In today’s business landscape, having a reliable security camera system is no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity. Whether protecting your property, monitoring employee activity, or deterring theft, selecting the right cameras for your business is crucial. With numerous options available, ranging from fixed cameras to PTZs, solar-powered solutions, mobile surveillance trailers, and license plate readers, it can be overwhelming to determine which solutions best meet your specific needs.

At Holmes Security Systems, we’ve spent decades helping businesses across Eastern North Carolina protect their assets with cutting-edge security technology. In this guide, we’ll explain the different types of cameras you may want to consider and why partnering with a local security provider offers significant advantages in service and customer care.

1. Fixed Cameras: Reliable and Cost-Effective Monitoring

Fixed cameras are the foundation of most business security systems. As the name suggests, these cameras have a stationary field of view, meaning they cover a single area without the ability to pan, tilt, or zoom.

Best for:

• Monitoring entryways, hallways, or static locations
• Small to medium-sized businesses with defined coverage areas
• Indoor and outdoor surveillance with consistent coverage

Fixed cameras provide clear and reliable footage and are ideal for businesses that need consistent, around-the-clock monitoring without frequent adjustments.

2. Varifocal Lens Cameras: Flexible and Adjustable

Varifocal lens cameras allow you to manually adjust the focal length, allowing you to customize the field of view. This flexibility makes them perfect for situations where you may need to zoom in on specific areas without losing resolution.

Best for:

• Retail stores monitoring both wide areas and cash registers
• Parking lots or warehouses where flexible zooming is beneficial
• Locations where frequent adjustments are needed

Varifocal lenses provide greater versatility than fixed cameras, making them a valuable addition to business security systems with varying surveillance needs.

3. PTZ Cameras: Pan, Tilt, and Zoom with Precision

PTZ (Pan-Tilt-Zoom) cameras are highly dynamic, offering remote control over the camera’s movement and zoom capabilities. This makes them an excellent choice for large areas where you want the flexibility to follow activity or zoom in on suspicious behavior.

Best for:

• Large parking lots, stadiums, or business campuses
• Live monitoring situations with on-the-fly camera control
• Businesses needing detailed surveillance over a wide area

With the ability to adjust angles and zoom in on specific details, PTZ cameras provide enhanced coverage and flexibility—making them ideal for businesses with expansive properties.

4. License Plate Reader Cameras: Capture Crucial Details

License Plate Recognition (LPR) cameras are designed to capture clear images of vehicle license plates, even at high speeds or in low lighting conditions. These cameras use specialized software and AI algorithms to extract and store plate information.

Best for:

• Gated business properties with vehicle access control
• Retailers and warehouses tracking deliveries and vehicles
• Monitoring and identifying suspicious vehicles

LPR cameras help businesses improve accountability and assist law enforcement by providing accurate vehicle records.

5. Fisheye 360-degree Cameras: Discreet and Wide-Angle Coverage

Turret cameras (also known as eyeball cameras) are small, dome-like cameras that offer a discreet appearance while providing high-resolution footage. They are ideal for indoor and outdoor use, with a flexible swivel design.

On the other hand, Fisheye cameras provide 360-degree coverage with a single device, reducing blind spots and covering large areas with fewer cameras.

Best for:

• Small to medium-sized businesses with indoor or outdoor coverage needs
• Areas requiring discreet monitoring
• Locations where a single camera needs to cover a large area

Both turret and fisheye cameras offer excellent coverage for business owners seeking simplicity and efficiency without sacrificing security.

6. Mobile Surveillance Trailers: Flexible, On-Demand Security

Mobile security trailers provide the perfect solution for temporary or large-scale surveillance needs. These units have multiple cameras, including PTZ and fixed cameras, and often feature solar panels for independent power.

Best for:

• Construction sites requiring flexible, temporary security
• Events and festivals where crowd monitoring is essential
• Remote job sites with no permanent infrastructure
• Emergency situations requiring rapid deployment

Our mobile surveillance trailers offer on-demand flexibility and can be easily repositioned, making them ideal for businesses that need adaptable security coverage.

7. Solar-Powered Cameras: Reliable, Off-Grid Surveillance

Solar-powered cameras are an increasingly popular solution for businesses needing security in remote or hard-to-wire locations. These cameras use solar panels to generate power, making them energy-efficient and eco-friendly.

Best for:

• Construction sites with no existing power infrastructure
• Parking lots or remote properties
• Temporary surveillance needs without running permanent wiring
• Farms, parks, and rural businesses

These cameras offer continuous operation, even in areas without direct access to electricity, by utilizing solar energy. They also reduce your carbon footprint and minimize energy costs.

8. AI-Enhanced Security for Smarter Surveillance

At Holmes Security, one of the preferred cameras we use is by Turing and has AI capabilities —a game-changer in business security. These cameras go beyond traditional surveillance with enhanced artificial intelligence capabilities, including:

• Person and vehicle detection for more intelligent alerts
• Facial recognition to identify authorized personnel or flag suspicious individuals
• Smart search features, making it easy to review footage and identify key events
• Real-time alerts that notify you of unusual activity

By incorporating AI, Turing cameras reduce false alarms and provide more accurate, actionable insights—helping you make faster, more informed security decisions.

Why Choosing a Local Provider Matters

When it comes to business security, choosing a local provider like Holmes Security Systems offers significant advantages over national or DIY solutions:

Personalized Service & Faster Response Times

Since 1908, Holmes has been a locally owned and operated company in Eastern NC, with offices in Fayetteville and Wilmington. We offer faster on-site support and service from people within your community. When you partner with Holmes Security, you have direct access to our team—not a distant call center. This means quicker installations, maintenance, and troubleshooting.

Tailored Solutions for Eastern NC Businesses

We understand the unique security needs of Eastern NC businesses, from retail shops and offices to warehouses and manufacturing facilities. Our team provides customized security assessments to ensure you get the right camera solutions for your specific property. We offer holistic solutions that include intrusion, access control, fire, and panic buttons for the peace of mind of your employees.

Ongoing Support & Expert Maintenance

Our relationship doesn’t end after installation. Our office is staffed to provide support 24/7/365. With Holmes Security, you’ll have peace of mind knowing your system is backed by local experts who care about your business’s safety.

Secure Your Business with the Right Camera System

Choosing the right cameras for your business is essential for protecting your property, employees, and customers. Call Holmes Security Systems to have our team of experts design and install a tailored solution to safeguard your business with cutting-edge security technology backed by our exceptional service. 910-483-1196 or visit HolmesElectricSecurity.com to learn more.

Providing peace of mind and life safety through innovative technology and exceptional service.