Security cameras help keep businesses safe by deterring crime, and they are a staple in most businesses today. In fact, the question shouldn’t be whether you should have security cameras installed; rather, the question should be what type of security cameras you should have installed in your business.
There are two types of security cameras that are most popular and most well-known: IP cameras and CCTV cameras. Here, we’ll cover each type as well as a hybrid of the two: IP CCTV camera systems.
Keep reading to learn more about each type of security camera and to learn about which type of camera might be best for your business or commercial building.
What Is The Difference Between IP and CCTV?
Before we can tell the difference, let’s go over the basics of what IP and CCTV cameras are. Both are security camera systems that record footage and make that footage available for you to watch. The main difference is in how the videos are recorded and how the footage is stored.
What Are IP Cameras?
IP stands for internet protocol, and these are network cameras that are connected to the internet. True IP camera systems don’t have a recorder, which is often referred to as a head end. Instead, every camera in the system is connected to the internet, and the footage is typically stored in the cloud. Because each camera is connected to the internet, IP camera systems are not closed systems.
For each type of system, we’ll look at an example of a three camera system to help illustrate the distinction. In a three camera IP security system, there is no head end recorder. Instead, all three cameras are connected to the internet, and data is stored in the cloud.
What Are CCTV Cameras?
CCTV stands for closed-circuit television, and cameras in these systems run on an analog system. In a true CCTV system, there is never a connection to the internet. CCTV is a series of cameras connected to a recorder, known as the head end. The fact that these cameras and the head end never connect to the internet is what makes CCTV a closed circuit.
Let’s return to our three camera system example. In a three camera CCTV system, you will also have a recorder, and none of the devices will be connected to the internet.
Many people mistakenly believe that CCTV is the same as surveillance, but this is not the case. There are many different types of surveillance systems, and they are not all CCTV.
What Is IP CCTV?
It’s clear that IP and CCTV are two different things, but there is a type of security camera system that combines the two, called IP CCTV. Of course, this system is neither a true IP system nor a true CCTV system because one connects to the internet and the other does not.
Instead, an IP CCTV system combines the best of both worlds. In these systems, each camera is not connected to the internet as it would be in a true IP cloud-based system. Each camera in the system connects to a head end, and then, that head end connects to the internet.
Returning to our example, the three cameras in the IP CCTV system are not connected to the internet. They are, however, connected to the head end which is connected to the internet.
Which Is Better: IP, CCTV, or IP CCTV
Each type of camera system of course has its benefits and drawbacks, which we’ll examine below. All three types of systems provide security to your business, giving you peace of mind and protecting your assets. The systems are also priced more similarly than they were in the past.
Previously, it was cheaper to install and maintain CCTV systems because IP cameras were very expensive. Now, however, IP cameras have gotten cheaper, and IP systems are cheaper to maintain as well.
IP camera systems typically allow you to see a larger area and to see the recorded footage more clearly. This is very important when you’re using cameras to protect your business, as they’ll allow you to get a better view of what is happening on your property. This increased range of vision can also decrease the cost of your camera system because you don’t need as many IP cameras if they can capture more than a CCTV camera. In some cases, one IP camera can replace as many as six CCTV cameras.
IP and IP CCTV camera systems also allow you to zoom in, which can help you identify people or view license plate numbers. They also often come with additional features, such as motion detection and video analytics.
Because the cameras in CCTV and IP CCTV systems are not connected to the internet, these types of systems need to be wired and thus cannot be wireless.
Modern Security Camera Systems
Many businesses both new and old use CCTV systems because they’re tried and true reliable systems. However, in our modern world, many people also like the benefits that come with digital IP cameras.
When deciding what is right for your business, consider whether it’s more important for you to have the benefits of an IP system, or if you feel more comfortable having a closed-circuit system. Either way, you’ll have security footage of your business that can help you potentially catch criminals and keep your buildings safe.
If you’re torn; you want a closed-circuit system but also yearn for the benefits of an IP system, consider an IP CCTV system. You’ll be able to access your footage on the internet, but the footage will be recorded on a somewhat closed circuit system.
