Security camera systems for commercial buildings
IP cameras, recording and remote viewing for condos, offices, schools and industrial sites. Designed, installed and supported by Hightower across Canada and the USA.
Updated
Camera systems we install
From a few cameras at the front door to hundreds across a campus.
IP cameras for every spot
Domes for hallways and lobbies, bullets for entrances and lots, PTZ and multi-sensor cameras for yards and long fence lines.
Recording and video management
Footage recorded on-site or in the cloud, with storage sized to how long you need to keep it and easy search when something happens.
View from anywhere
Live and recorded video on your phone, tablet or computer, so you can check a site without driving to it.
Smart video analytics
Cameras that tell a person from a car or a blowing tree, so you get alerts that matter and can find the right clip in seconds.
License plate recognition
Cameras at gates, parkade entrances and lots that read plates day and night, keep a searchable log of every vehicle, and can flag plates you’re watching for.
Connected to the rest of your building
Cameras are most useful when they work with everything else.
Tied into access control
Every door event can pull up the matching camera clip, so you see who actually walked through, not just which fob was used.
Linked with intrusion alarms
When an alarm goes off, cameras let you see what triggered it before anyone rolls a truck.
Remote management
Add users, share a clip with police or a property manager, and check camera health from one dashboard.
Maintenance and service plans
Scheduled checks on cameras, recorders and storage, so a dead camera gets caught before you need its footage.
Security cameras for your type of building
Every property has different blind spots. Here’s where we focus for each.
How a project works
One team from the first walkthrough to years of support.
- 1Site walk
We walk the property with you and note what needs to be seen, day and night.
- 2Design and quote
You get a camera layout with coverage, camera types and storage, and a written quote.
- 3Install and configure
We install, aim and focus every camera, then set up recording and remote viewing.
- 4Training and handover
We show your team how to view live video, search footage and export clips.
- 5Ongoing support
Service plans, repairs and upgrades as your property changes.
Camera brands we install
Choosing a video platform? Read Avigilon vs Genetec and Milestone vs Genetec to see how they compare on cameras, software and licensing.
Stuck with a system nobody will fix?
If your current provider stopped answering, we can repair, maintain or take over camera systems installed by other companies.
What affects the cost of a security camera system
Every building is different, but these are the factors that move the price. After a site walk, you get a clear written quote.
Number and type of cameras
Domes, bullets, PTZ and multi-sensor cameras vary widely, and each one needs a mount and a cable run.
Resolution and analytics
Higher resolution and smart detection help with identification and alerts, and cost more per camera.
Storage
How many days of video you keep, and whether it’s stored on-site or in the cloud, sets recorder and subscription costs.
Cabling and mounting
Long cable runs, poles and high mounting points that need a lift add labour.
Monitoring
Mobile viewing is usually included, while live monitoring services are an ongoing cost.
Questions to ask a security camera installer
The answers tell you whether you’ll be supported after the install.
- Will you support it after installation?
Ask who you’ll call when something breaks and how quickly they respond. We support everything we install.
- Will we get admin access and documentation?
You should own your system, with admin logins and a record of every device. We hand both over on every project.
- Which brands do you install, and why?
An installer who works with many brands can recommend what fits your building, not just what they sell.
- Will it work with our other systems?
Cameras, doors, intercoms and alarms work best when they’re planned together.
- What will it cost to run each year?
Ask about subscriptions, licences, monitoring and maintenance up front, so there are no surprises.
Read: Is your installer covered? The insurance, clearances and certifications every installer should have.
Remote video monitoring
Cameras record what happened. Remote video monitoring helps stop it while it’s happening. Hightower sets it up with our monitoring partner, who watches 24/7. When a camera detects a person or vehicle, an operator looks at the live video, warns people off through a speaker and calls police or your contact when it’s a real threat.
It costs less than a security guard on site, covers every camera at once, and every event is logged with video so you can see what happened the next morning. We design the cameras, detection zones, speakers and network for it, then set up the monitoring and support it.
- Smart person and vehicle detection, so the team isn’t chasing wind and headlights
- Talk-down speakers at gates, lots and entrances
- Monitored 24/7, or only the nights, weekends and holidays you choose
- Works on new systems, and on existing cameras once we’ve checked them
Guides: Milestone vs GenetecSecurity cameras in BC strata buildingsAvigilon vs AxisUpgrading from a DVR to an NVRMilestone vs AvigilonSecurity cameras for parkadesLicence plate recognition (LPR)Thermal security camerasCannabis storesLiquor storesWarehouses and logisticsSecurity cameras and privacy in AlbertaWhat affects the cost of security cameras
More industries we secure: Construction sitesRetail plazas and strip mallsSelf-storage facilities
Security camera questions
How much does a commercial security camera system cost?
It depends mostly on the number and type of cameras, how long you need to keep footage, and whether recording is on-site or in the cloud. The fastest way to a real number is a site walk, after which we provide a written quote.
Can we view our cameras from a phone?
Yes. You can watch live video and search recorded footage from a phone, tablet or computer, and control who on your team has access.
How long is footage kept?
That depends on how much storage the system has and how it records. We size storage to the retention you need, and many businesses choose around 30 days.
Do cameras hold up in Alberta winters?
We choose outdoor cameras rated for extreme cold and low light, and mount them to handle snow, wind and glare.
Are there privacy rules for security cameras?
Yes. Private-sector organizations in Alberta and BC fall under provincial privacy laws. We plan camera placement and signage with those rules in mind.
Can your cameras read license plates?
Yes. We install license plate recognition cameras at gates, parkade entrances and lots. They keep a searchable log of vehicles and can alert you when a specific plate shows up.
Can you work on a camera system another company installed?
Yes. We service, repair and take over existing systems, and can upgrade them when equipment is no longer supported.
What is remote video monitoring?
Remote video monitoring is when a monitoring team watches live alerts from your security cameras. Through our monitoring partner, Hightower offers it 24/7. When a camera detects a person or vehicle, they check the video, warn people off through a speaker and call police or your contact if it’s a real threat.
Is remote video monitoring cheaper than a security guard?
Usually, yes. One monitoring plan covers every camera on the property at once, while a guard can only be in one place. Many sites use monitoring instead of a guard, or to cover the hours a guard isn’t there.
Is your video monitoring 24/7?
Yes. Our monitoring partner watches 24/7, every day of the year. If you only need cover for nights, weekends or holidays, we set the schedule to match.
Can cameras work with fence sensors?
Yes. When a fence sensor detects climbing or cutting, cameras turn to that zone so you see who is there, and lights and a siren can come on too. See monitored fences.
More answers: Security camera questionsGlossary: NVRvideo analytics
Security camera service areas
Offices in Edmonton, Calgary and Red Deer in Alberta, and Kelowna in BC, serving customers across Canada and the USA.
See all service areas. Alberta and BC are our main markets, and we support customers right across Canada and in the USA, with a parachute team ready to go anywhere. Ask us about it.
Local pages: Security cameras in EdmontonSecurity cameras in CalgarySecurity cameras in Fort McMurraySecurity cameras in NanaimoSecurity cameras in PentictonSecurity cameras in VancouverSecurity cameras in VictoriaSecurity cameras in LethbridgeSecurity cameras in KamloopsSecurity cameras in Red DeerSecurity cameras in KelownaSecurity cameras in St. AlbertSecurity cameras in Sherwood ParkSecurity cameras in Spruce GroveSecurity cameras in LeducSecurity cameras in AirdrieSecurity cameras in Grande PrairieSecurity cameras in Medicine Hat
Get a security camera quote
Tell us about the property and roughly how many cameras you’re thinking about. We’ll follow up to book a site walk.
Call and a real person answers, 24/7 for emergencies.