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Pay for quality where it counts

After over more than three decades of existence, video surveillance and closed circuit television (CCTV) have seen many technology changes, from analogue to digital, standard definition to high definition and ultra HD or 4K. Increased user demand has driven new, more affordable solutions along with improved quality and enhanced functionality.

Kalvin Subbadu, sales manager components, WD South Africa.

However, as technology has evolved, these solutions have also become increasingly commoditised, with lower priced off-the-shelf solutions now commonly available. The challenge here is that users often find that along with these lower price points, comes decreased quality, which can result in less than satisfactory results.

In addition, sometimes the hard drives used in these solutions are not geared for the specific requirements of the demanding 24x7 nature of the surveillance environment. Since the hard drive is a critical aspect of digital video solutions, this can have disastrous consequences to the integrity of the footage. Businesses need to be careful not to fall into the commoditisation trap, compromising quality and functionality for a reduced price point, as these solutions often end up costing far more in the long run.

In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the uptake of CCTV and video surveillance solutions. This is in part driven by increasing crime rates, which necessitate enhanced security measures. However, it is also the result of the increased commoditisation of equipment, with lower prices and easier availability making video surveillance a more viable option for many organisations and end-users. In addition, digital and IP-based surveillance solutions are often easier to install and implement than traditional analogue systems, further driving uptake.

A recent study by Jon Cropley, principal analyst at IHS Technology, confirmed that revenues within the surveillance market have continued to grow by around 10% year on year from 2007 to 2014. The study further confirmed that global shipments of network cameras had accelerated growth in 2013 and 2014, with average price declines cited as a major contributing factor to this growth.

The type of hard drive used in digital surveillance solutions is key. In many solutions, a standard desktop hard drive is used. Desktop hard drives are designed for operations in a typical office or home environment, with an average of eight hours a day of running time and relatively low demand. As a result they are frequently unable to cope with the always-on nature of surveillance, which demands continuous operation and simultaneous reading and writing, often from multiple input sources or camera streams. This can cause a number of issues, including skipped frames in the recordings, corrupted recording data, and also premature hard drive failure which can render the entire surveillance solution inoperable.

In addition to the requirement for a suitable, purpose-built surveillance class hard drive, users also need to ensure that they have enough storage capacity for all of their digital footage. As camera resolution increases, so too does the storage footprint of the recorded footage. Furthermore, many applications require the use of multiple cameras in order to ensure sufficient coverage.

Network video recorders (NVRs) offer a solution for larger scale surveillance networks, enabling the use of multiple hard drive bays with support for up to 64 HD camera feeds and multiple camera feeds on a single system. However, these applications once again require a hard drive that is fit for purpose and can not only withstand the pressures of the environment, but also provide sufficient capacity to offer enough storage for footage from multiple high definition or 4K camera streams.

Video surveillance is without a doubt a highly beneficial tool to add to a security arsenal, particularly in the South African context where rates of crime are significant. With technology evolution, we have seen increased availability and affordability of a variety of different solutions, especially digital offerings. However, users need to take care not to fall into the trap of commoditisation, sacrificing quality and reliability for a lower price tag. This is particularly important when it comes to the hard drives used within digital solutions, as these are the heart of functionality.

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