CCTV Storage

Unveiling the Benefits and Types of Surveillance Data Storage

We provide a range of CCTV storage solutions to store and protect recorded footage that needs to be kept or archived including cloud storage. Video surveillance provides businesses, law enforcement, councils and home users with the ability to remotely monitor their premises using IP CCTV cameras. With mega-pixel IP CCTV cameras creating larger video files the need to store increasingly large amounts of video footage is an issue.

Closed-circuit television (CCTV) systems play a crucial role in enhancing security and monitoring activities in various settings. However, the effectiveness of a CCTV system heavily relies on the storage of surveillance footage. Proper storage ensures that valuable video recordings are preserved securely and can be easily accessed when needed. In this article, we explore the benefits of CCTV storage and delve into the different types of storage solutions available.

Our CCTV storage solutions use either disk drives of SSD to provide instantaneous access to stored footage. This replaces the previous method of storing CCTV footage using tape which was time-consuming and sometimes caused headaches when the tape jammed or snapped.

We provide a wide variety of storage solutions from a two drive system through to multiple Terabyte storage systems which are ideal if you need to store information for many days, months or years.

Benefits of CCTV Storage

Evidence and Investigation:

One of the primary benefits of storing CCTV footage is the provision of crucial evidence in investigations. In the event of an incident, recorded surveillance footage serves as vital evidence that can be used to identify perpetrators, validate claims, and support legal proceedings. Storing CCTV footage allows for the long-term retention of video recordings, ensuring that evidence is preserved for as long as needed.

Crime Deterrence:

The presence of CCTV cameras acts as a deterrent to criminal activities. Knowing that their actions are being captured and stored can discourage individuals from engaging in unlawful behaviour. Proper CCTV camera storage facilitates the preservation of video footage, creating a reliable record of activities that can be reviewed to identify potential security threats and take appropriate action.

Post-Incident Analysis:

CCTV storage enables post-incident analysis and investigation. By reviewing stored surveillance footage, security personnel can gain valuable insights into incidents, identify patterns, and assess the effectiveness of security measures. This analysis helps improve security protocols, optimise response times, and enhance overall safety and security in both public and private spaces.

Employee Safety and Monitoring:

CCTV storage is valuable for employee safety and monitoring purposes. Video footage can be reviewed to ensure compliance with safety protocols, identify potential hazards, and investigate accidents or incidents in the workplace. Additionally, stored CCTV data can assist in tracking employee movements, managing access control, and preventing unauthorised activities.

Types of CCTV Storage:

Digital Video Recorders (DVRs):

DVRs have long been a popular choice for storing footage. These devices record and store surveillance footage on internal hard drives. DVRs are typically used in small to medium-sized installations and offer ease of use, affordability, and the ability to store data locally. However, they have limitations in terms of storage capacity and scalability.

Network Video Recorders (NVRs):

NVRs have become the preferred choice for modern CCTV camera storage solutions. NVRs store surveillance footage on network-attached storage (NAS) devices or cloud-based storage systems. NVRs provide centralised management and scalability, allowing for the integration of multiple IP cameras and the flexibility to add storage capacity as needed. NVRs often offer advanced features like motion detection, video analytics, and remote access to stored footage.

Cloud-Based Storage:

Cloud-based storage has gained popularity in recent years due to its convenience and scalability. Cloud storage solutions allow CCTV footage to be securely stored off-site in remote data centres. This type of storage eliminates the need for local hardware, reduces maintenance costs, and offers virtually unlimited storage capacity. Cloud-based storage also enables remote access to video footage, making it accessible from anywhere with an internet connection.

Hybrid Solutions:

Hybrid storage solutions combine the advantages of both local and cloud-based storage. These solutions use a combination of on-site storage devices (such as NVRs) and cloud storage. Hybrid solutions provide the flexibility to store critical or frequently accessed footage locally while archiving older or less critical footage in the cloud. This approach offers a balance between data availability and cost-effectiveness.

Video Management Systems (VMS):

Video management systems play a vital role in CCTV by providing centralised management, advanced search capabilities, and integration with other security systems. VMS software enables efficient video retrieval, video analytics, and the ability to manage multiple storage devices. VMS solutions are often used in conjunction with NVRs or cloud-based storage to provide a comprehensive storage and management platform.

CCTV is being deployed in a variety of applications and business requirements and the demand for high performing and reliable storage is climbing.

Reduced business and home insurance
Deter criminals
Digital surveillance and information gathering
Fraud prevention
Prevent insurance fraud
Issuing of speeding tickets!

With the emergence of 4K CCTV cameras (3840×2160 pixels) the improvements in picture quality are 4x greater than HD (1920×1080 pixels). Using a 4K CCTV camera also consumes 4x the amount of data storage space required to store footage.

4K CCTV provides the following benefits :

Better resolution images to identify criminals
Reduce the number of fraudulent claims in the workplace through injury
Reduced operator fatigue, by providing clearer images
Increased depth and field of view

With the advent of multi-camera CCTV IP 4K HD video surveillance systems becoming available the amount of data these megapixel cameras generate daily is increasingly becoming a concern for many companies.

We provide a comprehensive range of CCTV systems to suit all budgets and requirements with a range of features and functionality to providing a storage solution that enables fast and secure access to information with the ability to store multi-terabytes of data for the long term.

NAS (Network Attached Storage)
iSCSI Storage
Fibre Channel Storage
Object Storage (No single points of failure)
CCTV Cloud Storage

Things to consider when deciding on storage

Do you need to use SAS or SATA drives, if you are using more than 16 drives in a single storage system you should ideally choose SAS as this is better at handling the I/O commands from the system bus.
What type of storage do you need Network Attached Storage (NAS), iSCSI, Cloud Storage, Object Storage, Fibre Channel, SAS or Unified?
How much data do you need to store online for immediate access, and could you archive some of the data to near-line?
Does the storage need to scale to accept more storage at a later date?
How long do we need to store the video surveillance footage?
Should you use hard disks or SSD?

Conclusion

CCTV storage is a critical component of any surveillance system, enabling the retention and retrieval of video footage for security purposes. The benefits of storing CCTV footage range from providing evidence for investigations to deterring criminal activities and enhancing employee safety. The types of storage solutions available, including DVRs, NVRs, cloud-based storage, hybrid solutions, and video management systems, offer varying degrees of scalability, flexibility, and convenience. Selecting the most suitable storage solution depends on factors such as storage capacity requirements, budget, scalability needs, and the level of data security desired. By investing in robust storage infrastructure, organisations can enhance their security posture, mitigate risks, and maintain a reliable record of events for analysis and future reference.

Call or contact us using the details below and speak to us about the type of CCTV storage you need for your business.