IP communication is blossoming in the digital age. Businesses all over the world have discovered the myriad benefits of an IP-based phone system, and have adopted IP phones to streamline the communications process and take full advantage of all the features IP telephony has to offer. But while many become focused on IP voice and conferencing calling, they often forget that there are other options as well, such as IP video and IP video recording.
Video over IP is becoming more prevalent today. With the expansion of such technology, it is becoming easier and easier for businesses to monitor their offices, agents, storefronts, warehouses and more using IP surveillance systems. These are great investments that have both functional and financial benefits. IP surveillance systems, because of their sophisticated technological base, offer high-definition image quality and can be accessed remotely.
As described by Johnson Yang, vice president of sales at Plustek (News - Alert) Security, there are a number of options out there for IP video, including:
IP cameras with embedded storage capabilities – These cameras come with an SD card slot, giving users the ability to install memory cards to store video or snapshots, which can serve as a primary source or as a backup to IP video stored online. This type of solution, also known as an “edge recording solution,” secures the recording footage at the camera site, which can be especially useful in cases where a connection issue occurs between the camera and the viewing location.
Video management software (VMS) and central management software (CMS) – VMS and CMS solutions are a PC-based option. VMS and CMS systems can integrate with all kinds of video analytic components, such as people counting, bag detection and license plate recognition. Because these systems require very powerful computers with massive amount of storage available, it is better for large-scale enterprises with heavier surveillance requirements than smaller businesses.
Standalone network video recorders (NVRs) – The standalone NVR is sort of the “Girl Friday” option as far as IP video recording goes, as a recording solution that provides a little bit of everything. It’s fairly easy to manage, and tends to be the more affordable option for small and medium sized businesses. Unlike some IP surveillance solutions, standalone NVRs don’t require any special training, although some basic network knowledge is needed to set up and configure them properly.
With the growing ubiquity of IP communication technology, IP surveillance is increasingly easy to access, install, and use effectively as part of a larger IP-based system for businesses.
Edited by Stefania Viscusi