It’s a common assumption in security planning:
“If we want to be secure, we need cameras everywhere.”
But in most commercial and industrial settings, full video coverage of every square foot is not only unnecessary—it’s often impractical, expensive, and creates more complexity than value.
Let’s talk about the rare situations where 100% video coverage is warranted—and why in the vast majority of cases, focusing your cameras on doors and areas of activity is a smarter, more strategic choice.
When Full Video Coverage Does Make Sense
There are a few specific environments where comprehensive, wall-to-wall camera coverage is required:
1. High-Security Government or Defense Facilities
Where national security is at stake, there’s no room for blind spots. These environments may require every inch of space to be covered and monitored in real time—often with multiple layers of surveillance and analytics.
2. Correctional Institutions
In jails or prisons, full coverage is about safety and liability. Monitoring inmates, staff, and common areas continuously helps prevent incidents, supports investigations, and provides accountability.
3. Casino Gaming Floors
Casinos are legally required to have complete surveillance coverage over gaming tables, slot machines, cash counting rooms, and more. In this context, it’s about compliance, fraud prevention, and regulatory oversight.
4. High-Value Manufacturing or Lab Environments
In some pharmaceutical, biotech, or electronics settings, tight IP protection and process monitoring might require full camera coverage of labs, production lines, or clean rooms.
Unless your facility falls into one of these categories, the truth is:
You don’t need cameras everywhere. You need cameras where things happen.
Focus on Doors, Activity, and Chokepoints
For most organizations, the goal isn’t to monitor everything, it’s to monitor strategically.
Here’s where your cameras will do the most good:
Doors and Entry Points
Cameras at entrances and exits help you track who’s coming and going, confirm access control events, and detect tailgating or forced entry.
Reception, Lobbies, and Public Areas
These are common spaces where visitors interact with staff. Coverage here supports safety, incident response, and customer service.
Loading Docks and Storage Areas
These zones are frequent targets for internal and external theft. A camera placed here can protect high-value inventory or equipment.
Work Zones and Hazards
Cameras in areas with heavy machinery, moving vehicles, or production activity can help with safety investigations and compliance.
Chokepoints and Corridors
Instead of blanketing a warehouse with cameras, place them at intersections, hallway turns, or gates where people must pass through. This gives you visibility without overkill.
Why “More Cameras” Isn’t Always Better
Adding cameras everywhere creates challenges:
- Higher costs for installation, storage, and licensing
- More footage to review, making investigations slower
- Privacy concerns in areas like break rooms or offices
- Network strain, especially in wireless or low-bandwidth environments
Instead of aiming for volume, aim for coverage that aligns with your security goals.
What are you trying to detect? What do you need to prove after an incident? What areas pose real risk?
Think in Layers, Not Blankets
A strong security system is layered. Cameras work best in combination with:
- Access control systems to manage who can enter
- Intrusion detection for after-hours activity
- Lighting to enhance visibility
- Human presence like guards or reception staff
- Policies and training that build a culture of awareness
Blanket surveillance may feel comprehensive, but layered security is more effective, more cost-efficient, and more flexible.
Final Thought: Design with Purpose, Not Paranoia
You don’t need a camera in every corner to have a secure facility. You need a camera in the right places—where risk is highest and activity is concentrated.
If you’re not sure whether your current system is overkill—or underprotected—we can help design or audit your video coverage to match your actual needs.
Smart coverage beats total coverage every time. Let’s build a system that works smarter, not just harder.