1. Analogue CCTV Reaching End Of Life
Low definition analogue-based CCTV systems, often installed in companies many years ago, are beginning to reach the end of their service lives. Keeping them running past this point will cost more in maintenance in the long run than a complete system upgrade or replacement. If your analogue system is old, malfunctioning or unreliable now is a good time to look at your options.

2. CCTV Image Quality
IP cameras capture images at a much higher resolution than traditional analogue cameras, delivering a vastly superior image quality. Just look at the difference between your iPhone camera and that old Kodak you used to take away on trips to Corfu in the 1980’s ! This is obviously hugely beneficial when examining footage of an intruder; you can zoom in and get a much clearer idea of who the person it. Better image quality also makes for fast, accurate video analytics.

3. Use Existing Infrastructure
If you already have an analogue CCTV system in place, a new IP system can use a lot of the same infrastructure (e.g. cabling) to keep the initial cost down. As the old analogue infrastructure components begin to fail, you can replace them with IP components.

4. Cost Effectiveness
An analogue DVR now costs about the same as an NVR, but think long term. An NVR doesn’t just manage video surveillance, it can look after your storage and data management needs too. By using IP, you can also avoid the costs of maintaining DVR equipment. As mentioned, the purchase costs of IP equipment have fallen dramatically.

5. CCTV Analytics
CCTV systems record a lot of footage, but who is going to monitor it? Often companies only check CCTV footage retrospectively, to try and solve a crime that has already happened. Wouldn’t it be better to monitor CCTV footage constantly and, for example, stop would-be thieves in their tracks before they damage a fuel tank or make off with your gear?

You could pay someone to watch your company’s CCTV streams 24-7 but this is very expensive. A far better and more cost effective solution is video analytics. This comprises sophisticated software, which connects to your IP CCTV system and detects anything from motion and missing objects to tampering with a security camera.

If the software detects an intruder it immediately triggers an alarm, which you can receive to your PC, smartphone or tablet. You can then check the live CCTV footage streamed directly from site (providing you have access to a WIFI network or a decent mobile data signal) and take further action as required (e.g. call emergency services or local guards).

Video analytics software logs anomalies and creates ‘events’. You can see exactly when these took place and view them immediately instead of poring over hours of footage. You can set your own parameters too (e.g. trigger motion detector alarms only outside of office opening hours).

6. CCTV Remote Monitoring
If you like the idea of video analytics, it is also possible to link your IP CCTV system to a professional remote monitoring provider. These operate round the clock from secure observation centres and, when an alarm is triggered from your site, shoulder the responsibility of checking CCTV footage and taking further action if required.

Using a remote monitoring provider offers peace of mind and is suitable for businesses that want a 24 / 7 managed security solution.

7. Ease Of Installation
IP was once more complicated to install than analogue-based technology but not anymore. Ease of installation is a primary feature of virtually all IP CCTV systems and professional installers would have no problem with this.

8. Scalability And Flexibility
IP CCTV systems are almost infinitely scalable. You can scale from a single camera up to thousands if you need too, quickly and easily. With IP you can add cameras one at a time, whereas analogue systems can often only grow in steps of four or 16 at a time.

In terms of flexibility, IP systems can share a wired or wireless network with other products or applications that send video, audio, PTZ (pan-tilt-zoom), binary or power commands. They can also grow with your existing IT system, utilising tools for automatic system maintenance or network management for example.

9. Regulatory Compliance
Some industries are highly regulated and require companies to retain video footage for set periods of time. Storing it on site in a DVR, as with an analogue CCTV system, can be costly and dangerous from a security perspective. Storing video data remotely via an NVR is cost effective and much safer.

10. Reliability / Durability
IP CCTV systems that utilise NVRs are proven to be every bit as reliable and durable as their analogue / DVR counterparts. What’s more they are faster too.