CCTV, Surveillance & Physical Security
Most shop and office security in Zanzibar is bought in a hurry after a break-in. This guide shows how cameras, alarms, access control, the till network and remote viewing fit together, and how to build them up in sensible phases.
What you will learn
Applies to
Tools Required
No tools needed.
Before you start
Important
Step-by-Step Guide
1 / 7 steps
Step 1
Cover the four key places
Put cameras on the entrance (faces), the till (hands and cash, never PINs), the stock room or back door, and the outside.
Expected result: Every entry point and the cash are covered by a camera.
Put the NVR, the PoE switch and the router on one UPS. If the switch is not on the UPS, the cameras go dark even though the recorder stays on.
Expected result: Cameras and recording continue through short power cuts.
Mount the NVR in a locked cabinet or a hidden spot, with the UPS beside it, so a thief cannot take the evidence with them.
Expected result: The footage survives even if the shop is broken into.
Door contacts and motion sensors report to an alarm panel with battery backup, which sounds a siren and notifies your phone.
Expected result: Someone knows about a break-in while it is happening.
A video intercom at the entrance and card or PIN readers on sensitive doors let you see visitors, remove leavers the same day and keep a log.
Expected result: Only the right people open the office, cash room or server cupboard.
On the business router, keep the POS and card terminal on their own network or VLAN, separate from guest Wi-Fi, staff phones and CCTV.
Expected result: A compromised phone or camera cannot reach the payment devices.
The recorder connects out to the manufacturer's cloud service, and your phone connects to that. No router ports are opened to the recorder.
Expected result: You can watch the shop remotely without exposing the recorder to the internet.
Troubleshooting
Likely cause Cameras mounted too high or too far from the entrance.
Solution Lower and move the entrance camera so it captures faces as people walk in.
Likely cause The camera faces a bright doorway.
Solution Reposition it, or use a camera with good backlight handling (WDR).
Likely cause The recorder, PoE switch or router is not on a UPS.
Solution Put all three on one UPS and test it during the next cut.
Likely cause The disk was full, failed or recording was never scheduled.
Solution Check the storage page and the oldest recording monthly. See the recording-not-available guide.
Likely cause The camera angle covers the card terminal keypad.
Solution Re-aim it to show hands, the drawer and the counter, but not the keypad.
Likely cause Shared alarm codes, door codes or CCTV logins.
Solution Give each person their own code, card and login, and remove them on their last day.
Likely cause The installer opened router ports to the recorder.
Solution Close the ports and use the manufacturer's cloud service with MFA, or a VPN.
In Depth
Most shop and office security in Zanzibar is bought in a hurry after a break-in. This guide shows how cameras, alarms, access control, the till network and remote viewing fit together, and how to build them up in sensible phases.
It is written for owners and managers of shops, pharmacies, showrooms, small offices and branches. The tutorial above walks through the recommended layout; this section explains the reasons and the local details.
Power cuts. A recorder without a UPS stops recording at exactly the moment the lights go out, which is also a moment thieves can use. Cameras powered from the recorder or a PoE switch stop too, unless that switch is on the UPS as well.
Surges and lightning. Power returning after a cut, and storms, regularly damage recorders and power supplies. Earthing and surge protection, especially on outdoor camera runs, are worth far more than they cost.
Salt air and humidity. Outdoor cameras and junction boxes near the sea corrode. Use outdoor-rated cameras, sealed junction boxes and stainless fixings, and inspect them a few times a year.
Stone Town heritage rules. Stone Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and visible external changes need approval from the conservation authority. Cameras, alarm sirens and cables on a façade are visible changes. Plan discreet positions and check with the authority before installing.
Thick walls. Coral-stone and concrete walls make cable runs harder and block wireless cameras and alarm sensors. Wired equipment is usually more reliable.
Internet. Fibre is not everywhere, and 4G is a common primary or backup link. Remote viewing depends on the site's upload speed, not its download speed.
Spare parts. Recorders, hard disks and cameras are often stocked in Dar es Salaam. A failed disk can mean days without recording unless you keep a spare or have a support agreement.
Good security does four jobs: deter, detect, record and control who gets in. Cameras alone only record. An alarm detects and deters. Access control decides who enters. Each layer covers a gap in the others.
Choosing the right camera for each spot is covered in Which Camera Type and Bullet vs Dome Cameras. For choosing a whole system, see how to choose a CCTV system for your business.
Note Put up clear signs that CCTV is in use, and decide who can view and export footage. Tanzania's Personal Data Protection Act, 2022 treats data about an identifiable person, recorded in any form, as personal data, which can include CCTV footage. It requires anyone who collects or processes personal data to register with the Personal Data Protection Commission (PDPC). The Act applies in Zanzibar only to Union matters, so how far it reaches for a Zanzibar shop or office is a question for a legal adviser. This is not legal advice.
Cameras record a burglary; an alarm tries to stop it. A basic alarm has motion sensors, door contacts on entrances, a siren, and a panel with battery backup. Choose one that notifies you by phone (through a SIM or the internet) when it goes off, because a siren alone may not bring help at night. Test the notification every month.
For offices and back-of-house areas, card, fob, PIN or fingerprint access lets you remove a former employee's access the same day instead of changing locks, see who entered and when, and keep staff out of areas they do not need, such as the server cupboard or cash office. A video intercom at the entrance lets staff see visitors before opening.
Every locked door must still let people out in an emergency. Our access control and smart locks guide explains fail-safe and fail-secure locks, power cuts and fire alarm release.
Card terminals and POS tills should not share a network with guest Wi-Fi, staff phones or CCTV. On a business router, put them on their own VLAN or network so a compromised phone or camera cannot reach payment devices. At minimum:
Watching your shop from your phone is useful, but do not open router ports to the recorder. Use the manufacturer's cloud service with a strong password and multi-factor authentication where offered, or a VPN. Full detail is in How to View Your CCTV on Your Phone Safely.
The RANS Company Limited office is an office project where Extrion delivered LAN, fibre, CCTV, IT systems and business applications, systems integration and technology support. The Kilimo warehouse in Malindi shows security at a larger scale, with LAN, fibre, CCTV, access and security, fire systems and PA.
You do not have to do everything at once. Each phase works on its own.
| Phase | What it adds | Typical contents |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Core | Recording you can rely on | Cameras at entrance, till, stock room and outside; recorder on a UPS, hidden or locked; safe remote viewing; separate till network |
| 2. Detection | Someone knows when it happens | Intruder alarm with door contacts, motion sensors and phone notification; extra cameras for side entrances and parking; surge protection on outdoor runs |
| 3. Control | You decide who gets in | Access control on the main door and sensitive rooms; video intercom; several branches managed together |
Warning Mounting cameras on high walls or ceilings means ladders and electrical work. Use a qualified installer with proper access equipment, and never work on mains wiring yourself.
See also our business and finance industry page.
If you are opening a new shop or office, have had a break-in, or are not sure your system records when it should, Extrion can audit and design the right set-up, including CCTV, intruder alarms and access control. See our security service or contact us.
This guide is general information. Procedures, product features and firmware change, so check your own equipment's documentation before you start.
FAQs
Many small shops start with four: entrance, till, stock room and outside. The right number depends on the layout, the number of doors and the blind spots, so walk the site before buying.
Wired cameras are usually more reliable in buildings with thick coral-stone or concrete walls, and PoE lets them run from the same UPS as the recorder. Wireless can suit places where running cable is impossible, but each camera still needs power.
Long enough to notice a problem and retrieve the footage, often two to four weeks for a shop. Use the storage calculator to size the disk, then check the oldest recording on the recorder to confirm.
CCTV records what happens; an alarm can scare intruders off and alert you immediately. They do different jobs, and together they cover far more than either alone.
Above and slightly behind the cashier, covering the drawer, the counter and hands handling cash. It must not show customers entering a card or mobile-money PIN.
So that an infected phone, a guest on the Wi-Fi or a poorly secured camera cannot reach your payment devices. A business router can keep them apart with a separate VLAN or network.
Without a UPS, recording stops and PoE cameras go dark. Put the recorder, PoE switch and router on a UPS, and make sure the alarm panel and access control power supplies have charged batteries.
Yes. Most recorders and apps support several sites, as long as each one is set up for safe remote access through the cloud service or a VPN.
Our engineers survey the site, choose the right cameras and recorder, install them neatly and set up safe remote viewing.
Ask for clarification, tell us a problem this did not solve, or suggest a topic. An engineer reads every message, and we use them to improve the Knowledge Center.
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