Security cameras
Commercial security cameras, designed and installed
Commercial security cameras designed, installed and supported by WCC's engineers for businesses, schools, hospitals and public agencies across California. Avigilon, Verkada, Rhombus and Axis, on cloud or on-premises recording.
The short answer
WCC designs, installs and supports commercial security cameras end to end: site survey, coverage design, cabling, installation, integration with access control, and ongoing support. Most projects run $900 to $3,000 per camera installed, depending on camera type and whether you record in the cloud or on-site.
What we deliver
Security camera services, start to finish
One team handles the full lifecycle, so the engineer who designs the coverage is accountable for how it performs a year later.
Already have cameras? We also take over and modernize existing systems, including moving older recorders to cloud management while reusing good cabling.
Site survey and coverage design. Camera placement planned for the detail you need at each spot, whether that's identifying a face at a door or reading a plate at a gate.
Installation. Fixed, dome, multisensor, PTZ, thermal and license plate cameras, indoors and out, with the cabling and network built to carry them.
Analytics and alerts. Line crossing, loitering, people and vehicle detection and license plate recognition, tuned so alerts mean something.
Integration. Video tied to access control, so every door event opens the right clip.
Support. Health monitoring, firmware updates and managed camera monitoring after handoff.
Camera types
Commercial security camera systems by type
| Camera type | Where it goes | Typical installed cost |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed dome | Hallways, lobbies, offices and retail floors | $900–$1,800 |
| Bullet | Building exteriors, fences and parking | $1,000–$2,000 |
| Multisensor | Parking lots, yards and large open areas, replacing 3 to 4 cameras | $2,500–$5,000+ |
| PTZ | Large sites where an operator follows activity | $2,500–$6,000+ |
| License plate recognition | Gates, entrances and drive aisles | $2,000–$4,500 |
| Fisheye (360°) | Rooms and intersections of hallways | $1,200–$2,500 |
Ranges include the camera, cable drop, mounting, configuration and first-year licensing. Specialty and thermal cameras are priced per site.
Platforms
Which camera platform fits your site
We install all four and recommend the one that fits, not the one with the best margin.
| Platform | Recording | Strengths | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avigilon | On-premises (Unity), cloud (Alta) or hybrid | Appearance search, strong analytics, long retention without per-camera cloud fees. WCC is an Avigilon Elite Plus partner, Avigilon's highest tier. | Hospitals, government, campuses and critical sites |
| Verkada | Cloud, storage in each camera | Simple management, built-in analytics, cameras and access control in one dashboard | Multi-site businesses that want no on-site servers |
| Rhombus | Cloud with optional local storage | Lower cost per camera than Verkada, open API | Mid-market businesses and schools |
| Axis | Works with most video platforms | Widest camera range, specialty models, protects an existing VMS | Sites keeping Genetec, Milestone or another platform |
Cost
What commercial cameras cost
$900–$3,000
per camera installed
That covers the camera, its cable drop, a share of the switching, mounting, configuration and first-year licensing. A small business with 4 to 12 cameras typically pays $5,000 to $36,000.
See full examples in the camera cost guide.
- Camera type
- Fixed domes cost far less than multisensor, PTZ or thermal cameras.
- Recording architecture
- Cloud skips the server but adds a yearly license per camera.
- Retention
- Keeping 90 or 180 days instead of 30 adds storage or license cost.
- Cabling and site
- New drops, high ceilings, lifts and exterior conduit add labor.
- Network
- Older networks often need new PoE switches to power and carry cameras.
Recording
Cloud, on-premises or hybrid?
Cloud
No recording server on site. Manage every location from a browser or phone, with a yearly license per camera.
Fits multi-site businesses with small IT teams
On-premises
Video records to servers you own. Higher upfront cost, lower five-year cost, and full local control.
Fits long retention and strict local-storage rules
Hybrid
Record locally and manage or back up in the cloud, so one system can serve a flagship site and small branches.
Fits organizations with mixed sites
Why WCC
Why organizations choose WCC for cameras
Cameras only work as well as the design, cabling and network behind them. WCC builds all three.
Our own crews. California installs are done by WCC technicians, so there's no handoff between the company that sold the system and the one that installed it.
Designed for your site. Every system starts with a site survey, not a camera count from a price list.
One security stack. We also install the access control, cabling and network, so everything is built to work together.
NDAA-compliant hardware. Every platform we install meets NDAA Section 889, which federal and many public clients require.
How a camera project runs
- Week 1Site surveyCoverage, lighting and risk walkthrough.
- Week 2DesignCamera selection, layouts and storage sizing.
- Week 2–3ProposalScope, materials, schedule and price.
- InstallInstallationCabling, mounting, configuration and integration.
- HandoffTraining and supportAs-builts, user training and monitoring.
Industries
Camera systems built for your industry
Camera buying guides
Independent comparisons and real pricing from the team that installs these systems.
By region: Los Angeles, Orange County, Inland Empire and San Diego. Also see cloud camera installation and weapons detection systems.
FAQ
Security camera questions
How much does commercial security camera installation cost?
Most commercial projects in Southern California land at $900 to $3,000 per camera installed, including the camera, its cable drop, a share of the network switching, mounting, configuration and first-year software or cloud licensing. A small business with 4 to 12 cameras typically pays $5,000 to $36,000. See the camera cost guide for full examples.
Which camera platforms does WCC install?
WCC installs Avigilon, Verkada, Rhombus and Axis, and recommends based on the site, budget, retention needs and whether you want cloud or on-premises recording.
Should we choose cloud or on-premises recording?
Cloud recording skips the on-site server and is easier to manage across many sites, but carries a yearly license per camera. On-premises recording costs more upfront and less over five years, and suits long retention and sites with strict local-storage rules. Hybrid systems combine both.
Are your cameras NDAA compliant?
Yes. The platforms we install, including Avigilon, Verkada, Rhombus and Axis, meet NDAA Section 889 requirements, which federal agencies and many contractors and public entities require.
How much video retention do we need?
Most organizations keep 30 to 90 days. Healthcare, cannabis, public agencies and sites with frequent investigations often need 90 to 180 days or more. Retention is one of the biggest drivers of storage and license cost, so it should be set by area, not one number for the whole site.
Can cameras work with access control?
Yes. Because WCC also installs access control and the network, door events and video can be tied together so investigations start with the right clip.
Are security cameras E-Rate eligible for schools?
No. Cameras aren't E-Rate eligible, but the cabling, switches and wireless that carry them can be funded under Category 2, which lowers the total cost of a school camera project.
Is WCC licensed to install security cameras in California?
Yes. WCC holds CSLB license #819788 with C-7 low voltage, C-10 electrical and C-28 lock and security classifications.
Get a recommendation
Get a camera assessment for your site
An engineer walks your site, maps coverage and recommends the platform and recording setup that fit, with a line-item quote.