With so many different types of CCTV cameras on the market, there are now a variety of solutions for every industry. As a result of this huge range, it can be difficult to choose which CCTV camera is right for your business.
The importance of choosing the correct security solution cannot be overstated, particularly as business property theft and shoplifting are on the rise in the UK. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), police recorded a 20% increase in shoplifting offences in the year ending March 2025, reaching the highest figure since records began in 2003, while robbery of business property saw a significant increase of 50%. Investing in modern, high-quality surveillance is therefore crucial for deterrence and evidence gathering, forming a core part of your overall security strategy and helping to build a security-first culture.
The 9 most popular types of CCTV cameras available are:
Are you wondering which CCTV camera to buy for your business premises? We’ve summarised the benefits of each of the different types of CCTV systems below. Use our expert guide to select a solution that is fit for purpose and provides the level of security you require, in order to safeguard your property and staff.
A dome CCTV camera gets its name from the dome-shaped casing that the camera sits in. Whilst these are relatively discreet CCTV cameras in appearance, this doesn’t stop them from deterring criminals. This is because the dome casing makes it really difficult for people to see which direction the camera is pointing. This creates an air of uncertainty for potential thieves or vandals approaching from all directions. Modern dome cameras often incorporate advanced smart security features such as on-board Artificial Intelligence (AI) for motion detection and facial recognition, shifting the security paradigm from reactive recording to proactive threat assessment. This means fewer false alarms and faster response times for security teams, which is a major trend for 2025 as reported by industry analysis.
This is the best type of CCTV camera for shops, restaurants, casinos, hotels and other leisure businesses because the design allows you to monitor a wider angle at your premises. Many also consider this option to be the best indoor CCTV camera as it can be placed on a strategic point of the ceiling to cover all angles of the room without being intrusive in design. For businesses operating in the retail sector, the 360-degree visibility helps cover large shop floors and point-of-sale areas.
Bullet CCTV cameras have an iconic design that is highly visible. They are cylindrical in shape and are capable of observing long distances. Bullet cameras are most commonly placed outdoors so their casings are made resistant to water, dust and dirt. Their visible presence makes them a strong psychological deterrent, an important factor in security planning. Modern bullet cameras are increasingly being equipped with Power over Ethernet (PoE) technology, allowing a single cable to transmit both power and data, significantly simplifying their installation and reducing infrastructure costs, which is a key consideration for many large-scale commercial deployments.
Bullet cameras can be used to good effect in a range of industries such as manufacturing, property management and farming. They not only record good quality pictures but also send out a message to passers-by that your premises is under surveillance. That’s why they have traditionally offered the best CCTV for outside operation. They are especially useful for monitoring perimeter fences, gates, and large outdoor storage yards, which is a common security requirement for businesses like those in waste management.
C-Mount CCTV cameras are the ideal option for those who may wish to adapt the field of vision. They are equipped with detachable lenses that can be switched around to monitor varying distances. C-Mount cameras are typically bulky so, like bullet cameras, act as a visible deterrent to criminal activity. This customisation makes them valuable for businesses where the viewing angle or distance may need to be altered over time, or where a specific, high-risk area requires particularly granular focus, allowing security managers to manage their security needs with the flexibility of connected managed services.
This is the ideal camera for observing a stretch of road on the approach to your premises. It is therefore popular in the utilities and logistics industries. Those operating in the food and manufacturing industries may also elect for this option, due to the camera’s reliability in extreme temperatures.
With a PTZ (Pan Tilt & Zoom) camera, your security team can have complete control over what is recorded. At the touch of a button, the camera lens can pan left and right, tilt up and down or zoom in and out. It’s the ideal choice if you have a security guard who is monitoring a live video feed on site. These systems often benefit from advanced CCTV software and video analytics, enabling them to automatically track subjects, patrol pre-set routes, and zoom in on suspicious activity without constant manual input, making them highly efficient. This capability for remote, active surveillance is a significant factor in the importance of remote monitoring for a wide range of commercial environments.
This is the best CCTV camera for remote viewing. It is really popular in large retail environments and is regarded as the best CCTV for business premises that have a specific valuable object to protect. For example, a museum could program the camera to pan to a particular entry or exit point when it detects movement. So even when it is not being controlled remotely, the camera can cover a much larger area and do the same job of several static cameras.
These cameras have been built specifically to operate effectively, regardless of how well lit their environment is. During both daytime and night-time, they will record clear video images that will not be obscured by differing light conditions. This is achieved through their extra sensitive imaging chips. The latest models often feature Starlight technology, which can capture colour images in extremely low-light conditions, far superior to older cameras that would instantly switch to black and white, offering improved evidential value for incidents that occur in low-light conditions.
There are various CCTV camera types suited to outside use but the extra sensitive imaging of both day and night imaging modes makes this one camera type unique. It is therefore the ideal CCTV system for business premises that require around the clock CCTV monitoring in an outdoor environment with varying light conditions. Businesses with exposed outdoor assets or large perimeters, such as those in the logistics industry, benefit greatly from this reliable, 24/7 visibility.
As the name suggests, these cameras are designed to operate optimally in pitch black conditions. They achieve this by using infrared technology. Infrared models are more expensive than day/night cameras and those opting for this option usually do so because night recording is vital to the security of their business. A more advanced version, thermal imaging, detects heat signatures rather than light, allowing it to “see” through complete darkness, smoke, and light fog. This thermal capability has become a major trend in 2025, especially for protecting large, unlit external areas where an intruder’s body heat is easily distinguishable, a critical element in preventing arson and other after-hours crimes.
This is the best CCTV camera for night vision functionality. It’s therefore the ideal choice for those who need ultra-reliable recording in complete darkness. For example, banks, farms and manufacturing plants, and any business where a perimeter breach after dark poses a significant threat, such as sensitive utility sites.
These cameras share live footage across the internet so images can be easily accessed from anywhere on the globe. The bandwidth of the video is compressed, in order to make the online feed reliable. Archive footage is stored on network video recorders (NVRs) or on secure software for later access. This technology represents the cornerstone of modern security, enabling features like cloud-based security and allowing businesses to integrate their surveillance with other smart building systems. It is also important to note that the UK government is increasingly focused on the security of these internet-connected devices, with new laws coming into effect to ensure manufacturers comply with baseline security requirements for consumer connectable products from April 2024.
A network or IP CCTV camera is the ideal choice for business owners who are often away from site and on the move. Footage can be viewed from anywhere in the world, via a smart device such as a PC, laptop or mobile phone. These systems are highly scalable and are commonly implemented in multi-site operations like large office complexes or franchises, offering centralised control and monitoring regardless of the physical distance between locations.
Wireless CCTV cameras were created to minimise installation time. They also make the appearance of the camera much tidier, which may be an important factor for locations such as churches, museums or stately homes. While older wireless cameras suffered from reliability and signal interference issues, modern systems utilise robust digital encryption and meshing network technology to ensure a secure and stable connection, making them a viable option for many commercial settings where running cables is impractical or undesirable.
If a spotless presentation is important in your industry, wireless CCTV cameras are a great security option. Their discreet appearance helps them to blend into the interior. What’s more, there is less set up and camera maintenance required, and footage is transferred via the internet for convenient access. This is particularly useful for sensitive environments such as healthcare facilities or historic buildings where the physical disruption of cabling must be kept to an absolute minimum.
HD CCTV cameras offer an unrivalled picture quality that delivers high clarity images. Depending on your budget, they can deliver resolutions of 720p, all the way up to 4K. Therefore, there’s no danger that the subject of recordings will ever appear grainy or distorted. Beyond mere resolution, the move to 4K and even 8K Ultra HD is now enabling more effective use of digital zoom on recorded footage, providing clear facial features or license plates from a single frame, which is paramount for successful criminal identification. Furthermore, the sheer detail of HD footage is a key reason why police often rely on CCTV evidence, particularly for theft offences.
High definition cameras are particularly useful for use in environments where there is a high risk of theft. Businesses such as banks and casinos should opt for HD cameras, in order to ensure that visitors to their premises are captured in perfect clarity. The footage recorded will be able to provide undeniable identification in the event of a crime being committed, making it essential for any high-value asset protection.
The landscape of commercial security is continually evolving, with significant trends moving towards fully integrated and AI-driven solutions. Modern CCTV is no longer a standalone recording tool; it is now a crucial component of a comprehensive, interconnected security ecosystem. Systems are now commonly integrated with intruder alarms and access control platforms. For example, a PTZ camera can be programmed to automatically pan and zoom to the exact door or gate that triggers an access violation alarm, greatly speeding up your team’s response procedures, a topic we cover in depth in our guide on what your employees should know about intruder response. This level of synergy allows businesses to transition from merely recording events to actively intervening and preventing incidents.
The shift to cloud-based security systems is also transformative. By storing footage securely off-site, businesses gain resilience against on-premise hardware failure or physical tampering. Remote access and centralised management of multi-site operations from a single dashboard streamline security operations, a particularly valuable feature for large organisations operating in the industrial sector. This investment in smarter, integrated CCTV not only enhances protection but can also lead to significant operational benefits, such as monitoring production lines in a factory for efficiency improvements.
Our team of smart security consultants can provide a free, no obligation quotation for your CCTV requirements. They can also conduct a free site survey to advise on the right types of CCTV cameras for your business and how to conform with GDPR and CCTV regulations.
Contact us today by calling 0330 094 7404 or apply for a free quote. Alternatively, visit our commercial CCTV systems page to find out more about our services.
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