By Carolina Ruiz Vega

In Costa Rica, video surveillance systems are key security factors for any home or business because they keep an  eye on the owner’s assets, ensure a close monitoring of critical processes or events, and protect people who live or work in that space.

How can you keep hackers from accessing security camera systems? Victor Merino, Director of Pelco by Schneider Electric for Mexico and Central America, highlights three common mistakes that can allow hackers to access your video surveillance systems:

1. Choosing the wrong system

There is a great variety of cameras, models and brands available in the market, which were designed for different environments (outdoor places, corners with low light, cashiers, etc.) Hence, the first common mistake is choosing the wrong model for the specific scenario or space you want to keep safe.

2. Overlooking safety tests

Choosing the right model is not the only task required before making the purchase. Merino considers necessary to design an appropriate security system and testing it.

Pelco by Schneider Electric, for example, offers software capable of estimating the point of view that the camera will be able to show once it is installed. Overlooking this simulation is a common mistake that could lead to leaving out of the camera’s scope important events you want to monitor.

3. Failing to configure the system

Part of the implementation of a video surveillance system in Costa Rica involves configuring it. A third common mistake done at this step is failing to change the default settings that come pre-installed with the equipment. With regard to wireless cameras, you need to check its specifications to ensure that data is transmitted encrypted and prevent search engines from indexing the administration page of the camera.

In all modern video surveillance systems, a web server where the user can access video images over the Internet. In this matter, a common mistake is forgetting to change the default username and password to access that web server. In the same vein, Schneider Electric recommends setting up different viewing profiles as well.

Schneider Electric Central America was originally founded as in Costa Rica as Square D in 1976. Since then, the company has remained a leader in low and high voltage electrical systems.