The 10 Best Security Cameras for UK Businesses in 2021

Can you put a price on peace of mind? With the right business security camera, we think you can – and it’s as low as £17.99

Crime costs businesses money. In 2019 – which, thanks to COVID-19 disruption, is just about the most recent data we have in this area – theft alone cost UK businesses around £4.8 million. Taking into account the total financial impact of crime and crime prevention to retailers, that figure’s more like £1.9 billion.

We could go on all day, but why scaremonger? You don’t need a bunch of statistics to tell you that protecting your business is important.

And the best business security cameras don’t just serve as a deterrent to burglars, thieves, and vandals. They come with big insurance benefits too, and can be vital when it comes to prosecuting offenders in court.

But not all cameras are created equal.

Whether you’re looking for a basic, budget-friendly camera ideal for a small shop, or a more comprehensive multi-camera (and multi-directional!) setup, it’s all here.

So read on, as we review our top 10 favourite commercial security cameras for 2021. We’ve broken down top features, pros and cons, and pricing – basically, everything you need to choose the right tech for your business.

Lights, camera…

1. Verisure Cloud Cam Pro

Best integrated business security camera solution

Yet it’s not these features alone – or even the camera in and of itself – that makes Verisure worth your investment. The Cloud Cam Pro’s real value lies in its synergy with Verisure’s array of innovative security products.

The Cloud Cam Pro works best when it’s alongside the sirens, access controllers, and panic buttons that make up the rest of Verisure’s complete security package. You can combine your camera with devices that detect smoke, light, and shock, as well as when there’s been a breach of your business’s perimeter.

To find out more about the company’s range of business security services, head to our Verisure review.

Verisure Cloud Cam Pro pricing

Verisure’s bespoke packages take into account your business’ size, budget, and unique business security needs. For an accurate quote on what the Cloud Cam Pro will cost you, contact Verisure directly. Or…

Or, you can use our free, quote-finding questionnaire to start comparing rates from leading business security camera systems, today. Here’s how it works.

Simply provide us with a few details about the type of security setup your business is looking to implement – whether that’s cameras alone, or alarms and access control, too – plus a bit of info about how soon you’ll need the system installed.

When that’s done, we’ll look to match you with one or more suppliers that fit your needs. If there’s a good fit, those providers will be in touch with you directly, to offer tailored, no-obligation security camera quotes and advice. Easy!

Up next: The 4 Best Business Security Systems in 2021

2. Arlo Ultra

Best wireless security camera for small businesses

The camera’s also packed with plenty of additional features. Advanced zoom allows you to pick up licence plates, words, and logos in detail, while its ‘advanced dewarping’ functionality provides clearer images – removing the awful ‘fisheye’ distortion that plagues so many cameras.

Arlo Ultra pricing

For a single-camera setup with 1080p high definition video, you’ll pay as little as £238. That’s if you select DIY setup, though – professional installation will cost an extra £120. For a multi-camera system, or for 4K video, you’ll pay extra.

Here’s a quick table we knocked together to give you an idea of how much your personalised Arlo Ultra business security camera system will cost you. Click the links to view each product on Amazon, and – if you’d like – shop your favourite.

At £415.26, a three-camera system clearly represents the best value, as well as some of the widest coverage – so it’s ideal if you operate a large premises. Three and four camera Arlo Ultra setups cost an extra £180 each for professional installation.

3. D-Link DCS 9500T

Best camera for securing your workplace against COVID-19

And if thermal imaging wasn’t enough for you, don’t fret – the most impressive camera in D-Link’s highly regarded repertoire wears several more hats.

It doubles as a kind of facial recognition attendance tool, enabling you to directly identify staff suffering from a fever, and intervene accordingly. You can also integrate it with your building’s access control system, allowing you to control the flow of your employees during times of restrictions.

If a truly pandemic-proof business security camera does indeed exist, this is it.

D-Link DCS 9500T pricing

D-Link doesn’t advertise its rates for this camera online, and we think that’s because the DCS 9500T is a bespoke offering. It’ll need to be configured to the specific demands of your business and location, so it’ll be best to enquire directly with the company for a quote.

That said, this camera is a complete setup for thermal and facial recognition, which puts it in a different league to the rest of the cameras here. In other words, it won’t come cheap, and one retailer online has the DCS 9500T in the region of £12,765.99 (excl. VAT). Small businesses, avoid!

D-Link also offers a range of business security cameras that are far more wallet-friendly (but naturally much lighter on features) than this one. The DCS-932L (£17.99), DCS-4602EV (£89.99), and DCS-8600LH (£177.70) are our favourites.

4. Netatmo Smart Outdoor Camera

Best business security camera for virtual assistant compatibility

Looks-wise, Netatmo’s smart camera balances durability and design, with a sleek – yet robust – build.

It’s well-equipped to handle the elements, too, and will look good regardless of where you place it at your business’s premises. With a build that’s more reminiscent of one of Bose’s premium offerings than a typical business security camera, the Netatmo is sure to be music to your business’s ears.

Netatmo Smart Outdoor Camera pricing

This Netatmo model retails online for £249.99, although it’s currently reduced on some sites to as little as £169.98.

Unlike with most other smart cameras (or, in fact, with any other Software-as-a-Service companies), Netatmo doesn’t charge ongoing subscription fees. You’ll just pay a single, one-time fee to purchase the camera itself.

While this is good, we’ve found that this cost-saving benefit comes with a catch – namely, Netatmo’s limited customer support. There are some online resources, and you can email the team. But if requiring phone support (or even a basic live chat service) is a sticking point for you, look elsewhere (or keep scrolling!).

5. Foscam FI9926P

Best security camera for small businesses

Thankfully, installation is a breeze, too. You can DIY the setup in just three simple steps, via Foscam’s surprisingly slick mobile app. Your box comes with a quick start guide, Ethernet cable, and all the equipment you need to get your camera wall-mounted.

Foscam FI9926P pricing

The Foscam FI9926P retails for just £99.99 online, making it one of the most budget-friendly business security cameras on our list.

You're just over halfway through our list of the top 10 business security camera systems. Time to start comparing quotes?

Simply hit one of the buttons below to start our quick questionnaire. It takes just 30 seconds to do, and by telling us more about your business’ specific requirements, we can help ensure that you receive the best, most personalised rates on business security cameras in the UK.

6. Swann Wire-Free 1080p Security Camera

Best security camera for businesses on a shoestring budget

Swann also flaunts trademarked ‘TrueDetect’ technology, which employs a mix of heat, motion, and person detection to provide you with reliable alerts when there’s activity outside your business’s premises.

This camera is also notable for being the only one to include a facial recognition – yes, facial recognition – capability for so cheap. The camera can store up to ten faces, and trigger personalised push notifications when recognised faces arrive at your premises.

Swann Wire-Free 1080p Security Camera pricing

At just £89.99, the Swann Wire-Free 1080p Security Camera is the cheapest business security camera on our top 10 list.

For this reason, we’d most recommend Swann’s single-camera setup for smaller companies or solopreneurs.

Still, there’s no reason businesses with larger premises can’t also profit from Swann’s more extensive packages. For £294.98, you can grab Swann’s four-camera deal, which also includes a DVR (digital video recorder) – with a whopping 1TB hard drive, no less – for storing your footage.

7. Nest Cam IQ Outdoor

Most feature-rich business security camera

You can also be sure that your video recordings stay safe. They’ll be stored in Google’s cloud, protected by a combination of AES 128-bit encryption, two-step verification, and one of the most secure connections on the internet.

As far as installation goes, you can do it yourself, or have a Nest professional come do it for you.

Nest Cam IQ Outdoor pricing

Google’s Nest Cam IQ Outdoor costs £329. You’ll also be eligible for a £5 per month subscription fee, although this covers all the cameras at your business. Flexible payment options are available.

For a cheaper alternative that still bears the Google Nest mark of quality, you can opt for the slightly more basic version of the IQ. Available for just £135, the Nest Cam Outdoor doesn’t quite boast the same high-spec feature list as its big brother, but it should still suit small or budget-bound businesses just fine.

8. Axis P3719-PLE Network Camera

Best multi-directional business security camera

We’ll say it again – this camera isn’t cheap. If you’re looking for a cut-price security solution that’ll be effective in the short-term, opt for something from Swann or Foscam – not this one.

But – and there’s a big but – the Axis P3719-PLE will save you money in the long run. 

Like we said, it’s four cameras in one – one installation, one licence fee, one IP address, one cable… but four cameras! If you’re happy with the greater initial outlay, and just want the best multi-directional security camera a business can buy, this is the one to pick.

Axis P3719-PLE Network Camera pricing

This camera is available to purchase online for £1,485.63 (+£50 shipping). That makes it one of the most expensive business security cameras on the market, up there with the Panasonic and Sony models still to come (though still nowhere in the region of that D-Link thermal imaging setup, don’t worry!).

9. Panasonic WV-S6130

Most dynamic security camera for businesses

Panasonic WV-S6130 features

• 60fps frame rate
• 1080p screen resolution
• Colour night vision
• End-to-end system encryption
• 350° panning range

Panasonic WV-S6130 pricing

The WV-S6130 currently retails online for £1,411.11 (excl. VAT).

10. Sony SNC-VB642D

Best business security camera for night vision

Oh, and there’s no escaping a review of this jewel in the crown of Sony’s V-Series without mentioning what we reckon is its finest feature – its night vision.

This camera can pick out objects in pitch darkness at an incredible distance of 100 metres away. ‘Nuff said!

Sony SNC-VB642D pricing

You can get your hands on this one for £1,361.25. That puts the SNC-VB642D in the ballpark of business security cameras from Panasonic and Axis, but means it's far more expensive than those from Netatmo, Arlo, and Google Nest.

Next steps

Still not sure which business security camera is right for the specific needs of your premises? Let’s recap our top 10, and why they’re here:

• Verisure Cloud Cam Pro: Our best integrated business security camera solution – use it with Verisure’s sharp set of alarm and access control tools for maximum results.
• Arlo Ultra: An impressive wireless camera with a titanic battery life.
• D-Link DCS 9500T: A comprehensive – yet budget-busting – thermal imaging and facial recognition setup, ideal for navigating the pandemic-induced uncertainties of 2021 and beyond.
• Netatmo Smart Outdoor Camera: A good-looking, low-cost security camera with excellent virtual assistant compatibility.
• Foscam FI9926P: An affordable, no-frills security camera well-suited to surveilling small office spaces.
• Swann Wire-Free 1080p Security Camera: Our top pick for value, with its bargain basement price point belying its eye-catching array of features.
• Nest Cam IQ Outdoor: The most innovative camera we found for UK businesses. What more would you expect from Google?
• Axis P3719-PLE Network Camera: On the pricey side, but justifiably so. It’s four cameras in one, after all!
• Panasonic WV-S6130: A versatile, dynamic camera with a wide field of vision, although its larger price tag will mean it’s not for everyone.
• Sony SNC-VB642D: A streamlined, bullet-shaped camera that can spot things up to 100 metres away – at night!

These cameras are our top 10, based on in-depth research and analysis. We’ve tried to choose cameras that reflect a range of business sizes and types, but we’re aware the above models may not necessarily represent the best choice for you.

Luckily, that’s where our free quote-finding questionnaire comes into its own.

It’s designed to match you with one or more business security camera suppliers – specifically, those that are best-placed to meet the unique needs of your team.

But first, we need to know exactly what those needs are. So hit the button below to start the process – it takes just 30 seconds, while you provide us with some basic info about your security requirements and installation timeframe.

End result? Tailored, no-obligation security camera quotes and advice, offered by real people. Happy researching!

FAQs

Do you need permission to install a business security camera?

Yes. Before setting up your camera, you should register with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), and complete a Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA).

This is to help you identify and eliminate any potential risks to data protection before going ahead with installing your business’s new security camera.

Is security camera footage admissible in court?

Essentially, yes – footage from your business’ security camera is admissible in court, in the event that you decide to press charges against a vandal or thief. However, in order to constitute evidence, the video footage must comply with strict regulations. Let’s discuss.

What laws pertain to business security cameras in the UK, and how do I comply?

Wherever there are cameras, there is data. And wherever there is data, there is the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation).

Introduced in 2018, the GDPR lays out a few broad principles that apply to many different aspects of data protection. Regarding business security camera footage, you can interpret the GDPR as follows:

Be transparent

You need to let people know they’re being recorded if they could be in your camera’s line of sight. For the public, you can achieve this with a simple sticker on your premises’ window, or with a basic sign.

You’ll also need to disclose to your employees if you’re filming them, which should be clearly explained in your privacy policy.

Restrict access to footage

It’s vital that only employees with the right permissions should be allowed access to your business’ security camera footage. Control the amount of logins your camera’s accompanying software allows, and double-check with your chosen provider that the requisite levels of encryption are in place.

Clearly state your reasons for filming

The GDPR requires that any business wishing to capture footage of individuals must clearly lay out its reasons for doing so. Wanting to spy on your employees isn’t enough; ensuring the safety of your staff and the public is.

Delete any video that you no longer need

The GDPR takes a firm stance against the possession of personal data after it’s no longer necessary. In most cases, this is 90 days, so it’s wise to ensure that you’re not holding onto footage past this point.

Businesses that fail to comply with GDPR law face severe fines. If you have doubts about your current process for handling data, or how installing a security camera might affect your business’s data protection efforts, seek legal assistance.

How much does a business security camera cost?

Business security cameras vary greatly in price. And, unsurprisingly, you usually get what you pay for.

The very cheapest you can expect to pay is about £17.99, for the D-Link DCS-932L. For better specs, features, and durability, you’ll of course need to invest a bit more, and we found most workable business security cameras tend to fall between £100 and £500 per unit.

Spending more than £1,000 will get you a premium security camera – the above models from Axis and Sony come to mind here – while, as we’ve seen, anything involving thermal imaging will be in the range of £10,000 or more.

What features should I look for in a business security camera?

Since you’ve made it this far, we’re guessing you already have a pretty good idea of the kind of functionality the right security cameras should offer. Of course, it’s unlikely you’ll need every feature under the sun, and it’s important to navigate an equilibrium between your business’s needs and its budget.

With that in mind, there’s a handful of core features we’d recommend to all businesses:

Two-way audio

This feature allows the camera to pick up noise from its surrounding environment, via an in-built microphone.

You’ll also be able to talk ‘through’ the camera, enabling communication between you and that lovely balaclava-clad gentleman standing in your business’s car park.

Optical zoom

You don’t have to be an avid shutterbug to know what the ‘zoom’ function does. Less known, though, is the difference between digital zoom and its optical counterpart.

We won’t bore you with the details. Basically, digital zoom compromises image quality. As you zoom in, the centre of the image gets bigger, but at the expense of the outer edges of the image, which are cut away.

Optical zoom lenses don’t suffer from the same issue, and you’ll find that most professional cameras – including the best of the security variety – have one.

Along with the type of zoom lens, you should also be able to see in a camera’s specs what level of magnification it can achieve: the Nest Cam IQ Outdoor, for instance, has a 12x digital zoom, while the Foscam FI9926P boasts 4x optical zoom.

The bottom line? Choose a camera with optical zoom for premium picture quality, along with a lens that offers at least 4x image enlargement.

Night vision distance

Okay, so almost every security camera worth its salt should be able to see in the dark. It’s made possible by infrared technology, the same tech that powers thermal imaging devices (like that snazzy D-Link model we saw earlier), and – for obvious reasons – is crucial for maximising the security of your premises.

However, what you need to look for isn’t just the night vision itself – it’s how far your camera can actually see in the dark. With some cameras, that’s as limited as five metres; with Sony’s SNC-VB642D, it’s as far as 100 metres. Certain cameras even offer colour night vision as an added bonus!

How do you install a security camera at your business’s premises?

Most business security camera providers will offer some kind of installation service, though in many cases this will cost you extra.

If this fee is one you’d prefer to avoid, you can set up your camera yourself. We don’t always recommend this, and the ease with which you can self-install will differ greatly between providers (and will have a lot to do with the cost and complexity of the camera).

Can I use a security camera intended for home use on my business’s premises?

Sure, why not? It can be a great cost-saver – particularly if you’re a small business, with a more modest amount of space to surveil.

That said, we wouldn’t recommend this approach for larger premises. Bigger companies will be better served by a more holistic security system – one that includes not only cameras, but alarms, sensors, and access control devices, too.

Verisure, ADT, and SECOM all supply packages of this nature. We’d recommend contacting them directly for rates, or utilising our free, 30-second quote-finding form to receive bespoke quotes from leading business security system providers.