Today the CCTV market is only made up of about 27% IP based systems. The common perception is that “IP equals more expensive.” In recent years, IP based solutions have been the most talked about security technologies in the surveillance industry. With the ability to channel multiple cameras from numerous locations the benefits of IP security systems are clear. Whether the best solution is Milestone or GeoVision, it’s my job as a salesman to help the customer find the right system for their situation.
In the past IP systems have faced challenges from analog security systems for several reasons:
- The cost and maintenance of an analog system is drastically lower
- The amount of knowledge one needs to set up analog systems is much less than that of a network engineer
- Customers still have the ability to view several standalone units with a Central Monitoring Software solution
- The overall investment is lower with an analog system than that of an IP based infrastructure
After the initial setup of an IP security system, the overall performance quickly trumps that of its analog counter-part. The quality of pictures that you can now receive through IP cameras is outstanding. IP technology has improved allowing HD quality images and video at resolutions up to 720p/1080p. Demand is increasing for these systems to also be able to offer the same high quality images at night. Bandwidth can be an issue with an IP security system, especially when transmitting the data for night vision footage, but there are always ways to configure your system to avoid bogging your network down.
Driving the overall value of an IP camera system to a customer who is on the fence is vital. A lot of mid-level engineers run into frustrations when learning to adapt to all the protocols and transitions involved with IP technology. Educating these engineers plays an important part in successfully selling an IP solution to them.
Some of the advantages of IP include:
- Better wireless reception – IP cameras have encryption built right into them providing a more secure network. Interference is also not a problem with IP-based models.
- Can utilize existing wiring — Because IP-based cameras act as their own network device, you can often take advantage of existing network wiring within your home. This can make the installation task much easier.
- Remote access can be easier — IP cameras are better suited for remote surveillance needs.
Overall the transition can be difficult when making the jump into the network world of IP solutions. Within the marketplace there is a lot of room for debate as to which system is better. With the advancements that are currently changing the security industry, I feel confident in saying that we will eventually see a complete market transition from analog to IP.
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