The right camera provider for a commercial property in Alberta or BC is the one that walks the site, recommends a platform that fits the building rather than the one it happens to sell, installs it properly and is still there to support it years later. Here is what to look for, and the questions that separate a good provider from a risky one.
What a good camera provider does
- Walks the property first and writes down what each camera must show: a face, a plate, or only activity.
- Works with more than one brand, so the recommendation fits the building and the budget.
- Plans the network, power and cable routes, not just the cameras.
- Explains how long video is kept, who can see it and how clips are exported for police or insurers.
- Hands over admin access and full documentation when the job is done.
- Offers support after installation, including after-hours service when something fails.
Commercial camera brands to ask about
For commercial buildings, the platforms worth comparing are the ones built for business use. Hightower installs and fully supports Avigilon, Axis, Bosch and Uniview cameras, recorded on Milestone, Genetec or the manufacturer's own software. Each suits different buildings, and our comparisons, such as Avigilon vs Genetec, Milestone vs Avigilon and Uniview vs Axis, explain where each one fits.
Questions to ask before you sign
- Which brands do you install, and why do you recommend this one for our building?
- Will we own the system and get admin access and documentation?
- How does the system handle cold, snow, wind and coastal rain at our site?
- Is the camera network kept separate from our office or tenant network?
- What does support look like after installation, and how do we reach you at night?
- Can you take over cameras another company installed, or do we have to start again?
Privacy and signs
Businesses, condo corporations and stratas in Alberta and BC record video under private-sector privacy law. A good provider points cameras at common areas only, recommends signs at the entrances and helps you set a retention period. This is general information, not legal advice.
Monitoring and after-hours coverage
Recording is only half of it. For sites that sit empty overnight, Hightower provides 24/7 remote video monitoring through our monitoring partner, who can watch the cameras live and warn people off through a speaker.
Hightower designs, installs and supports commercial camera systems across Alberta and BC, from offices in Edmonton, Calgary, Red Deer and Kelowna, and serves Saskatchewan as well. We also take over and repair systems other companies installed.
What to specify on a commercial camera job
Decide what each camera must show (a face, a plate, or only activity), how many days of video you need, and who can view it. Outdoor cameras in Alberta and BC need housings and mounts that handle cold, wind and hail. Keep cameras on their own network, and plan power and cable before the walls close.
Recording, viewing and live monitoring
Phone viewing is part of a normal install. Live 24/7 monitoring is separate: our monitoring partner reviews alerts, can warn people off through a speaker and calls police or your contact when it is real. We do not run an in-house monitoring centre.
Related on this site
Read more: remote video monitoring, Avigilon vs Genetec, service areas, all services.
Security cameras near you: Edmonton · Calgary · Red Deer · Kelowna.
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Need this for a commercial building? Request a quote, or call 587-920-1610 in Alberta or 236-473-1610 in BC.
Questions
Does Hightower work on this for commercial buildings only?
Yes. We design, install and support systems for commercial buildings only, including condos and apartments, offices, retail, industrial sites, schools and automotive businesses across Alberta and BC.
Can you take over an existing system like the one in this article?
Yes. System rescue is a core service. We regain admin access to systems you own, repair what we can, document everything and support it. See system rescue.
Where should I start if this is the system I need?
Start with our security cameras page, or request a quote. We have offices in Edmonton, Calgary, Red Deer and Kelowna.