Seeing is only half the battle

When it comes to recording video surveillance footage, it is more than just a hard drive that keeps all the data. The way the video is viewed, the ease of using the software, integrations with other security systems and the future expansion of the system are all factors that need to be considered prior to committing to a system. Whether it is for a coffee shop or an entire campus, the system needs to work for the application.

Surveillance systems are an intricate working systems, going far beyond the simple recording of video footage. With modern cameras, analytics can be active on the cameras, collecting details about the images the camera sees and, further, creating actions based on these analytics events. There are thousands of additional devices, such as speakers, radar units and other Internet of Things sensors that can be attached to these systems to maximize their effectiveness. With all of these different devices and data points, the solution needs to not only be able to facilitate the data movement, but it also needs to support all of these devices. Without the support, the software and solution has nowhere to go.

Integration is another major part when it comes to a video surveillance system. Rarely is a video surveillance system the only installed system on site. Most premises have an access control or an intrusion alarm system installed. Unfortunately, more often than not, these systems are completely separate and are not reaping the benefits of each other. With the right solution an access control even can be paired with the associated camera for that door. Additionally, every alarm caused by the alarm system can cause the cameras to record immediately, whether they are seeing motion or not. Without this integration, the solution is ultimately missing out on key data points that can protect your premises significantly more.

Recording is generally facilitated by either a VMS (Video Management System) or a NVR (Network Video Recorder). Both solutions have advantages and drawbacks, but our general recommendation is to have a VMS deployed on any site, no matter the size. Learn more about the differences below.