Storage Capacity Myths In Video Surveillance

Video surveillance is one of the fastest growing segments of the physical security industry, and digital, IP-based surveillance is a major portion of that growth. The cameras and video management software (VMS) are the most visible part of a surveillance solution, and are the “sizzle” in any of these system deployments.

Yet the underlying platform - composed of servers and storage infrastructure - can represent more than 1/3rd of the cost of a typical deployment, and is often overlooked. Beyond the expense, this is of particular concern because if the underlying infrastructure is not properly designed and deployed, the effectiveness of the cameras and VMS are significantly reduced, and the entire surveillance system may prove ineffective.

When considering the surveillance system infrastructure, sizing the proper storage capacity is one of the most critical objectives. It is extremely important to ensure that the amount of storage available for the surveillance system matches the project requirements. These requirements are typically expressed in terms of camera resolution, frame rate, codec, & percentage motion among other items, and number of hours per days being recorded, retention period, etc. for the storage component.