Designing an IP Video Surveillance System
2
June, 2017
IT departments are becoming more responsible for the installation, research and management of video surveillance systems. To create a process for archiving data, analyzing data and in order to design a system that will minimize the impact on your storage and bandwidth will take a lot of planning.
A joint research study by Enterprise Strategy Group (ESG) and Axis Communications found that “IT departments are becoming more involved in video surveillance system implementations as these continue to evolve from basic analog cameras with DVRs to advanced IP-based surveillance solutions with networked storage options”.
When designing a surveillance system, each system is made up of some combination of several components including:
- Surveillance cameras
- A server or network video recording platform
- A Video management software (VMS)
- Networking equipment (wireless antennas & PoE switches)
- Long-term storage
IT responsibilities in IP surveillance system design
While the specific features of the equipment are important, you should always clarify the purpose of your IP video surveillance system before comparing the products. This will help you identify and choose the right equipment for your video surveillance needs.
Each organization and IT department will handle the design, implementation and management of the video surveillance system differently. However, some of the common responsibilities include:
- Installing cameras and equipment
- Server/NVR configuration and setup
- Integrating the surveillance system with other systems
- Setting up admin access and remote access
- Equipment and software support
- Handling requests for video downloads and backup
- Monitoring system performance and management
Surveillance system design may seem simple. Yet, it’s easy to make mistakes if you are not familiar with the equipment. The most common mistake in designing a surveillance system come from not having a clear plan and lack of knowledge about the products:
- Not considering a future system expansion when purchasing the equipment
- Incorrect lens choice and camera resolution
- Decentralized system management
- Installing the system without adequate knowledge
Tips for successful surveillance system design
The best IP video surveillance system is one customized for your own company security needs. When designing a surveillance system, keep these four categories in mind: network security, physical data security, system stability and data retention. It’s noteworthy that working with an experienced surveillance system integrator can ensure your system is designed to meet current and future needs.
A VMS will be compatible with most of the equipment on your current server, i.e. the network video recorder (NVR) or your surveillance system managing server.
When you’re looking at your current NVR or the possibility to add a new one, pay special attention to the CPU and memory. Video recording and management systems rely heavily on NVR’s CPU and memory. Make sure you allocate more budget to these components keeping in mind future expansion.
In addition, you should also consider: how many cameras you need, what your systems performance goals are, the number of users and user access permissions and your data storage needs (RAID, SAN or NAS).
DNF Security is a leading manufacturer of dependable, mission-critical video surveillance solutions, designed to handle the most complex video surveillance and physical security environments — large or small, wired or wireless, strictly IP, or a mix of analog and IP. Our company is dedicated to support the unique needs and requirements of video surveillance, providing our customers with enhanced storage protection, redundancy, high availability, and superior scalability in each cost-effective configuration.
Contact us and let’s have a discussion on how we can help you design your surveillance system.
