Secure your security surveillance

Secure your security surveillance

Surveillance systems offer home and business owners peace of mind, knowing that their property and valuables are protected from criminals. But during Surveillance installation owners / responsible person couldn’t change default password of product, like: DVR. NVR, IP Camera, IP Intrusion Panel, Router, Access Point etc. Many users sometimes call me and ask “my DVR data is formatted, but I couldn’t share DVR password”, “I lost my NVR password, how to retrieve the same” etc. etc.

I have seen 80% of users will not change the default username and password for their IP cameras. Electronic Security Surveillance footage is useful in conducting investigations.  IP video surveillance is not immune to cyber risks, but taking basic steps toward protecting and strengthening networks and networked appliances will make them less susceptible to attacks. Below are some tips.

1.     Change default passwords and used strong word:

You can find the default username and password from either user-manual or the product sticker on the product. Sometime your installer share password. Default passwords makes your system easier to hack. It’s like leaving the door already half open for smart hackers. The most used default account for IP camera is admin/admin.  You may need to reset your device before. After reset, user settings and account information will return to their factory settings. Below are the top 10 passwords 

            a.     12345

            b.     Password

3. 12345678
4. qwerty
5. abc123
6. 987654321
7. 111111
8. 1234567
9. iloveyou
10. adobe123

Almost all cameras sold today have a web-based graphical user interface (GUI), and come with a default username and password which is published on the internet. Using a strong password is the vital step to protect your IP camera from unauthorized accessing or hacking. The strong password must contain more than eight characters and at least include four types of characters - uppercase letter, lowercase, numbers and special characters. 

2.     Change Passwords Regularly:

Regularly change the credentials to your devices to help ensure that only authorized users are able to access the system. Most cameras offer at least some form of basic authentication. It may not be super robust, but at least it is better than nothing at all. Protect your camera feeds with a username and a strong password and change it periodically. Set high quality passwords and do password enforcement and account deletion when staff changes.

3.     Rename the Default Admin Account and set a new Admin Password

Your camera's default admin name and password, set by the manufacturer, is usually available by visiting their website and going to the support section for your camera model. If you haven't changed the admin name and password then even the most novice hacker can quickly look up the default password and view your feeds and/or take control of your camera.

4.     Limitation of Guest Accounts

If your system is set up for multiple users, ensure that each user only has rights to features and functions they need to use to perform their job.

5.      Change ONVIF Password

On older IP Camera firmware (applicable for limited product), the ONVIF password does not change when you change the system’s credentials. You will need to either update the camera’s firmware to the latest revision or manually change the ONVIF password.

6.      Manage your camera settings

Including a camera in a home security system is a must these days. It can allow you to view online what’s happening at home even if you’re on the other side of the world. However, with the same feature, you can also be exposing yourself to potential hackers.

A security camera is set for remote online monitoring by default during your purchase. This feature makes it possible for you to keep an eye on your home in real time through a specific app or website. It also makes it a possibility for hackers to use your own camera to spy on your home. Scary, right?

If you can go by without remote online monitoring, turn this feature off. However, if you feel that it’s a necessity to keep the feature, then guard your home and your system by a strong password. It can also help if you strictly position the cameras to face only the areas they’re supposed to monitor. Avoid including your living room or your bedroom entirely.

7.     If Your Camera is Wireless, Turn on WPA2 Encryption

If your camera is wireless capable, you should only join it to a WPA2-encrypted wireless network so that wireless eavesdroppers can't connect to it and access your video feeds.

8.     Enable HTTPS/SSL:

Set up an SSL Certificate to enable HTTPS. This will encrypt all communication between your devices and Storage.

Many cloud vendors provide connection encryption, but it is variable. Confirm with your cloud vendor how their system handles this.

9.      Protect your router.

Like your security system, you can also make your home more secure by protecting your router with an effective password. You can use the same ideas as above. However, make sure you don’t use the same access codes for your system and router.

You can also try hiding your router by manipulating its configuration to make it invisible. However, you have to keep in mind that doing so doesn’t completely make your router invisible. Instead, it only makes your network not easily seen on basic and automatic searches. If a hacker is too advanced, he can simply look for a tool and use it to find your network.

10.   Avoid using public wi-fi.

As much as possible, try not to access your automation devices at home using public wi-fi connections. This makes you more prone to hackers getting access to your personal informations. You can try using your mobile data service or find a more secured connection before you click connect.

11.   Enable IP Filter:

Enabling your IP filter will prevent everyone, except those with specified IP addresses, from accessing the system.

12.   Check the Log

Most of the time, the easiest way to know if someone has been messing around with your system is by checking your camera logs. There are several security cameras that can show you the IP addresses that accessed your cameras. If you find a suspicious one on your log, immediately change your access codes and notify proper authorities.

13.   Disable UPNP:

UPNP will automatically try to forward ports in your router or modem. Normally this would be a good thing. However, if your system automatically forwards the ports, and you leave the credentials defaulted, you may end up with unwanted visitors.

If you manually forwarded the HTTP and TCP ports in your router/modem this feature should be turned off regardless.

14.   Disable SNMP:

Disable SNMP if you are not using it. If you are using SNMP, you should do so temporarily, for tracing and testing purposes only.

15.   Disable P2P:

P2P is used to remotely access a system via a serial number. The possibility of someone hacking into your system using P2P is highly unlikely because the system’s user name, password, and serial number are also required.

16.   Disable Multicast:

Multicast is used to share video streams between two recorders. Currently there are no known issues involving Multicast, but if you are not using this feature, you should disable it.

17.   Put up a firewall.

Make sure you have a firewall in your network to prevent unauthorized access to your devices. If you don’t have one, you can browse the internet to know your best options on firewall downloads.

For a cloud-based solution without port forwarding, an on-site firewall configuration is not needed. Speak with your integrator or system manufacturer to confirm this.

18.   Change Default HTTP and TCP Ports:

Change default HTTP and TCP ports for Dahua systems. These are the two ports used to communicate and to view video feeds remotely.

These ports can be changed to any set of numbers between 1025-65535. Avoiding the default ports reduces the risk of outsiders being able to guess which ports you are using.

19.   Forward Only Ports You Need:

Ideally, do NOT connect your unprotected server to the internet. If you do expose your system to the internet, then “port forward” as few ports as possible and utilize a next generation firewall which analyzes the protocol and blocks incorrect protocols sent over the wrong port. In an ideal situation, also deploy an IDS/IPS for further protection. Its applicable for IP Camera/ DVR/ NVR/ VMS.

The more secure cloud-based systems do not have port forwarding, so no vulnerability exists, and no incremental protection action is required. Ask your integrator or provider to verify this for any system you own or are considering acquiring.

20.   Build a separate network

Mixing the cameras on a standard network without separation is a recipe for disaster. If your security camera system is connected to your main network, you are creating a doorway for hackers to enter your main network via your surveillance system, or to enter your physical security system through your main network. Some DVRs can even be shipped with a virus.

Ideally, place the security camera system on a physically separate network from the rest of your network. If you are integrating with a sophisticated IT environment, it is not always possible to separate the two systems physically.

In this event, you should use a VLAN.

21.   Connect IP Cameras to the PoE Ports on the Back of an NVR:

Cameras connected to the PoE ports on the back of an NVR are isolated from the outside world and cannot be accessed directly.

22.   Secure your smart phone

Most of today’s home security systems are controlled through smart mobile applications  and this is what makes your smartphone very important for your home’s security. Keep it in mind to always have it protected.

For one, you should avoid logging in to your system while in public places. Someone near you could be waiting for your password. Also, make sure that no one else can access your phone by securing it with a password lock. You can also install a track app just in case you misplace or lost your phone.

If such event happens, make sure to immediately remove your phone’s access from your security system and report the incident right away.

23.   Upgrade your apps and firmwares.

The reason why companies keep updating their firmwares is to fix bugs and glitches as well as to add security patches. By complying with the updates, you are arming yourself with better protection against hackers.

24.   Disable Auto-Login on apps:

If you are using apps to view your system and you are on a computer that is used by multiple people, make sure auto-login is disabled. This adds a layer of security to prevent users without the appropriate credentials from accessing the system.

25.   Use a Different Username and Password for apps:

In the event that your social media, bank, email, etc. account is compromised, you would not want someone collecting those passwords and trying them out on your security surveillance system. Using a different username and password for your security system will make it more difficult for someone to guess their way into your system. Set high quality passwords and do password enforcement and account deletion when staff changes.

Surveillance System Assessment, Deployment & Maintenance

Data breaches continue to accelerate throughout the world. With increasing Internet connectivity, physical security systems are very vulnerable to cyber-attacks, both as direct attacks and as an entrance to the rest of the network. Liabilities for these attacks are still being defined.

It is prudent to protect your company and your customers through preventative measures.

To maximize your cyber security, it is critical to define best practices for your own company, as part of your security camera system assessment, as well as its deployment and maintenance.

Security audit is another way to know system performance of your security Surveillance systems. You need to see what camera saw, Auditing of CCTV Video Easier and Efficient. Auditing helps in gaining better Situational Awareness and Actionable Intelligence.

Some of these technologies are new and have been developed specifically to combat cyber-attacks whilst others, which were originally intended simply to make chipsets more efficient, are also able to contribute to camera security. Almost all, when mentioned in video surveillance-related documents, datasheets or on the Internet, are stated as acronyms or have names which do not make it obvious what they are intended to do. Here, therefore, is an explanation of some of those you are most likely to come across.

• Anti-Hardware Clone: Anti-hardware clone functionality prevents a chipset from being cloned. In addition to protecting intellectual property, this ensures that a chipset with a manufacturer’s label is a genuine copy and removes the risk of a cloned device which may contain malicious software being used to steal sensitive data such as passwords.
• Crypto Acceleration: When applied to video surveillance solutions, crypto acceleration is normally referred to within the context of a camera chipset performing complex mathematical functions for encryption and decryption This is a very intensive operation requiring the chipset to use a large proportion of its resources. Equipping chipsets with a dedicated ‘engine’ for this purpose ensures that encryption/decryption is efficiently carried out, without affecting other camera functionality.
• Image Scrambling: Between the location of a camera and where the images it captures are remotely viewed, recorded and stored, there is always the possibility that a cyber criminal could hack into the network and gain access to what may be confidential video and data. Image scrambling is the encryption of video prior to transmission over the network. It does so by randomly rearranging the pixels of each image so that it cannot be viewed by anyone maliciously hacking into the network.
• Secure JTAG: JTAG ports are hardware interfaces which are used to programme, test and debug devices. However, they can be compromised by cyber criminals to gain low level control of a device and perhaps replace firmware with a malicious version. This can be prevented by securing the JTAG port via a key-based authentication mechanism to which only authorised personnel working for the manufacturer have access.
• Secure UART: UART ports are serial interfaces typically used for debugging cameras. They allow administrator access to a camera and are therefore a target for hackers attempting to access sensitive information such as password keys. Hackers could also potentially access a camera’s firmware in order to reverse engineer it, as well as examine it for vulnerabilities in the device’s communications protocols. Enforcing restricted and secure access to the UART port, will allow the debugging process to be safely completed, without opening the door to cyber criminals.
• OTP ROM: This is an acronym for One Time Programmable Read Only Memory which allows sensitive data, such as encryption keys, to be written only once onto a chipset and then prevents the data from being modified. This protects the integrity of encryption keys which are used to validate the stages in a secure boot up sequence and allows access to the JTAG Port.
• Secure Boot Verification: Secure Boot provides an extra layer of security by sandboxing different elements of a camera’s operating system, which means they are in a protected space. The system will complete a full boot before communicating with any other part of the system and this prevents an interruption to the boot process which could be exploited by a hacker.
• Random Number Generator: Computers are designed to create very predictable data and are therefore not very good at generating random numbers which are required for good encryption. A dedicated random number generator overcomes this problem by having a dedicated mechanism for the task.
• Secure OS: Using a separate operating system (OS) for encryption and decryption, as well as for verifying apps have not been modified or are forgeries, reduces the workload of a camera’s main OS. A separate Linux based API is needed to access a Secure OS and without this, there is no way to make any changes from the outside of a camera. A Secure OS should always, therefore, be used to process important stored information.

In a highly competitive market, there is no shortage of camera manufacturers to choose from. Consultants, system designers and systems integrators therefore have the freedom to narrow down their shortlist of preferred supplies to those who have fully embraced and incorporated best practise into their manufacturing process. A clear demonstration of this would be if they have equipped their cameras with most, if not all, of the above functionality and technology.

Biography:

Arindam Bhadra is an eSecurity professional 11yr + in this industry. He is a good freelance blogger. His blog is now No 1. Blog in India. 2.9L page viewer globally. Mr. Bhadra is an Electronics & telecommunication Engineer from IETE, New Delhi. He is a member of FSAI from 2011 & Go Beyond security from 2008. His blog arindamcctvaccesscontrol.blogspot.com focuses on security. Apart from his job, he loved to spend all his time with eSecurity & Safety technology understanding and loves to help people. He is a Tech enthusiast and has written articles over the period in this Magazine & blog. You can follow him on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn & Google+ etc.

Value of Video Verification

The Value of Video Verification

A CCTV system tracks the inside and outside of a building and sends the indications to a screen. If you’re worried about the safety of your workspace, CCTV installations in India will assist you in protecting your property from anywhere at any time. CCTV services are also being used as an extra weapon in the war against crime in several countries around the world. This blog post will show you how CCTV video is crucial in criminal investigations. 

We will attempt to explain the significance of identifying the charged individual in light of Section 9 of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 (subsequently referred to as “IEA”). In situations where there is no one to determine the identification of the convicted person, the performance of the offence may be proven by circumstantial evidence. CCTV footage is one example of such evidence. Secondly, this article examines the nature of CCTV footage using different case laws and asks if a lawsuit can be formed strictly on the grounds of a single element of CCTV footage. Finally, to prevent misunderstandings, here we will examine the procedure of electronic evidence admissibility in court in light of Section 65(b) of the IEA.

Video verification adds significant value to security and operations by transforming raw CCTV footage into actionable, reliable intelligence. Its core benefits lie in improving response accuracy, providing strong legal evidence, and delivering broader operational insights.

Key Benefits of CCTV Video Verification

Enhanced Security and Emergency Response 

·        False Alarm Reduction: Video verification allows trained operators or AI systems to visually confirm the cause of an alarm (e.g., distinguishing a pet from an intruder) before dispatching emergency services. This significantly reduces false alarms, which drain resources and can lead to fines.

·        Prioritized Emergency Response: Alarms that have been visually verified as genuine emergencies often receive a higher priority and faster response from police and other emergency services.

·        Proactive Intervention: With live monitoring and verification, operators can issue real-time audio warnings to deter intruders, often preventing an incident from escalating further.

·        Accurate Threat Assessment: Visual confirmation provides detailed information about the nature and severity of an incident, allowing for a more appropriate and measured response from security personnel and first responders. 

Investigative and Legal Value

·        Strong Evidence: Verified CCTV footage provides objective visual documentation that carries significant weight in legal proceedings and insurance claims. It can support or disprove witness testimonies and other evidence.

·        Suspect Identification and Elimination: The footage aids investigators in identifying suspects, tracking their movements (entry/exit routes, timelines), and can also help eliminate innocent individuals from inquiries.

·        Admissibility in Court: When handled correctly (maintaining a clear "chain of custody," proper storage, and technical authentication via a certificate of integrity), footage is highly admissible as evidence in court, which can lead to early guilty pleas and save trial costs.

·        Dispute Resolution: Objective visual records can quickly resolve disputes between customers, employees, or other parties, potentially saving businesses substantial litigation costs. 

Operational and Business Intelligence

Beyond security, video verification offers valuable operational insights: 

·        Remote Monitoring and Management: Business owners and managers can remotely access live or recorded footage from anywhere, enabling effective oversight across multiple locations and reducing the need for physical inspections.

·        Efficiency Improvements: Footage can be analyzed to identify operational inefficiencies, improve staffing levels during peak times, monitor equipment condition for maintenance, and verify cleaning or contractor work quality.

·        Employee Safety and Productivity: Monitoring work areas ensures compliance with safety regulations and encourages adherence to best practices, helping to protect employees and boost productivity. 

In essence, the value of CCTV video verification lies in its ability to transform passive surveillance into an active, intelligent, and multi-purpose tool that enhances safety, streamlines operations, and provides legally sound documentation.

Admissibility of E-evidence in criminal proceedings

Where every electronic evidence is being used as proof, Section 65(b) of the IEA requires that the substance of the electronic record be proven. The main objective of Section 65(b) is to protect supplementary evidence. In the case of Arjun Panditrao Khotkar vs Kailash Kushanrao Gorantyal, the Supreme Court reconsidered Section 65(b) of the IEA, resolving the conflicted status of Section 65(b) in The Indian Evidence Act, 1872.

The Court reversed the decision in the case of Shafhi Mohammad vs State of Himachal Pradesh, holding that the certification needed under Section 65b (4) is a prerequisite to the permissibility of proof using testimony. According to a three-judge panel in the case of Anvar P.V. vs P.K. Basheer, an electronic document exists. The Lord’s Bench Arjun Panditrao’s recent judgment explained about the certificate under the Section. By stating, “If the final text is submitted even before Court for review, Section 64b (4) is not required for Examination, then the situation in terms of the certificate requirement has become transparent”.

In the case of CCTV, the image is captured by the sensors and transformed to digital by the DVR ( Digital Video Recorder). Since it stores data in electronic form, the DVR is an electronic record. If the DVR is presented to the Court, it will be considered the main evidence by Section 62 of the IEA unless the original document is presented to the Court for review, and the provisions of Section 65b (4) of the IEA will not apply. Nevertheless, if a huge proportion of devices are mounted and the data is collected, It is not necessary to put the whole set up just before Court because it is technically held on massive servers. The only other choice in this situation is to transfer the files from the massive server to a CD or USB and then present it to the Court. Since the USB and CD are not primary evidence, complying with Section 65b(4) is required.

The person in charge of the server must provide you with a certificate. The primary objective of the certificate is to ensure the proper workplace environment of the device from which the electronic record is generated well before the Court for review, such that it can be known that the material has not been interfered with by others or ill-treated as a result of a computer malfunction. The certificate has not been made a requirement to confirm the accuracy of the content of the computer-generated records.

Mandatory requirement

If the requirements in Section 65b(2) are met, any information found in an electronic record, which is printed on paper, stored, registered, or copied in optical or magnetic media created by a machine, is considered to have been a piece of information (under the Evidence Act) despite anything in the Evidence Act. If the requirements in Section 65b(2) are met, the material over which the information contained inside an electronic record is published, or the optical or magnetic media-generated either by software where such data is stored, recorded, or replicated, shall be admissible in any proceeding as proof of any nature of the initial or of any truth specified, despite evidence or production of the original.

When a claim in the proof is obtained under Section 65b, Section 65b(4) enables the creation of a certificate that, among other things, identifies the electronic copy containing the statement, explains how it was generated, and specifies the system used to make the electronic record to demonstrate that it was generated by a compliant system.

Important case laws 

K. Ramajayam Vs Inspector of Police

In the case of K. Ramajayam Vs Inspector of Police; Dhanaram and Gunaram were brothers who owned and operated “Balaji Pawn Brokers,” a pawnbroking and jewelry shop. Around 8:00 a.m., the deceased Gunaram opened the store. Dhanaram arrived around 9:00 a.m. and stayed for a while before leaving for another job. He was surprised to see his brother lying in a pool of blood when he returned to the shop around midnight. He sounded the alarm, and nearby shop owners arrived. Aside from the homicide, 935 grams of gold were stolen. The plaintiffs’ counsel relied heavily on the Supreme Court ruling in PV Anvar Vs PV Basheer, which defined Sections 65A and 65(b) of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872. The Supreme Court decided that encrypted data on a CD which lacks a Section 65(b) certificate is invalid proof.

According to the prosecutor’s office, the Supreme Court claimed in the same situation as the applicant that when an electronic record is provided as direct information under Section 62, it is permissible in complying with the terms outlined in Section 65(b). In the current situation, vast institutions are involved.

The tribunal held that while Section 2(t) of the IT Act, 2000 does not explicitly define electronic evidence, the complete databases could be taken into courtrooms under such circumstances. Since the defendant was explicitly captured on camera when committing his crime in this case, the CCTV footage should be considered electronic proof.

The appellant/conviction suspect’s under Section 404 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, as well as the penalty levied on him was overturned. The convictions of suspects were upheld under Sections 449, 392, and 302. The punishments levied for the offences under Sections 449 and 392 of the Indian Penal Code are also enforced. The death penalty levied for the violation of Section 302 is overturned. Instead, the accused/appellant is sentenced to life in jail. The convicted will be sentenced to a minimum of 25 years in prison, during which time he will not be eligible for any constitutional relief or plea agreement.

Anvar P.V. Vs. P.K. Basheer & Ors.

In this case, the Judicial Branch has resolved the problems surrounding the admissibility of electronic evidence that arose from numerous contradictory decisions and also the procedures adopted by various High Courts and Trial Courts. The Court has interpreted Sections 22A, 45A, 59, 65A, 65(b), and 65(c) of the Evidence Act, holding that secondary information on CDs, DVDs, and Pen Drives is not permissible without even a certificate under Section 65b (4) of the Evidence Act. It’s been established that electronic evidence obtained without even a certificate under Section 65(b) of the Evidence Act cannot be proven by oral evidence, and also that the expert advice obtained under Section 45A of the Evidence Act cannot be used to make this electronic evidence permissible.

The decision will have far-reaching consequences throughout all contexts where even the prosecutor depends on electronic evidence, especially in anti-corruption trials where audio-video recordings are transmitted to the court on CD/DVD. In all such places, where the CD/DVD is transmitted without the need for certification under Section 65(b) of the Evidence Act, the CD/DVD is inadmissible, and the Court cannot look into more expert opinion as to their authenticity, as the Supreme Court Judgment shows.

It was also noted that all of these precautions are taken to protect the origin and reliability, which are the dual key components of reliable source electronic documents that were hoped to be used as evidence. “Since electronic records are more vulnerable to modification, deletion, transposition, excision, and other forms of fraud, a trial based solely on electronic records may result in a miscarriage of justice”.

Conclusion

In today’s world, CCTV cameras are almost everywhere to keep crime at bay. CCTV video has been used by law enforcement authorities to solve crimes and arrest criminals on several occasions. The CCTV captures a truthful image of the events, and the Courts make a significant impact on its integrity as a result of its accuracy. After the IEA introduced Section 65(b), the Supreme Court has issued several judgments emphasizing the value of electronic evidence admissibility.

It can be used as sufficient proof if the surveillance video is reliable, the source of the recording is known, and it meets the requirements of Section 65(b) of the IEA. Based on certain characteristics of CCTV, a substantiated claim can be formed. Since eye witnesses’ statements could vary from one another and they have the propensity and potential to amend their statements, CCTV proof cannot be said to be equal to witness testimony. Nevertheless, sufficient quality CCTV footage reveals the real event of the incident, and certain documentation can be used to conclude the homicide and identify the suspect.

 

Service and Maintenance for CCTV

Service and Maintenance for CCTV

1. General:

Effective and regular maintenance of a CCTV surveillance system is essential to ensure that the system remains reliable at all times. It is advisable that maintenance of the CCTV system should be carried out by the company which installed the system. However, the maintenance company should have the means, including necessary spare parts and documentation, to meet the recommendations given here.

Note: This recommendation does not place an obligation upon customers who purchase their systems to have them maintained by the installing company. Maintenance is a matter of agreement between the customer and the installing company or a separate maintenance company. Maintenance comes under BS EN 62676-4 Clause 17 & SC CoP Guiding Principle 10.

The preservation of security within the maintenance company is of paramount importance and steps should be taken to ensure the safe keeping of all customers’ equipment and documentation relating to a particular installation/contract.

Note: BS EN 50132-7 states that “CCTV systems should be maintained in accordance with the schedule supplied by the system designer or supplier”, but does not detail any specific maintenance requirements. These guidelines give specific advice for the maintenance of CCTV surveillance systems, and provide examples of the type of documentation required to be used by the service company.

A maintenance company should ensure that adequate vetting of all employees is carried out. All employees, who visit a customer’s premises, shall carry identification cards which should include a photograph and signature of the bearer, the company’s name, contact details and a date of expiry (maximum of 3 years).

Each service technician employed by the maintenance company should carry a range of tools, test equipment and other equipment to enable them to perform their functions satisfactorily. Specialist tools, test equipment and plant should be available for deeper investigation if necessary.

Note: Disconnections, for whatever reason, should be recorded on a maintenance record and authorised by the client or his representative.

The maintenance company’s organisation should be so staffed as to ensure that the recommendations of this Code of Practice can be met at all times. The following factors should be taken into consideration:

• 
  
•       .  the number of installations to be serviced
•        the complexity of the installations;
•   . the geographical spread of the installations in relation to the location of the maintenance company, its branches and its service personnel
•      .   the method of calling out service personnel outside normal office hours, where applicable.
•     Service personnel should be adequately trained and training should be updated whenever appropriate.

Maintenance Service is 3 types but scope of work is same.

A.   Preventive Maintenance service.

B.   Corrective Maintenance service.

C.   Performance Maintenance service.

A. Preventative Maintenance

I. Frequency of visits

The following recommendations apply, unless the customer has agreed an alternative schedule of works with the maintenance company. It’s also called Planned maintenance.

Preventative Maintenance Inspection

As a minimum, this should include all the elements detailed in Clause II, and the intervals should not exceed 06 months. Customers may agree a more frequent visit where appropriate. During the 1^st Visit you should note down all CCTV related Product Make, Model Nos with Version. If required make a hand sketch of geographical span.

Supplementary Preventative Maintenance Inspection

As a minimum, this should include the supplementary items detailed in Clause III. These supplementary inspections may be carried out at the same time as an annual visit or at less frequent intervals, dependent on the agreement between the customer and the maintenance company.

II. Preventative Maintenance Inspection (Scope of work)

During each preventative visit, inspection of the following, with all necessary tests, and those rectifications which are practical at the time, should be carried out:

Control Room:

1. Check the picture quality of each camera and monitor. Look for signs of condensation on housing windows and limiting of picture highlights, i.e. proper focus, proper resolution, Signal strength etc.

2. Check all controllable functions for each station e.g. pan, tilt, zoom, focus, iris, speed, auto-pan, wiper, pre-sets etc.

3. Check camera / monitor combination selection, proper functioning of Live/Spot monitors.

4. Check the operation of recorder (s) i.e. record, backup and replay.

5. Check the operation of special equipment such as video multiplexers, Storage.

6. Check any interfaces with alarms e.g. movement alarms, fences etc.

7. Check that all indications function correctly.

8. Check the IP setting at IP Camera and NVR/DVR.

9. Check BNC/RCA, LAN & Power connector at DVR/NVR/ Control Room.

10. Check the PATA/SATA cable for Hard Disk/RW. RS484 Cable.

11. Check the proper functioning of Mouse, USB port, RS485/232 port, DVR key/ Remote etc.

12. Check proper functioning of CCTV Software/Control Station/ Monitoring Software/Analytic software.

Around the supervised premises

1. Check that camera movement and field of view is free from obstruction, trees etc.

2. Check that ALL warning labels are in place (e.g. movement, voltage, LASER)

3. Check that indicator lamps are working.

4. Request that customer checks the operation of supplementary lights, including IR, at night. Leave a form and request that any faults are reported.

III. Supplementary Preventative Maintenance Inspection

During each Supplementary visit, inspection of the following, with all necessary tests, and those rectifications which are practical at the time, should be carried out:

1. Carry out all functional maintenance checks.

2. Check that external, flexible cables (Video, Power, Fiber, LAN) are properly supported and undamaged.

3. Examine all metalwork especially towers, brackets & box, for signs of corrosion and damage.

4. Lower towers and check cable for fraying. Grease the mechanism.

5. Check all glands and seals on external equipment.

6. Check all external and internal flexible wiring for signs of wear and fraying.

7. Check all fixed and flexible conduit for signs of damage.

8. Remove covers and housings and clean interiors (Lens, Camera Body, Fan, Power/Fiber Board etc) where necessary. Each camera bracket fittings and clamping bolts are tight.

9. Check the function and wear of wiper blades and washers.

10. Check the function of heaters/Cooler, Solar panel (if applicable).

11. Check the function of supplementary lighting, including IR, and photocells.

12. Check the integrity of all supports, Antenna, including cables & BNC/LAN.

Note: It is recommended that all filament lights/lamps should be replaced during this visit.

Those parts of a system, or any environmental conditions found during preventative maintenance, which could reduce the effectiveness of the system should be identified on the maintenance visit record.

Routine maintenance visits to the supervised premises should be made by a representative of the company at intervals of not less than once a year (as per SLA). Should the company, the customer or his insurer, require more frequent maintenance, this should be clearly stated in the maintenance record and in the contract documents.

Note: :If it is necessary to undertake routine maintenance work outside normal working hours, it is recommended that the contract between the customer and the company should state this requirement.

Those items of inspection or rectification which are not carried out at the time of routine inspection should be completed within a period normally not exceeding 20 days, other than by alternative agreement with the customer.

Before leaving your place provide answers to any questions or queries that you may have. Complete maintenance report and discuss work conducted with you. All work carried out on site, together with time of arrival is recorded on a record sheet (known as a docket / Case ID). The engineer will also note down any deficiencies in the system and recommend work required to maintain, full, trouble free operation. This docket is shown to your (customer) copy provided(Service Report/memo/ value reports) for placing on the file. Excludes provision of high reach equipment.

IV. Emergency service/Breakdown Call

Where an agreement exists, the customer should be kept informed of the address and telephone number of the company's service and emergency service facilities (Service call). It is recommended that except where otherwise agreed by the customer, the company’s emergency service facility should be so located and organised that under normal circumstances the company's representative should reach the supervised premises within eight hours from the notification of the fault. This recommendation need not apply to other than mainland installations. Whenever possible, the customer should be informed of any likely delay when a fault is notified.

B. Corrective Maintenance service.

Service remains same as per Preventive Maintenance (Clause I to IV). Its including all spare parts. Rapid repair of equipment that has broken down is critical to ensure uninterrupted operations, minimal downtime and optimal functionality. maintenance company offers Corrective Maintenance services to provide emergency maintenance support in the event of an unexpected breakdown of equipment and for timely resumption of operations. With Corrective Maintenance you can be assured their engineers are available when needed and that you have the backing of Maintenance Company’s extensive knowledge and support network.

Features:

1)      Technical Helpdesk support located at Maintenance Company.

2)      Travel and labour costs are included as well as replacement of parts due to wear and tear. Consumables are excluded.

3)      Maintenance company response Time commitment can be within hours after your first call.

4)      Spare parts to replace faulty components will be available during the whole length of the contract.

Benefits:

1)      Simplicity: just call and within 8Hr Maintenance company engineers will be there..

2)      Low-Risk: by ensuring the availability of your security systems you optimize your daily strategic operations.

C. Performance Maintenance service.

Service remains same as per Preventive Maintenance (Clause I to III). Its including all spare parts & Maintenance company engineers are available when needed. Technician / Engineers deputed on your (Customer) Control Room.

Features:

1)      Technical Helpdesk support at your (Customer) place.

2)      Our Response Time commitment can be within hours after your first call when Maintenance company field technicians are on-site.

3)      You decide when you want on-site technical assistance to be available: eight hours every working day, weekdays and weekend, around-the-clock or according to your own tailored schedule.

4)      Spare parts to replace faulty components will be available during the whole length of the contract.

5)      Online Monitoring gives you real-time information on your system and is crucial for delivering on the Performance Maintenance commitment.

6)      Carry out a visual inspection of all major components for signs of deterioration or damage and rectify as necessary.

Benefits:

1)      Simplicity: Availability of Technicians/Engineer 24hours a day, 365 days a year.

2)      Fast Response: you enjoy preferential treatment and Response Time commitment to rapidly restore the operation of your security systems.

3)      Risk-free: We take full responsibility for managing your security processes

4)      You know how fast your system will be up and running after any incident.

5)      Total peace of mind.

If you can get any Service and Maintenance for CCTV minimum you must maintain below point.
Do not make customer aprilfool.

Visually inspect all major components and connections for signs of deterioration or damage
Check all control equipment (DVRs, VCRs, monitors, multiplexers, video switchers, telemetry units etc) for correct operation
Check mains & power supplies and stand-by batteries including charging rates.
Check environmental conditions for adverse effects, including growth or shrubbery obscuring camera views
Check time and date settings in equipment and update the settings as appropriate
Check integrity of all cabling and sample check external insulation for damage
Clean cable fixings for security
Check auxiliary lighting equipment, infra-red units and photocells (if any) for correct operation
Check air vents are clear in all control equipment including PCs
Clean cameras, lenses and housing surfaces as necessary
Check al glands and seals on external equipment
Clean control equipment surfaces including PC (if applicable)
Establish regular back-ups are taken
Check camera is aligned to user specification, pictures for correct field of view and adjust as necessary
Check brackets, towers and fixings for corrosion or damage. Check clamping bolts/brackets are tightened correctly
Check wash/wipe units and wiper blades (if any) for correct operation and fill washer reservoir where necessary
Check quality of recording during day time and night time modes
Check pan and tilt assembly (if any) including fixings, electrical connections and functions.
Check the satisfactory CCTV transmission of images to remote site (if applicable)
Check warning signs are in place
Check all camera presets
Check all alarm presets