The Top 10 Myths about Network Video

The IP-Surveillance solution shatters misperceptions surrounding networked video

By Fredrik Nilsson, General Manager, Axis Communications U.S. Inc.

What is IP-Surveillance?

IP is an abbreviation for Internet Protocol, the most common protocol for communication over computer networks and the Internet. An IP-Surveillance application creates digitized video streams that are transferred via a wired or wireless IP network, enabling monitoring and video recording as far away as the network reaches, as well as enabling integration with other types of systems such as access control.

According to industry analyst, J.P. Freeman and Co., Inc., there are more than 20 million analog cameras installed in the U.S. alone. Of this 20 million, 1.5 million analog cameras were sold in 2002. Despite these impressive numbers for analog cameras, it is network cameras that have emerged as the fastest growing product category, providing a clear indicator that IP-based systems are poised to take over.

Network cameras are connected directly to an IP-based network and integrate to applications on the network, enabling users to have cameras at remote locations and view, store and analyze live video at another location, or multiple locations, over the network/Internet. Network cameras are forecast to comprise more than half of the security camera market by 2007 and the global network video market is expected to reach approximately $790 million by 2005.

Whether it's network cameras or analog cameras connected to video servers, or an installation that employs both camera types, IP-Surveillance is proving to be attractive in nearly all vertical markets. In numerous applications this revolutionary technology is replacing traditional systems to reduce costs and increase safety. While in other applications, it is being used for the first time to create and stimulate new, exciting markets.

Because of its scalability, among other advantages, IP-Surveillance is an established, attractive technology not only for enhancing or revitalizing existing surveillance and remote monitoring applications, but also for a vast number of new applications in vertical markets as well including,

Education: security and remote monitoring of school playground areas, corridors, halls and classrooms, as well as security of the buildings themselves.
Transportation: remote monitoring of railway stations and tracks, highways and airports
Banking: traditional security applications in high street banks, branch offices and anywhere ATMs are located
Government: within security surveillance applications, often integrated into existing and new access control systems
Retail: for security and remote monitoring purposes to making store management easier and more efficient
Industry: monitoring manufacturing processes, logistic systems, warehouse and stock control systems

Why misperceptions about IP-Surveillance technology?

Top 10 myths

What is IP-Surveillance?
Why misperceptions about IP-Surveillance technology?

Myth #1:
DVRs are the latest, greatest CCTV security technology

Myth #2:
IP technology is unproven. If it's better, why aren't security solution providers selling more?

Myth #3:
IP-Surveillance cannot meet the demands of enterprise level applications.

Myth #4:
Networked video image quality is not as good as analog.

Myth #5:
Network cameras cost more than analog cameras, making IP-Surveillance too expensive.

Myth #6:
If I already have analog cameras installed, IP-Surveillance isn't an option because I need a DVR.

Myth #7:
Transferring all that video data over my network will overload it, making this an unworkable technology.

Myth #8:
Transmitting video for security purposes over an IP network is not secure.

Myth #9:
IP-Surveillance is less reliable than alternative technologies; for instance, the network go down.

Myth #10:
IP-Surveillance is still five years away.

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