Over the past decade, CCTV systems have rapidly evolved from coax or fibre-based analogue systems to pure IP-based systems. One obvious benefit of this is that IP video systems can leverage the existing IP infrastructure put in place by the IT Department, thus eliminating the need to lay down miles of dedicated analogue cabling.
On top of that, just one IP network cable can carry audio, video and alarm signals from a camera, and supply camera positioning commands and even power to the camera.
With analogue cameras, you would need half a dozen such cables to accomplish the same thing.
Additionally, a single network cable can serve hundreds of cameras at the same time and, when video is in the form of data (rather than an analogue waveform), it opens up endless opportunities.
You can view it on handhelds and massive displays, analyse it for certain behaviours and integrate it into other applications like access control or PSIM solutions.
Solutions based on open standards
A handful of large security hardware manufacturers once dominated the physical security video landscape by selling proprietary analogue cameras, recorders and viewing stations, but times have changed.
Today, new entrants to this market space are based completely on open standards and use common off-the-shelf IT equipment such as servers and storage disk arrays for recording video, and high-end graphics workstations for video viewing.
Command centres leverage large flat screen displays to present numerous cameras simultaneously.
Another factor driving this trend is that older analogue systems are limited to the NTSC standard whereas IP cameras can leverage megapixel technology to deliver HDTV quality or better.
The net result for customers is more choice and Best of Breed solutions that offer higher performance and lower total cost of ownership.
Those who could not – or would not – adapt
This unstoppable shift towards IP has led to the demise of security solutions providers and integrators who could not adapt. At the same time, it has created opportunities for others who could.
These ‘survivors’ had one key thing in common: they understood just how big of a pain point IP migration really is. After all, it doesn’t make sense for customers to rip out and replace millions of dollars worth of equipment.
Other strategies make the path to IP far less painful. For example, using converters (encoders) so existing analogue cameras can appear like IP cameras, and employing hybrid recorders that can record both older analogue cameras and newer high definition IP cameras all on one platform.
Dr Bob Banerjee is a member of Nice Systems’ Security Division
Dr Banerjee develops programs and initiatives to educate, train and support the company’s extensive network of security system integrators and dealers, and also provides thought leadership for Nice Systems’ security industry outreach efforts
