Converting Existing Analog Cameras
Digital IP-Surveillance utilizes cost-effective video servers. A video server converts the analog video signal into a digitized video stream over the network, basically converting any analog camera into a network camera. Most IP-Surveillance installs today have a combination of analog cameras, networked via video servers, and sections that are comprised completely of network cameras. An installation with fully functioning and already paid-for analog cameras is not a barrier to utilizing superior IP-Surveillance technology.
- Digital IP Secure Transfer of Data
The Internet can also be used to transfer all types of sensitive information—provided the correct security measures, such as firewalls, VPNs and password protection are implemented. With banks and financial institutions regularly using the Internet as a medium for global money transactions, it has emerged as a proven medium for other secure applications like surveillance and security monitoring. In stark contrast to this new digital technology, analog surveillance systems have no encryption or authentication of information whatsoever, making it extremely easy for anyone to tap into the cables and illicitly view “secure” video transmissions, or even feed their own false video information into the network. This is impossible to do with secure IP networks.
-Digital IP Surveillance Reliability
The ability to provide redundancy was the top requirement. In the same way today, transmission links, application servers, storage and switches can all have parallel layers of services and alternative routes of communications. Storage can be consolidated to secure off-site locations, and servers can use redundant power supplies, hot-swap RAID disks, errorcorrecting memory and dual network cards. This is all up to the network designer, and although a small network will not deploy all of the possible safety measures, choosing high-quality IT components in the network is in any case likely to be a more reliable solution than CCTV with VCRs or black box DVRs.
IP-Surveillance has proven it is a solution for today and one that will grow and improve to ensure it is a solution for the future as well.
Digital IP Surveillance technology has quickly proven to be superior to DVR technology. As the marketplace assesses
DVRs more carefully, it is emerging that the DVR represents outdated, solution-in-a-box thinking. There is an enormous
difference between the two technologies that is becoming prevalent in today’s security market. Digital IP Surveillance has all the advantages of a DVR and many more:
- Scalability.
IP-Surveillance scales from one to thousands of cameras in increments of a single camera. There are no 16-channel jumps like in the DVR world. IP-Surveillance offers any frame rate for any camera at any time—no limitations.
- More cost efficient infrastructure.
Only one type of network (IP) wiring connects and manages the enterprise for data, video, voice, and others—making management more effective and cost efficient.
- Remote accessibility.
Any video stream, live or recorded, can be securely accessed and controlled from any location in the world over wired or wireless networks.
- Intelligence at camera level.
Motion detection, event handling, sensor input, relay output, time and date, and other built-in capabilities allow the camera to make intelligent decisions on when to send alarms and to whom, when to send video, and even at what frame rate or resolution to send the video.
- Lower system cost.
For many installations, the IP-Surveillance system has proven to be a lower cost alternative. Open and standard network, server and storage equipment enables market competition between choices versus the single vendor locked-in approach of a DVR. And that’s just hardware—add lower installation and maintenance costs and all the performance benefits, and it’s clear IP-Surveillance saves substantial sums.
-Scalability
The larger the installation, and the higher level of performance desired, the more competitive—and impressive—the IP-Surveillance concept proves to be. In fact, of the many advantages of IP-Surveillance outlined above, scalability is the one that high end users often point to as the most impressive. Projects with 200 and 300 plus cameras are easily installed everyday.
IP-Surveillance has proven that there is no problem to meeting enterprise-level demands. In fact, major government and airport surveillance deals that are now specifying IP as the preferred architecture, which was not the case just 12 months ago.
-High Quality Images
Good quality network cameras have the same or better high quality image sensors (CCDs) and optics as analog security cameras. Furthermore, by employing video servers an analog specialty camera or existing analog cameras can easily be
incorporated into an IP-Surveillance system.
-Cost Savings
It’s true a network camera may be more expensive than a comparable analog camera because it includes considerably more functionality, such as digitalization, image compression and intelligence. If the total cost of the hardware (cameras, cables, and recording) is analyzed, an IP-Surveillance system will usually compare quite favorably to a DVR based system.
If the installation cost component is then added in, the advantages with the IP-Surveillance system become obvious since the IP-based infrastructure is considerably less expensive than analog coax cabling. In addition, systems using PTZ controls require extra cabling, something not needed with IP. Power over Ethernet is another cost-saving feature that saves on power lines and connects to uninterrupted power supplies at the IT center.