Migrating to all-IP video surveillance

Maximise the value of your investment

All-IP video security leverages your investment in network infrastructure, and is simpler, more elegant and accessible to users across the enterprise. In many cases, it also is more cost-effective than a conventional video surveillance system with analogue cameras and digital video recorders.

Using IP cameras, video management software (VMS) running on industry standard servers and network-area storage systems, you can maximise the value of your investment in network infrastructure and standardise on servers across your enterprise, enabling efficiencies in training, administration and support.

But all-IP video isn’t for everyone. It makes most sense in expansive, greenfield applications requiring a large numbers of cameras. University campuses, shopping and entertainment complexes, hospitals, hotels, airports, big box stores, warehouses and office towers are examples in which all-IP video security is a no-brainer. However, bringing video security onto your IP network is far from an all-or-nothing proposition. Using advanced video security technology, you can evolve toward an all-IP configuration at a pace that makes sense for your environment.

Alert security staff in real-time

Take, for example, a university campus with several buildings under construction. It can take advantage of the cost efficiencies of a converged voice, video and data system in the new buildings and continue to leverage its investment in legacy video security infrastructure in existing buildings. Common VMS software can be used to operate the resulting hybrid video surveillance system.

Centralise your security monitoring with Sony

There is no single, IP video solution or ideal configuration. For example, if you have a distributed organisation with hundreds of smaller sites spanning a large geographic area, coaxial cable and networked video recorders might make more sense for recording video at relatively low frame rates. An all-IP configuration, however, may be the most cost-effective solution if you need very high resolution video or the intelligence available from advanced video analytic applications.

Other IP video benefits include the ability to access remote locations via your LAN or WAN and centralise security monitoring instead of stationing guards at each site. Furthermore, with VMS software running on industry-standard servers, an all-IP system can be managed easily by your existing IT staff.

An IP video environment also lets you leverage video for uses other than security. An IP video system can be used to support marketing activities and operational management. For example, in an airport terminal, supervisors can employ a queue length monitoring analytic to identify when passenger lineups exceed a predetermined threshold and open another check-in station to better serve customers.

Another advantage of hybrid and all-IP video surveillance systems is the ability to streamline the management of user profiles and permissions across the enterprise. Integrating VMS software with applications such as Microsoft Active Directory allows you to set up user permissions for your video surveillance system and other IT security applications. If someone leaves the organisation, takes a sabbatical or gets married and changes their name, you don’t have to remember to delete or update user profiles and permissions in multiple databases. This, in turn, eliminates errors and tightens security.

Other IP video benefits include the ability to access remote locations via your LAN or WAN and centralise security monitoring instead of stationing guards at each site.