As your financial institution modernizes your electronic security systems, you will likely become more familiar with NVR systems, or “network video recorders”. A higher-resolution option to their DVR predecessors, NVRs use digital internet protocol (IP) cameras and Ethernet cables to transmit security footage to a hard disk. As Wittenbach keeps our collective finger on the pulse on industry trends, we’ve explored the evolution of NVR storage, which is moving towards the cloud.
The Past: DVR Systems
DVR, or “digital video recorder” systems, are a simple way to record video security footage. These require analog cameras, which can be interchangeable but often output much lower resolution footage than their more advanced counterparts. Per Versitron, “The coaxial cables connect the analog camera to the DVR system. […] Coaxial cable does not support power supplying devices on the same line. Thus, another cable is needed to carry electrical signals, while the other cable carries data signals for video transmission. […] Also, audio is a limitation as the standard coaxial cable may not support audio transmission.” While DVR systems are typically lower-cost than NVRs, they have numerous functional limitations and require hard disk space that may only be accessed in person, not remotely.
The Present: NVR Systems
NVR systems are the more modern way to keep your branch safe. While slightly more costly than DVRs, they offer clarity, high resolution, and can even be connected with facial recognition technology to provide heightened security and deter criminals. The IP cameras required for NVR operations are more flexible than analog cameras, meaning that they can be placed virtually anywhere in your financial institution. Many of these IP camera models have virtual pan-zoom-tilt or “PZT” technology, meaning that they can provide room-wide surveillance and change angles without physically moving in the way that older analog cameras would.
Hard disk storage is needed to accommodate the footage, and the amount of required space depends on factors such as required duration of storage and video resolution. Bay Alarm says of storage needs, “NVR cameras store video footage on one or multiple digital storage devices, such as hard drives, solid-state drives, and flash drives. These drives can be stored on-site. However, for businesses with more complex security concerns, NVR drives can be stored off-site as an extra measure to prevent an intruder from gaining access to the server.”
As a partner of renowned electronic security manufacturer Verint, Wittenbach offers a series of NVR systems such as the leading-edge Verint EdgeVR 300 that can accommodate up to 64 cameras at once, offering scalability to your branch’s digital transformation.
The Future: NVR Systems and the Cloud
Although NVR systems and their interconnected IP cameras continue to sit at the forefront of electronic security in financial institutions one aspect is changing: the way their footage data is stored. Hard disks have a finite amount of space, and require physical hardware to be installed at your branch. If expansion is required, additional disk space must be purchased and physically accounted for. This also means that despite clear footage and up-to-date software, that any video and audio captured still cannot be accessed remotely, except in some cases by VPN.
Enter NVR storage on the cloud:
- Footage is stored virtually on a cloud server, meaning that your branch no longer has to purchase hard disks and account for physical space to house security camera footage.
- Cloud-based footage may be remotely accessed at any time, from any device—you can even monitor across multiple locations.
- Your IT staff will need to maintain IP cameras, but will no longer need to install and update the software required for hard disk storage, freeing up their bandwidth for other projects.
- Need more storage space as your financial institution grows? Flexible cloud storage allows you to scale your NVR system’s network seamlessly by purchasing more storage space without requiring additional hardware.
Eagle Eye Networks attests, “One of the major benefits to remote cloud video management is greater system flexibility than a fixed NVR system. An NVR system is limited by the hard drive
storage on how many cameras and data it can support, whereas cloud [storage] systems offer the ability to scale up to add new cameras and locations without a cap on added storage. Cloud users can adjust camera resolution, retention times, and other features on their own and only pay for what they are using – rather than making these decisions upfront.”
In addition to the cloud storage trend, NVR systems are expanding beyond the traditional scope of banks and credit unions. They can be useful in virtually any location that requires video surveillance for protection of both employees and property: schools and campuses, hospitals, government buildings, retail shops, commercial spaces, and more.
Conclusion
When evaluating the latest electronic security technology for your financial institution or business, it is important to consider a balance of cost-consciousness, quality, and industry trends that will allow you to make the most of your investment. Network video recorder systems are moving away from hard disk storage towards cloud storage, in order to save costs and provide scalability across branches and geographies. Wittenbach is prepared to help you make this jump when you’re ready; contact us today with your NVR questions!
