1. The New Security Messiah
Video Storage:
The New Security Messiah
Jeff Whitney
VP Marketing & Business Development
Intransa, Inc.

2. Video Storage: The New Security Messiah
Video storage offers the biggest cost savings & ensures project success more than most other surveillance system issues
Video storage is important to consider for both existing CCTV (analog) DVR installations & for new, all-IP projects
Yet storage is often the last thing considered in a surveillance system… here’s why that’s bad thinking!

3. How We Got Here

4. Storage Demands Changed from VCR Days
With VCRs, retention period of video was often measured in hours or days
Cost of media & manual operation limited amount recorded
Rotation of tapes risked human error & worn tape media led to reduced video quality
Security was biggest user of surveillance
All combined to conditioned physical security into thinking of recorded video as short term in value

5. Video Recording Retention Demands Grow
With deployment of DVRs, video retention grew to weeks & months for typical physical security users
Risk of lost video from tape/human error eliminated with DVRs
Video quality improved over tape
DVR installation & operational simplicity major benefit
NVRs followed, adding IP camera support for lower installation costs, better image resolution than analog CCTV
New, non-security applications increasing demand for better resolution, longer video retention periods & more coverage

6. = DVRs/NVRs Limited in Storage Capability, Reliability
DVRs & NVRs are where IT PCs were in late 80s / early 90s
Stand-alone devices, like a PC
Limited or no sharing of disk capacity among multiple DVRs
Typically uses PC-grade vs. server-grade components for cost reduction
External storage add-ons (USB drives, NAS expansion) often less reliable & lower performance =

7. DVRs/NVRs Limited in Storage Capability, Reliability
DVRs & NVRs are where IT PCs were in late 80s / early 90s
Entry to midrange DVRs & some NVRs largely lack reliability features
Limited/no RAID protection against drive failure
Limited/no hot-swap components for non-stop recording/playback
If DVR fails, cameras can go dark until replacement
Standard motherboard & power supply
Analog-to-digital converter
Captive disk drives
Windows, Linux or proprietary OS

8. Storage is the Hidden Cost in DVRs/NVRs
Storage is not particularly glamorous, compared to cameras & video management systems
Video storage is often overlooked in the cost of CCTV surveillance
Storage is usually considered only after rest of system chosen
It’s also where the most savings can be found

9. Video Storage Benefits for Existing CCTV Installations

10. DVR Shared Storage Upgrades Grow in Adoption
IT went to shared storage in 1990s, physical security moving today
DVR performance, reliability & capacity improve with CCTV storage upgrades
Leverage existing CCTV infrastructure (cabling, analog cameras, DVRs)
Cuts cost of additional capacity to less than adding more DVRs
Eliminates risk of full cutover project to IP solution
Eliminates need for retraining, operations continue as before
Provides many additional benefits
Provides IP support, providing an easy migration to full IP in future
Full RAID protection eliminates risk of video loss
Hot-swap components deliver continuous operation
Only failed components – not entire system – leave control of security

11. DVR Shared Storage Upgrades Grow in Adoption
Most DVRs are based on PC platforms, making upgrade to shared storage easy
Most DVRs use standard operating systems (Windows, Linux) & motherboards inside system
DVR upgrades can be accomplished in 15 minutes or less, via IP port on most current DVRs, or slightly longer if require insertion of Ethernet card or HBA in DVR
Ethernet port

12. DVR Shared Storage Upgrades Grow in Adoption
Significant benefits
Shared storage upgrade less expensive than adding storage captive to individual DVR
Regardless of brand of DVR, deploying a shared storage upgrade typically reduces cost by 2nd or later DVR
In this example, a pharmaceutical manufacturer found they could reduce their surveillance system cost by 47% by adding a shared storage upgrade to support their 5 major manufacturer-brand DVRs.
Yet they opted to perform the upgrade for the increased reliability it offered, not just the cost savings.

13. Video Storage Benefits for New IP Installations

14. Open NVRs/VMS Systems Growing In Popularity
Deploy choice of Video Management System (VMS) software on open, commodity hardware
Leverage benefits of open technology
Standard, megapixel & H.264 cameras offer multiple imaging choices
Multiple IT vendors offer server & storage platforms to choose from
Multiple VMS offerings deliver for specific security application needs
There are a large number of excellent VMS systems to chose from, each with unique features and benefits

15. IP Solutions Face Challenges of their Own
Cameras & VMS solutions still often picked first, ignoring storage issues
Generic servers & storage selected as an afterthought, just like in CCTV
Storage should be thought of during the initial planning for a variety of reasons

16. New IP Surveillance System with VMS Solution Supporting 90 IP Cameras
IP Cost Savings With Shared Video Storage
IP surveillance systems often are limited by storage capacity & CPU performance of server choice
Server limitations mean more servers, storage needed
New IP Surveillance System with VMS Solution Supporting 90 IP Cameras
Capital Expenditure (MSRP)
Commodity IT Server Approach
18 standard servers, each with ~10TB captive storage capacity
VMS system licenses from major vendor
Required 128TB of non-shared storage for 90 days recording
$236,250
Server + Shared Storage Approach
2 standard servers & shared storage platform with 30TB capacity
2 VMS system licenses from major vendor
Eliminated 98TB capacity, 16 servers, VMS licenses
$ 69,250
$167,000 Savings
Actual municipal surveillance project example, using VMS vendor configuration tool for specifications
- (30) 4CIF, MJPEG, 4 FPS, 30 days, 24x7, 100% Motion
- (30) 2MP, MJPEG, 4 FPS, 30 days, 24x7, 100% Motion
- (30) 4MP, MJPEG, 4 FPS, 30 days, 24x7, 100% Motion

17. Commodity Servers/Storage Complexity
Servers & storage used in video surveillance can be complex, requiring experience/knowledge to get right
Sizing server/storage platform
Cost often drives push for less powerful servers, less storage than ideal
Installing & integrating server, storage, VMS & cameras
Installation procedures vary from installer to installer, location to location, resulting in risk of future support challenge
Improper configuration can result in project failure even if everything else done right
Support of VMS applications not a core market for IT
IT and vendor support organizations often unfamiliar with common security applications, requirements & differences from IT workloads

18. Selecting Video Storage Platform Also Key
Most servers & storage are designed for general IT
Applications like word processing, & database use
Video workloads & environments vary differently from IT
Typical Surveillance System
24x7x365 recording
Users manage video system, not servers & storage
System not tuned/optimized after initial installation
Server/storage system runs unattended
Large, non-sequential recording common
Lost video: life safety issue, property protection issue, financial liability
Typical IT System
9 to 5 activity
IT manages servers, storage
Systems tuned by IT, including defragmentation
Unattended operation not common
Large, non-sequential recording not common, can lead to reliability issues
Lost data: financial, management impact

19. Solution to IP Complexity
Select a server/storage vendor who knows physical security
Simplified Operation
Supports unattended operation, with /network alerting
No need for system downtime for maintenance
Shared, Expandable Capacity
Video storage system choices should start with as little as 2TB recording capacity, & grow as needed, when needed, without system rewiring or shutdown
Support Existing CCTV & New IP
System should be able to support existing CCTV infrastructure, while adding benefits of IP & migration path

20. Solution to IP Complexity
Select a server/storage vendor who knows physical security
Proven Physical Security Certifications & Alliances
Unless can demonstrate knows security products, won’t be able to solve problems
Membership & participation in security, retail, law enforcement, corrections, etc. organizations demonstrates commitment & knowledge of product needs
Demonstrated List of Physical Security Customers
Unless can demonstrate security experience, won’t be able to solve problems
Simplified Installation for Physical Security Users
Preload security applications on platform with common configurations, OS needs
Configure server/storage with tools that function like camera configurator, not complex server/storage platforms needing IT knowledge
Limited or no operator retraining requirements

21. Solution to IP Complexity
Select a server/storage vendor who knows physical security
Support Other Security Applications
While video surveillance is biggest consumer, other physical security related applications should be demonstrated as supported & certified (access control, life safety, analytics, PSIM, etc.) for future cost savings & consolidation
Standard Operating Environments
Server/storage systems should interface with and operate in conjunction with standard operating systems (ie: Windows Vista, Windows Server, etc.)
They should also offer standard data protection & availability technologies, not vendor-specific technologies (ie: RAID, hot-swap components, etc.) that need training & support from a single vendor

22. Summary
Physical security departments & integrators can benefit from thinking of storage early in the planning process
Shared video storage can reduce cost, complexity & support challenges
Shared video storage can benefit existing CCTV as well as new IP installations
Picking your server/storage vendor is key to ensuring long term project success & cost savings