Although not every business requires , the investment can pay off big time for anyone seeking additional security or monitoring. Cameras may deter crime, and if a stranger graffitis an office window or an employee steals cash from the register, for instance, a recording tells the tale and allows you to take action.

Surveillance systems are making strides in image quality and flexibility for the watchers on the back end. Internet protocol (IP) surveillance combines cameras with a digital video recorder that can feed information to the Web. Some let you peek live at a scene from your smartphone, tablet, or PC. You can replay videos, print images, and even e-mail them to the police to help pursue or prosecute a suspect.

Your company doesn't need to be a common target, such as a jewelry store or nightclub, to benefit. Smarter surveillance gear is dropping in price, offering analytics tools that examine patterns at your location. They might alert you the moment a fire exit is blocked, for example, or display data from a busy month to show exactly when customers flocked to your store.

Installations of digital surveillance equipment took a dip with the recession, but are picking back up again. Sales of cameras, recorders, and encoders are expected to reach $15 billion in 2014, according to research firm In-Stat. The firm expects to see the equipment appear more in healthcare facilities, on school campuses, and in stores trying to keep lines moving at the cash register.