How to choose a CCTV installer

Why the installer matters as much as the cameras

Cameras are widely available, and many are similar on paper. What differs is the work: where cameras are placed, how cable is run, how the recorder is configured, and whether you can actually use the system once the installer leaves. A badly installed good system disappoints. A well-installed modest system often does the job.

The questions below are written to be asked of anyone. Ask them of us too.

1. Can I see licence and insurance evidence?

Requirements differ by state and territory, and by the type of work. Low-voltage cabling, mains power work and working at heights can each involve different rules.

• Ask what licences or registrations the installer holds for the work, and ask to see the details in writing.
• Ask for evidence of current insurance, including cover for damage to your property and for injury.
• Check licence details with the relevant state regulator where you can.
• Ask who is doing the work. If subcontractors are involved, ask about their licences too.

This applies to every installer. We recommend you ask us the same, and compare the answers with others.

2. Who owns the system, and who holds the passwords?

This question prevents expensive trouble later.

• You should own the equipment once you have paid for it.
• You should hold the administrator account for the recorder and any mobile app. If the installer sets it up under their own account, ask how you take control.
• Ask for the passwords and settings in writing at handover.
• Ask what happens if you want a different company to look after the system in future.

An installer who will not give you access to your own system is creating a dependency, not providing a service.

3. What documentation will I receive?

Good documentation turns a one-off install into something you can manage. Ask for:

• A list of cameras, with model, position and purpose.
• Recorder details and storage capacity, and how many days of footage it is set to keep.
• A network summary, such as the addresses of devices.
• User accounts and where passwords are recorded.
• A simple plan of the building showing camera positions.
• Contact details for support.

If nothing is documented, any later technician starts from scratch.

4. How is remote access set up?

Remote viewing is a convenience and a security risk if done carelessly.

• Ask how remote access works. A manufacturer's mobile app with proper accounts is a sensible approach. See what DMSS is and viewing cameras remotely and safely.
• Be cautious if the answer involves port forwarding, which exposes devices on your network to the internet.
• Ask that default passwords are changed and that each user has their own login.

5. What training will I get?

You should leave the handover able to view live video, play back an event, export a clip and understand any alerts. Ask whether training is part of the job, and whether it is on-site or by video.

6. What support is there after installation?

Support is where installers differ most. Ask:

• How do I report a fault, and how will I be told what happens next?
• Is support part of the original job, or a separate arrangement?
• Who handles added cameras, relocations and setting changes?
• What is the process if the recorder fails or footage is missing?

Be wary of promises that sound precise but are not written down. Ask for the support terms in writing, including anything that is excluded.

7. Are there ongoing fees?

Some systems involve no continuing charges. Others involve monthly fees for monitoring, cloud storage or app features. Ask directly: "After installation, is there anything I need to keep paying for?" and ask for the answer in the quote. Our guide to quotes lists other items to look for.

8. How do you decide where cameras go?

A good installer asks what you want to see and why before talking about hardware. Look for someone who walks the site, asks about entry points and lighting, and explains the trade-offs. See where to place security cameras for the logic you can expect them to follow.

9. How do you describe AI features?

Be wary of overstatement. Detection features, available on compatible systems and varying by camera and recorder, can flag people and vehicles and help find footage. They do not guarantee that nothing is missed, and they do not prevent crime. An honest installer says which cameras support which features.

A one-page checklist

• Licence details given in writing.
• Insurance evidence provided.
• You own the equipment and hold admin access.
• Passwords handed over at completion.
• Written camera list and settings summary.
• Remote access explained, without port forwarding.
• Training included.
• Support arrangements written down.
• Ongoing fees stated, even if none.
• Exclusions listed.

Limits

This is general guidance, not an assessment of any particular business. Check requirements with your state regulator, and use your own judgement. References and photos of earlier work can be useful, but keep in mind that they show past jobs rather than future ones.

You are welcome to put these questions to us, and you can do so through our contact page. Overviews of how we work are at how it works and support.

Frequently asked questions