Video Storage 101: An Integrator's Primer

By Fredrik Nilsson, GM, Axis Communications

What is the most significant trend in video storage that integrators should be aware of? There are a number of trends in video surveillance storage today, but three really stand out as significant. First, we’re seeing a sharp increase in storage capabilities, aided by better and better compression methods — namely the H.264 suite. Increased storage at a level price point follows Moore’s Law, while improved compression makes for unprecedented retention times. Second, the rise of low cost storage media, such as network attached storage (NAS) devices, provides a realistic option for small installations. NAS devices born in the consumer world are being tailored and targeted as redundant and high-resolution recording devices in hosted video installations, as well as standalone storage devices in systems with less than 16 IP cameras. For the third trend, we see another storage media born out of the consumer world: SD cards. The capacity versus cost ratio of these cards are changing the game in small systems, making IP video a realistic and affordable option over analog. With embedded SD cards and integrated software, the network camera itself becomes the recorder and is the DVR of the future for small systems.