Specialist IP Camera Store since 2004
Public Sector & Education • Business & Enterprise • Home Security
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0151 633 2111
Why do you need Care Plus for Milestone XProtect?
You don’t have to have Care Plus to be able to run your Milestone XProtect video management system. However, as with all other pieces of software, you leave yourself vulnerable to weakened cybersecurity if you don’t keep it up to date. You miss out on constantly evolving features and technologies that improve the use of your system on an ongoing basis.
If you have Care Plus in place you have access to three version updates from Milestone each year, known as Release 1, 2, and 3 (or R1, R2, and R3 as Milestone likes to call them). Each of these releases includes security updates, new functionality, and improved performance, overall giving you a better, safer, and more powerful CCTV system as time progresses.
Axiscam.net – a DDNS service for Axis IP cameras – being phased-out
We learned recently of the phase-out of the highly reliable DDNS service for Axis IP cameras called axiscam.net (or Axis Internet Dynamic DNS Service). New registrations to the service were turned off in early April 2020 and all existing usage will be closed by the end of 2020.
As the announcement of the free service closure came somewhat out of the blue, our Technical Director, Kevin Bowyer, spoke with one of Axis’s technical managers to understand the motivations for ending the service.
How can IP camera technology help businesses manage in a much-changed world?
Businesses are looking for solutions to adapt to the new requirements of social distancing, improved hygiene and screening people for COVID-19 symptoms. Health and Safety protocols and standard operating procedures (SOP) are being reviewed and rewritten in response to the new rules. The increased use of digital technologies is playing a critical role to businesses running their operations in new ways, home working and video conferencing being the obvious examples. We also see increased interest for IP camera technology as a key tool for adapting to the new situation.
Coming soon: Milestone XProtect on AWS
Milestone will soon have a cloud capability to make deployment and scalability issues a thing of the past, via Milestone XProtect on AWS. The launch date is set for 9th June 2020.
Milestone XProtect is one the world’s leading video management suite of products for business, of this we have no doubt. Our earlier blog on why XProtect is our go-to VMS explains why. We have been deploying Milestone in virtualised environments for many years and the move to Amazon Web Services (AWS) is an extension of this. Read more >>
Thermal cameras for Coronavirus screening – a note of caution
We have noticed some recent reports in mainstream media, including this one from the BBC, regarding the use of thermal imaging cameras for the purpose of detecting people with fever. This in the light of the possible measures organisations are investigating in preparation for controlling coronavirus spread when businesses reopen and lockdowns ease. Airports, hospitals, train stations and restaurants have been quoted as the type of environments where thermal cameras may be of use.
We are concerned that media reporting is not detailed enough and may create an impression that thermal cameras are an effective tool to fight the spread of coronavirus. They are not. At least, not in their own right.
Monitor your buildings remotely using your Milestone Web or Mobile Clients – its free
During these unprecedented times many businesses and organisations have been forced to close their doors or have a minimal number of staff on site.
Of course, this leaves buildings vulnerable to illegal occupation, theft or criminal damage.
However, if you are using Milestone XProtect CCTV management software you will be able to monitor your buildings and property remotely using the Milestone XProtect Web Client or Mobile Client. The majority of Milestone users normally use the Smart Client and therefore may not be aware of the existence of the Web or Mobile Client. With many people now working away from their normal place of work these have now become very useful tools. They are included with your existing Milestone CCTV system, so there is no cost.
COVID-19 Notice from NW Security Group
Updated 28th May 2020
We have adapted our operation in the light of the coronavirus (COVID-19) to ensure we’ll be able to continue to serve you in a resilient manner. The health and safety of people inside and outside our business is central to this with our risk control measures geared towards the prevention of people falling ill or spreading the virus.
We continue to be largely operational with the latest service updates being as follows.
CCTV camera lens guide
If you’re new to security cameras you may think all lenses all the same… but they’re not. This is why choosing the right one is an important consideration, as this impacts your security footage.
There are actually a wide variety of lenses which produce different scenes, known as field of view. CCTV camera lenses are designed to address specific surveillance needs.
Before we delve into your different choices, let’s go back to basics on field of view…
Making sense of the Axis camera naming convention
As the manufacturer of the first network camera, Axis have had a long time to get their naming convention right.
With a wide product range, they’ve adapted their naming for different sets of devices. For example, covert cameras numbering has a different meaning to their full-sized cousins.
Let’s dive into what those letters and numbers mean…
What’s the difference between varifocal and fixed lens CCTV?
One of the most frequent questions we get asked is the reason some cameras are priced differently to others. There’s often a variety of reasons, but one of the main culprits is the lens.
In short, fixed lens cameras give a specific field of view, while the viewing angle of a varifocal is set during installation. The moving parts and lens adjustment required for varifocals increases the price of a camera.
Though, of course, there’s a little more to it than that.
