Video Surveillance Systems

Also known as closed-circuit television (CCTV) or security cameras, video surveillance systems capture live footage, monitor, and record activity to boost safety and security. From legacy CCTV systems to modern, cloud-managed video security systems, learn how various video surveillance systems work, the pros and cons, and how to choose the best surveillance cameras for your use case. You can also see how Verkada’s leading cloud video security platform works for ultra simple, modern, AI-powered surveillance works in action.

Get a Personalized Overview

What is Video Surveillance?

Video surveillance systems are essential for protecting people and places. As a core component of physical security, they provide video evidence and actionable insights into incidents that occur. Modern IP-connected, cloud-managed surveillance systems can enhance an organization’s security posture with advanced features like remote access, video analytics, and real-time alerts for faster incident response. A reliable video surveillance system is critical to any business’s physical security strategy.

Types of Surveillance Cameras:

• Dome Cameras: Dome cameras use a dome-shaped housing that provides a discreet, vandal-resistent design for general surveillance coverage. Dome cameras are commonly used in both indoor and outdoor settings and are available with a variety of resolution, lens, and zooming capabilities.
• Bullet Cameras: Bullet cameras are used primarily in outdoor scenarios for a more visible security presence, acting as a deterrent. Bullet cameras often use more durable weatherproof housings with higher zoom lens options for long range monitoring. These cameras are ideal for exterior perimeter surveillance
• PTZ (Pan, Tilt, Zoom) Cameras: PTZ cameras provide flexible camera movements, allowing operators to pan, tilt, and zoom to focus on specific areas of interest. These cameras are ideal for environments requiring active surveillance, such as large facilities or areas with high foot traffic.
• Fisheye Cameras: Fisheye cameras offer a wide-angle, 360-degree panoramic view, capturing a complete view of the surroundings in a single lens. This makes them ideal for covering expansive open areas, such as lobbies or large rooms, where monitoring every corner is necessary.
• Multisensor Cameras: Multisensor cameras contain multiple individual camera lenses and sensors within a single camera housing, with each sensor having a customizable field of view. These cameras provide similar coverage to fisheye cameras while maintaining better video quality due to the additional sensors. They are used for comprehensive surveillance in large areas, offering increased coverage and fewer blind spots.
• Mini/Split Cameras: Compact and discreet cameras designed for installations where a low-profile appearance is important. These cameras are typically small in size but maintain full surveillance capabilities, making them ideal for locations that require subtlety without compromising on functionality.
• Infrared/Thermal Imaging Cameras: Infrared or thermal imaging cameras detect heat signatures to identify objects, providing visibility in low-light or complete darkness. These cameras are essential for surveillance in environments with minimal or no lighting, offering enhanced detection capabilities in challenging conditions.
• Turret Cameras: Turret cameras, also known as eyeball cameras, offer a flexible mounting design that allows for easy adjustments and positioning, making them versatile for various surveillance scenarios.

Surveillance Camera Features

• Video Resolution: Video resolution is an important consideration when deploying a camera system. High resolution 4k cameras ensure clear, detailed footage, making it easier to identify people, objects, and activities. Low resolution cameras are more affordable, making them great for lower-risk areas.
• Night Vision: Night vision allows cameras to capture clear footage in low-light or complete darkness, providing 24/7 surveillance capabilities. This can be achieved with thermal or IR-enabled cameras.
• Audio Recording: Audio recording captures sound alongside video, offering additional context for security incidents and improving evidence collection.
• Wide Dynamic Range (WDR): Wide Dynamic Range enhances the camera’s ability to capture clear images in environments with high contrast, such as areas with bright light and deep shadows.
• AI-Analytics: AI-driven analytics can automatically detect and analyze patterns, such as movement or specific objects, to trigger alerts and improve incident response times.
• Auto-Focus and Zoom: Auto-focus and zoom allow the camera to maintain clarity and adjust to focus on specific areas, and zoom in on areas of interest ensuring critical areas are monitored.
• License Plate Recognition (LPR): LPR cameras automatically capture and read vehicle license plate numbers, supporting access control, parking management, and law enforcement applications.
• Motion Detection: Motion detection triggers recording or alerts when movement is detected within the camera’s field of view, reducing the need for continuous recording.
• Tamper Detection: Tamper detection alerts users when the camera is obstructed, moved, or disabled, ensuring the integrity of the surveillance system.
• Privacy Masking: Privacy masking allows operators to disable specific areas of a security camera’s feed, ensuring the privacy of the individuals and information that would have been captured in those regions.

Video Surveillance Technologies

Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV)

With the long-standing need for security systems and their prevalence across industries, it’s no surprise that security technologies have evolved significantly over the decades. In the onset of video security systems, fully analog closed-circuit television (CCTV) systems were used for building surveillance. These systems were simple and reliable but were challenging to maintain and limited in accessibility.

IP Security Cameras

As the world digitized, so did surveillance systems. Security cameras became IP-based and connected to networks, enabling easier data management and remote access. These systems use either on-premise NVR and DVRs for video data storage, or are cloud-connected for better scalability and data storage. Despite the shift to IP-based cameras, the term “CCTV” remains prevalent and is often still used to describe any type of video security system, even IP security cameras, due to its familiarity.

WiFi/Wireless Security Cameras

Wireless security cameras transmit video and audio signals wirelessly, offering flexibility in installation and reducing the need for extensive networking infrastructure throughout a building or site. These devices receive power from various sources, such as standard power adapters, batteries, or solar panels, and connect to the network via a WiFi hotspot or LTE connection.

Cloud Based Security Cameras: Modern Video Surveillance

Cloud-based security systems represent the modern, network-connected approach to video surveillance. These systems transmit digital video data to cloud services over IP networks, allowing for flexible and scalable deployment of cameras without the need for on-premise recording devices like NVR/DVRs.

Unlike traditional CCTV systems, cloud-based security systems connect directly to the internet, where video footage is securely stored in remote data centers rather than on local tapes. This design enables users to access live feeds, recordings, and system controls from anywhere with internet access, making remote monitoring possible through computers, tablets, and smartphones. While these systems are enhanced with cybersecurity protocols, their connectivity introduces a need for network-based security measures to safeguard against online threats.

Key Features of Cloud Security Systems

The key hardware differentiator between CCTV and cloud-based systems is the elimination of the NVR/DVR hardware. Cloud-based systems use solid-state local storage on the device, and/or cloud server storage to retain video data. Camera devices receive both power, and network connectivity through a single power over ethernet (PoE) cable, simplifying installation and improving scalability. They send video data to cloud servers, delivering high quality remote access to devices anywhere in the world. Additionally, devices can be managed remotely, eliminating the need for manual firmware updates. This improves the cybersecurity posture of the organization by ensuring vulnerabilities are patched as soon as possible.

Cloud security systems also have the added benefit of using edge-based processing and cloud-computing for advanced analytics like people analytics via advanced face detection, license plate recognition for security and access control, and AI-powered search and analytics, reducing incident management from hours to seconds. This gives security staff the ability to conduct investigations, deliver important video footage to first-responders, and simplify incident management faster than they could with on-prem CCTV systems.

Traditional CCTV vs IP Cameras vs Cloud Cameras

Limitations of Cloud-based Solutions

The shift to the cloud is not without its own unique set of challenges. Some cloud-based systems rely exclusively on cloud-storage and computing for analytics which can be expensive, and detrimental to network performance at scale. These types of solutions are also fully dependent on WiFi for video recording, which means network uptime must be guaranteed. Additionally, with the adoption of any cloud-based solution, there are concerns about data privacy and additional cybersecurity attack surface.

Many of these issues are alleviated by selecting a cloud-provider that keeps scalability and cybersecurity as a core tenant when building its architecture. The use of a hybrid-cloud solution with local storage within the device in addition to cloud-storage reduces the reliance on internet connectivity for core functionality like video recording. Additionally, it is important to verify that all cloud service providers meet the cybersecurity requirements of the end user and fill out security questionnaires.

Comparing CCTV and Cloud-Based Security Cameras

When comparing the two systems, it is critical to assess all aspects of ownership of the system before making a decision. From installation to long-term maintenance, choosing the right platform can be the difference between a successful security deployment and an unsuccessful one. Below are just a few of the considerations to make when assessing what security architecture is right for your organization:

Surveillance Installation and Setup

Installation and setup will vary drastically depending on the existing architecture that’s already in place. CCTV systems usually involve a more complex installation process with wired connections running to the single NVR/DVR storage device, which requires a more labor intensive setup process that is more reliant on professional installers. Cloud-based solutions are designed to be “plug & play” with existing network infrastructure, requiring only an IP connection and minimal on-premises hardware. This reduces the time and labor required for installation and setup of the system. This also makes it so future expansion, relocating existing devices, or upgrading a device easier creating a more flexible security deployment.

Surveillance Cost Analysis: Upfront vs. Long-Term Expenses

Similarly to installation, the cost of a security system is going to vary depending on existing infrastructure, manufacturer and features required. CCTV systems tend to be more expensive in terms of installation, maintenance, and when adding additional features and maintenance plans which are usually not included in the upfront cost. If cybersecurity is a paramount concern, there will be a large expense associated with sending professional services to keep all devices up to date on firmware and software.

Cloud-security devices on the other hand tend to be cheaper in the installation and maintenance front, but can have a higher sticker price due to the cameras themselves being much more advanced. There is also often a cloud-service subscription that serves as a recurring cost, which can be a deterrent for some security teams. It is important to do a complete total cost of ownership (TCoE) analysis of each system when assessing new systems.

Video Quality and Performance

One of the most compelling aspects of cloud-based systems is the improved video quality, advanced analytics, and streamlined remote access associated with most vendors. CCTV systems are often limited in terms of resolution and remote access, making management of the system and conducting investigations more challenging. When assessing the systems, it is critical to understand if resolution, remote-access and AI-driven features are important to the organization’s security posture.

Surveillance Maintenance and Support Considerations

Maintaining video surveillance systems requires regular on-site checks, hardware upgrades, and occasionally complex troubleshooting by a professional service provider. Cloud-based systems benefit from automatic firmware updates, remote troubleshooting, and support from the vendor directly reducing the need for an on-site and manual maintenance plan. For organizations seeking a low-maintenance solution, cloud-based systems offer a more hands off approach.

Why Verkada for Simple, Scalable Cloud Video Surveillance

As highlighted throughout this article, cloud-based systems offer many distinct advantages over the CCTV systems of old. As a leader in the cloud-based security industry, Verkada systems are designed with scalability, ease of use, security and reliability in mind. Verkada cameras leverage the cloud for unlimited and indefinite archiving of video clips, advanced AI-powered analytics, and streamlined remote access. Verkada devices also use edge-based processing and local device storage to ensure video cameras still capture footage - even during a network outage.

This approach to a cloud-based system allows for real-time monitoring from anywhere in the world, and proactive alerts for things like people detection, person of interest detection, and license plate recognition. Additionally, Verkada devices can notify users when they go offline or disconnect from the network, allowing IT professionals to know instantly when a network outage is occurring. In the case of a hardware failure, Verkada devices include up to a 10-year warranty, ensuring minimal downtime.

Additionally, Verkada grants access to all new features and analytics to its entire customer base as a free update. This means that the system gets smarter and more feature-rich over time, a substantial benefit enabled by a cloud-based system. Verkada is the choice for security teams looking to go beyond just addressing the issues with their existing on-premises systems.

Get a Personalized Demo Now