Lesson 1Camera placement and coverage planning: entrances, reception, corridors, treatment rooms, pharmacy, parking, side passage, emergency exitsThis section covers practical camera placement and coverage planning for typical sites. You will learn how to position cameras at entrances, corridors, treatment areas, parking, and exits to achieve identification, coverage, and safety goals in clinics.
Entrances, reception, and face captureCorridors, stairwells, and choke pointsTreatment rooms and sensitive areasPharmacy, safes, and high-value storageParking lots, driveways, and side passagesEmergency exits and evacuation routesLesson 2Indoor vs outdoor environmental ratings (IP, IK) and mounting considerationsThis section focuses on environmental ratings and mounting choices for reliable camera operation. You will learn how IP and IK ratings, temperature ranges, and mounting hardware affect durability, image stability, and long-term maintenance in varied conditions.
IP ratings for dust and water protectionIK ratings and vandal-resistant housingsTemperature, humidity, and enclosure choicePole, wall, and ceiling mounting optionsVibration, wind load, and image stabilityLesson 3Camera specifications: resolution, frame rate, lens focal length, IR/night vision, WDR, low-light performanceHere we analyse key camera specifications and how they affect image quality and identification. You will learn to match resolution, frame rate, lens, IR, WDR, and low-light performance to scene risk, distance, and regulatory requirements for optimal results.
Pixels per foot and identification targetsChoosing frame rate for scenes and motionFixed, varifocal, and motorised zoom lensesIR illumination range and reflection issuesWDR handling of backlight and contrastLow-light sensitivity and noise trade-offsLesson 4Camera selection by location: fixed dome, turret, bullet, PTZ, and specialised cameras (varifocal, fisheye)You will learn how to select camera types that best fit each location and risk profile. This section compares domes, turrets, bullets, PTZ, and specialised models, focusing on deterrence, coverage, tamper resistance, and maintenance for healthcare.
Fixed dome cameras for public interiorsTurret cameras for flexible aimingBullet cameras for long exterior viewsPTZ cameras for active monitoringFisheye and panoramic coverage usesSpecialised thermal and covert camerasLesson 5Remote access, secure video streaming, user roles, and authenticationThis section explains how to provide remote access to CCTV while protecting confidentiality and integrity. You will learn secure streaming methods, user roles, authentication options, and how to harden remote viewing clients and mobile apps for safety.
Encrypted streaming with TLS and SRTPVPN, jump hosts, and remote access controlRole-based access and least privilegeStrong passwords, MFA, and SSO optionsAccount lifecycle and session managementLesson 6Video encoding, bandwidth considerations, PoE vs separate power, and network design basicsHere we examine video encoding, bandwidth, and power options that shape network design. You will learn codec selection, bitrate control, PoE sizing, VLAN use, and how to avoid congestion and single points of failure in CCTV networks for efficiency.
H.264, H.265, and smart codec featuresCBR vs VBR and bitrate budgetingMulticast, unicast, and viewing impactPoE classes, power budgets, and cablingSegmentation with VLANs and QoS rulesRedundancy and network health monitoringLesson 7Recorder and storage strategy: NVR selection, RAID, retention periods (days), storage calculations, cyclic overwriteThis section explains how to design recorder and storage strategies that meet retention and performance goals. You will learn NVR selection, RAID levels, storage calculations, overwrite policies, and monitoring of disk health and capacity for compliance.
NVR vs server-based VMS architecturesRAID levels, redundancy, and rebuild riskCalculating storage from bitrate and daysCyclic overwrite and retention tiersDisk health checks and SMART alertsLesson 8Standards and good practices for video quality, evidence-grade capture, and system documentationThis section covers standards and best practices that ensure CCTV video is usable as legal evidence. You will learn how to document system design, validate image quality, and maintain consistent configuration and audit records in line with UK guidelines.
Evidence-grade image quality requirementsScene illumination and test chart proceduresTime synchronisation and watermarkingConfiguration baselines and change controlOperational logs and incident documentationLesson 9Privacy protections: masking/privacy zones, signage, retention policies, and chain-of-custody for evidenceYou will learn how to design CCTV systems that respect privacy laws and organisational policies. This section covers masking, signage, retention limits, and evidence chain-of-custody, including documentation and secure handling of exported clips under GDPR.
Legal bases and privacy impact assessmentsPrivacy zones and masking configurationSignage, consent, and staff awarenessRetention schedules and auto deletionExport procedures and access loggingEvidence sealing and transfer records
