Tip 01
Play back saved footage
Play a recent recording from each important camera and verify the date and time.
Live view shows the current image, not whether recordings are being saved.
West Protect support
Look after your security system.
Ten practical habits for reliable recordings, account access and equipment care. Start with the topic you need; each section links to the full instructions.
West Protect provides structured network and data cabling. Jayke provides general advice, guidance and assistance with preventative cyber security. For specialist cyber security advice, assessment or support, we recommend contacting an IT specialist.
Make sure useful footage is being saved
Check recording, test configured alerts and keep important clips outside the recorder.
Tip 02
Test the alerts you use
Safely trigger a configured event, check the phone alert and confirm the matching recording.
Receiving an alert does not prove that footage exists or that someone has responded.
Tip 03
Save important clips promptly
Export important footage promptly, test the exported file and store a secure copy separately.
Recording systems may overwrite older footage when storage fills. Preserve the original export.
Keep control of who has access
Protect account recovery as carefully as the password, and give other users only the access they need.
Tip 04
Use a different password for each account
Use long, unique passwords for DMSS, the recorder and your email. Avoid personal details and passwords already used elsewhere.
A reputable password manager can generate and store different passwords. Protect it with a strong master password and supported additional authentication.
Tip 05
Protect your phone and email
Lock your phone and enable multi-factor authentication wherever supported, particularly for the email account used for recovery.
Multi-factor authentication adds another login check, such as an app approval. Never approve a request you did not start.
Tip 06
Share access through separate accounts
Use supported DMSS sharing so each authorised person signs in to their own account. Check which cameras and functions the sharing arrangement grants.
Share permissions, not your password. Review the full access granted before confirming.
Tip 07
Remove access when it is no longer needed
When someone leaves or no longer needs access, review and remove their permissions. Keep your account-recovery details up to date.
Removing an app from a phone is not the same as revoking the account’s access.
Look after the recorder and network
Review updates, network settings and the equipment storing your footage.
Tip 08
Keep software up to date
Use official sources for phone and DMSS updates. Check with West Protect before installing camera or recorder firmware you are unsure about.
Firmware is the software that runs inside the camera or recorder. The update must match the model and installation.
Tip 09
Secure your internet connection
Use separate strong passwords for router administration and Wi-Fi, and follow the provider’s update guidance.
Your router connects devices at the property and links them to the internet. Its settings affect both connectivity and security. Opening ports can expose equipment to incoming connections. Ask West Protect about network cabling or connections for your installed security equipment. For specialist cyber security advice about network settings, contact an IT specialist.
Tip 10
Check the recorder and storage
Keep recorder vents clear, avoid accidental unplugging and check for storage or recording warnings. Report faults when you notice them.
Recording can fail while live view still works. Preserve the drive and logs if footage is missing; do not format or reset equipment.
Remember alarms, entry controls and lighting
Alarm use and time away
Before time away, check the alarm mode and any unresolved warnings. Confirm who receives alerts and what they should do. Arrange testing with any monitoring provider before activating devices.
Alarm checksAccess and intercom users
Review fobs, app accounts and access schedules when users change. Confirm intercom calls reach the right people and report unreliable or unsafe door operation. Changes should be made through authorised controls.
Entry-system guidanceLighting and changing views
Recheck views after dark and after changes to lighting, plants or parking. Glare and obstructions can hide important detail. Ask for advice before repositioning a camera or changing image settings.
CCTV planningWestern Australia
Microphones & audio
CCTV microphones and audio recording are disabled by default. Speak to West Protect before enabling audio.
WA law and live intercom use
Consent and exceptions: s 5(3)(c) permits a party’s recording with every principal party’s express or implied consent. A principal party is someone speaking or being spoken to. Section 5(3)(d) has a narrower exception requiring a principal party’s consent and reasonable necessity to protect that party’s lawful interests. Do not assume a security purpose or sign alone satisfies these requirements.
Live intercom use: participating in an unrecorded conversation differs from recording it. Participation does not automatically authorise recording or listening to others’ private conversations.
Private conversations in public places: a conversation can still be private in a public or shared area. Section 3 defines this by the circumstances and reasonable expectations of being overheard. Section 9 separately restricts sharing private conversations and recordings.
Camera positioning: section 6 also restricts observing or recording private activities. Plan views to avoid neighbours’ private areas and discuss appropriate privacy masking. Ownership of a camera does not authorise every use.
Check the camera and recorder’s audio settings: muting your phone’s speaker does not necessarily stop audio being captured or saved.
Read the exact WA law: sections 3, 5, 6 and 9Checked against the current WA Act (version 02-g0-00) on 13 October 2026. This is general guidance, not legal advice or certification of an installation. Seek WA legal advice before relying on an exception.
Your regular check-up
Turn the tips into a routine
Use the CCTV checklist to review camera images, playback, storage warnings, alerts and shared users.
Australian Government guidanceFurther reading from cyber.gov.au
These Australian Cyber Security Centre resources explain account and connected-device security in more detail.
Government guidance links checked .
Stay safer online
Read general information about passwords, passkeys, devices and VPNs, with links to official Australian advice. Jayke can provide general advice, guidance and advisory assistance with preventative cyber security. For specialist cyber security advice, assessment or support, we recommend contacting an IT specialist.
Open the cyber security guide