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Safety, Security, & Storage
Personal and public safety is always a top priority. Recent events have shown us that, whether planned or spontaneous, violent attacks can be extremely tragic and devastating. These also remind us that improving our security and surveillance systems is vital and show us what needs to be addressed and how we can safeguard against future threats.
Border & Airport Security
While border security is a controversial subject, in terms of security, the border or perimeter is essentially a vulnerable point of entry. Because of this, governments are looking to improve surveillance and secure boundaries. One way they are stepping up security is by employing remote video surveillance and analytics.
For example, the Department of Homeland Security have strategically placed towers to provide remote video surveillance along the southwestern and northern borders of the United States. The U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agency believe more towers would help to expand surveillance and provide more protection in remote areas.
Airports act in a similar fashion, as they represent a type of boundary and serve as a key point of entry for international travelers. With that said, airports must be monitored and secured carefully to protect not only passengers and visitors, but also aircraft, terminals, parking facilities, fuel facilities, airline buildings and power supply facilities. In addition, airports are often a prime target for terrorists since large, diverse crowds congregate, making security both critical and a major challenge.
Thus, video surveillance is crucial to airport security systems. Security cameras are placed throughout the various facilities to monitor crowd activity, perimeter gates and fencing, and other high traffic areas (ex. security checkpoints, baggage handling, hallways, seating areas, entrances/exits). Live streams are monitored continuously with the aid of video analytics and facial recognition is used for staff as well as guests. This technology quickly identifies who has authorized access to certain areas and can spot known suspects and criminals. Furthermore, virtual tripwires help to secure certain boundaries, and behavioral analytics algorithms help to detect any unusual behaviors, including left-behind packages.
To maintain optimal security and protection at borders and airports, security systems must monitor suspicious activity over time, track movements of watch-list suspects and share said information among agencies. It is a complicated process which depends on the sufficient work of real-time and archival video surveillance footage. And while advances in security camera technology (ex. higher-resolution capability, panoramic viewing, onboard analytics and integrated audio) are incredible, they also increase the need for sufficient storage capacity.
Before you make the decision on video surveillance storage, here are some factors to consider:
Retention Time
This can have a dramatic impact on the amount of storage necessary. Due to regulations and litigation issues, retention time is increasing, thus more storage capacity is necessary.
For example, HB 976 was passed in Georgia in 2016, requiring law enforcement to retain video from body-worn cameras and vehicle-mounted devices for a minimum of 180 days. In addition, any video recording related to a criminal investigation or pending litigation must be retained for 30 months.
Aside from complying with regulations, the value of video may increase in regards to analyzing people and patterns are observed over longer periods of time. It is important to consider long-term storage needs when making retention policy decisions.
Access
When it comes to storage, options include enterprise digital video recorders, boxed appliance network video recorders, PC-based network video recorders, enterprise storage platforms, tape, and cloud storage. Some make it easier than others to retrieve and share archived footage.
Before deciding on a storage solution, take into account the individuals who may need to access to the footage, how quickly they will need it and whether or not video files will be shared with other agencies.
Cost
Storage accounts for a good chunk of video surveillance budget since many opt for high-performance disks over tape (a more cost-effective solution). In order to minimize costs while still maintaining quality performance, you may want to size disk storage to meet ingest performance requirements, and then build long-term retention capacity using tape or cloud.
Video surveillance is a vital tool for law enforcement and other government officials, and the expanded use of more powerful cameras along with new video analytics greatly improves security. However, as mentioned, new capabilities have a significant impact on video storage as well.
Not all storage solutions are the same, thus, taking the time to understand how each solution works and finding a balance between retention time, accessibility, and cost is crucial to making the best decision.
If you need security camera systems and storage for your home or business, visit SecurityCamExpert.com to browse our stock. To schedule a site survey or request a free quote, please call 888-203-6294. You can also connect with us on Facebook, Google+, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Yelp!
What You Need To Know About Network Video Recorders
Network video recorders, or NVRs, are built to support IP security cameras. NVRs and IP security cameras interact over the same IP network, allowing for wireless connection. For an upgraded, advanced security camera system, switching to IP security cameras and network video recorders is a smart choice.
You have two options when it comes to network video recorders. NVRs can be offered as software only to be installed on a computer dedicated to that system, or you can choose a standalone NVR, with the necessary components built in.
Software for PC-based NVRs may come free with the purchase of your IP security cameras, however, building a PC system dedicated to your security camera system can be costly. While you may use your home computer, having a PC strictly for use with your security camera system may be more secure. Less people will have access to it and risk for obtaining viruses or malware is significantly decreased. PC-based NVRs can be more versatile as upgrading either software or hardware can be easier. For more control over functions and expandability of your network video recorder, a PC-based NVR may suit you better.
Standalone network video recorders can be less complicated to install and use, as everything it needs is embedded within itself. Its compact and straightforward design is user friendly and space efficient. Standalone NVRs are built and optimized to perform specific functions. No other applications can interfere with its performance, greatly decreasing its likelihood of crashing or restarting. While its power consumption is far less than PC-based NVRs, they are limited when it comes to upgrading or expanding memory. If your security camera system is set and expansions are not on the horizon, a standalone NVR may be your best option.
While both types of systems have their advantages and disadvantages, overall, switching from an analog system to an IP system will benefit you in the long run. IP security cameras encode and process the video footage then stream the files to the NVR for viewing and storage. Improved picture quality, better reliability, and faster performance result in upgrading to an IP security camera system.
At SecurityCamExpert.com, we’ve updated our inventory of network video recorders and network IP security cameras. Check out our stock online or give us a call at 1-888-203-6294 to speak directly with our friendly and helpful staff.