Many insurance companies are willing to reduce the cost of coverage when a security system is installed in the home. However, more important than financial benefits and material possessions, a security system reduces the risk that loved ones will be physically endangered simply because they could not receive assistance quickly enough. Even though it is still important to design a personal family emergency/evacuation plan, by providing round-the-clock access to a security team, as well as effective alerts, a monitored security system allows homeowners to feel in control within the home environments and pro-active in ensuring personal safety.