Advantages of IP Video Surveillance Over Analog
If you want to protect your building, employees, assets, etc. (and why wouldn’t you?), video surveillance at your facility is a definite must-have.
The majority of businesses and organizations out there already utilize CCTV surveillance systems to monitor everyday activity both during work hours and beyond, but the reality is many are still using analog camera systems. IP (internet protocol) is the current trend when it comes to video surveillance.
An IP surveillance system in the simplest terms is a digital video camera system that can both send and receive a signal through a computer network. An analog camera only sends its feed directly to a DVR (digital video recorder). There are several benefits to using a high definition IP camera system that analog cameras just do not offer.
Here are a few key advantages to using an IP camera system:
- Accessibility: If you are connected to the internet, you can access your surveillance cameras anytime, anyplace. IP video surveillance allows users to views the feed from their cameras from any computer or mobile device that is connected to the web.
- Resolution: Grainy and blurry videos are a thing of the past. High definition IP cameras allows for unbelievable zoom-in capabilities with cameras now topping 30 megapixel resolutions eclipsing even the most advanced analog camera. IP cameras also offer HD 1080p and even 4K resolution. When compared, any analog resolution basically looks out of focus.
- Storage: No more disks or VHS tapes. With IP video surveillance, all footage is stored digitally. You can save and store as much footage as you wish if your hard drive permits it or you can store it in the cloud, which is becoming a more and more popular option.
- Video Sharing: You can not only view your footage from any device, but you can also send that video to anyone anywhere in the world. This cuts down investigation time in crucial situations.
- Low Maintenance: The digital age keeps doing away with excessive equipment. An IP video surveillance system cuts down the costs to the owner without the need of time-lapse video equipment, tapes, cataloging, etc.
- Flexibility: Every analog camera needs to be connected directly to the DVR. Multiple IP cameras (that are in the same general area) can be connected to the same single switch which is connected to the NVR (network video recorder) by one cable. You can also connect switch to switch to further amplify your amount of cameras and area being monitored. This reduces the amount of cabling when installing the system and also allows for more cameras to be connected seamlessly.
- PoE Switch: An IP video surveillance system that uses a PoE (power over Ethernet) switch enables your Category 5e or 6 cables to not only run the signal from your cameras, but also power the cameras as well. This eliminates the need for an additional power supply. Also, new IP cameras can reside on an already existing network.
If your facility still has an analog system, don’t worry. Converting and/or phasing from an analog system to an IP system is easy to accomplish and it doesn’t involve you losing all of that expensive equipment your invested in several years ago.
An example of re-use is that the coax cabling used for analog cameras can be left in place and utilized to connect the new IP cameras. This can be a large cost savings when transitioning to IP technology.