How to Use Security Camera Rules to Ensure Compliance in Highly Regulated Industries

Organizations invest significant resources in security cameras and systems to protect their assets and employees. 

The roughly $33.99 billion spent in 2022 on surveillance cameras is likely to increase 10.7% by 2030, according to a report by Grand View Research, a market research and consulting firm. 

Security cameras are a foundational investment for businesses of any size, but their benefits are not limited merely to security. Fortunately, you can multiply the ROI on your security system by further employing cameras to enhance compliance in highly regulated industries. 

The Multifaceted Role of Security Cameras in Compliance

Dynamic when combined with business activity analytics, security cameras can assist with compliance requirements, in addition to protecting your business. Several highly regulated industries, in particular, will benefit from leveraging them for more than just theft or fraud prevention. 

Retail: Beyond Theft Prevention

In the retail sector, security cameras can help you comply with safety standards, manage occupancy for fire code compliance, and provide effective crowd management.

Advanced security cameras equipped with automated analytics can track the number of people in your store, monitor queue lengths, and ensure emergency exits are unobstructed, which are crucial not only during peak shopping seasons but also on regular business days.

Another benefit: When you are visited by the fire marshall, you’ll have ample evidence to showcase your compliance with local fire safety regulations.

Industry: Safety & Operational Efficiency

In industrial or manufacturing settings, safety and operational efficiency are paramount. Here, security cameras can serve as vigilant overseers. They can monitor equipment operation, check for compliance with safety gear, and integrate with alarm systems to provide real-time response to incidents.

Security cameras are a foundational investment for businesses of any size, but their benefits are not limited merely to security.

If employees are mishandling dangerous equipment or failing to wear proper protective gear, you’ll have documentation, as well, invaluable for identifying and preventing future occurrences.

Education: Safeguarding the Future

Educational institutions focus on safeguarding our future—students.

Compliance extends to ensuring safe learning environments, controlling campus access, and securing the premises. Cameras with AI-driven analytics can also distinguish between routine activities and potential threats, providing an unassailable environment for learning and development.

Security cameras verify that standards are met, including compliance with local safety regulations and federal laws like FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act), which governs the privacy of student education records.

For schools committed to greater accessibility, cameras can help monitor and make sure facilities are accessible to all students, identifying areas where improvements may be needed.

Government Facilities: Security & Privacy

In government facilities, where both security and privacy are critical, maintaining compliance is a complex task. 

Advanced camera systems can recognize authorized personnel, monitor sensitive areas in combination with access control systems, and maintain adherence to requirements like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) or the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

Sophisticated security systems offer a level of protection that is essential for handling sensitive information and maintaining public trust.

In some cases, security camera footage can even be used to promote transparency and accountability in government operations, demonstrating adherence to public service standards and ethical practices.

Pharmaceutical Industry: Protecting Product Integrity

The pharmaceutical industry faces stringent compliance requirements.

Security cameras continuously monitor manufacturing processes, ensuring that standard operating procedures are strictly followed.

Crucial for compliance with Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) regulations, security cameras can monitor critical points in the production line, confirming that quality control measures are consistently applied. This aids in maintaining the high standards required for pharmaceutical products.

Video footage can also serve as a record of compliance-related activities, which is useful during internal audits or inspections by regulatory bodies like the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 

Furthermore, security cameras can monitor and control access to sensitive areas such as research labs and storage facilities for controlled substances, safeguarding your pharmaceutical assets and proprietary information from unauthorized personnel. 

Financial Sector: Ensuring Transactional Integrity

For the finance and banking sector, security cameras preserve transactional integrity. 

Integrating camera feeds with transaction data can quickly identify and investigate discrepancies, providing a level of monitoring and security that is essential in the financial world.

Cameras positioned over teller stations or at ATMs monitor financial transactions, ensuring they are conducted accurately and ethically, preventing cases of fraud or errors, as well. 

Banks and financial institutions are subject to robust regulations, such as the Bank Secrecy Act or anti-money laundering laws. Cameras help in monitoring and documenting compliance with these regulations.

Footage from security cameras can also be used for employee training, demonstrating proper handling of transactions, visitor interactions, and adherence to bank policies, improving your overall standing with clients and customers.

Healthcare: Patient Safety and Compliance

In the healthcare industry, complying with various regulatory and ethical standards is similarly crucial for patient safety, data privacy, and overall service quality. Security cameras play a significant role in this context, but their use must be balanced with the need for patient confidentiality and privacy, as dictated by laws such as HIPAA. 

In cases of accidents, disputes, or alleged malpractice, video footage can provide an objective record, aiding in investigations and potentially protecting healthcare providers against unfounded claims.

Security cameras can monitor visitor access and behavior within the facility, assuring safety and compliance with visiting policies.

Recorded footage can also be used for staff training—demonstrating proper procedures and highlighting areas for improvement in patient care and safety.

Cameras help you leverage commercial security systems for compliance with industry regulations and standards. Otherwise, you’re underutilizing a major investment.

Utilities and Telecommunications: Infrastructure Security

For utilities and telecommunications, securing infrastructure is critical.

Cameras serve as the first line of defense against sabotage. Assuring regulatory compliance in these vital sectors, they are used to continuously monitor critical infrastructure, such as power plants, water treatment facilities, and telecommunications towers.

Given the industry’s hazardous work environments, security cameras also monitor safety practices, verifying compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidelines. 

Many utilities and telecommunications facilities are in remote locations, so having security cameras, especially those with remote monitoring capabilities, makes keeping an eye on these sites more manageable—reducing the need for frequent physical inspections.

Ultimately, cameras help you leverage commercial security systems for compliance with industry regulations and standards. Otherwise, you’re underutilizing a major investment.

When looking into a new security system, talk with a prospective provider about other ways you can use cameras to optimize your business operations. They should be able to help you compile a list of additional ways security cameras can be used to advance your organization's goals. 

General Security installs business security cameras and provides other business optimization solutions including occupancy tracking, heat mapping, people counting, access control, and crowd management systems powered by advanced business analytics. An industry-leading smart security systems provider, we can support businesses of any size, across most industries. Request your free quote today!