Synology has revealed some of the things that users should look out for when they are looking to select their own video surveillance solution. Flexible device integration, storage capacity and scalability, and cost are just a few important considerations. Synology says that users who are not cautious may end up investing significant resources in a system that does not fully meet their needs.
How to choose your own video surveillance solution according to Synology
Camera and device compatibility
Some video management solutions are built to support as many cameras and devices as possible. For example, products that support the ONVIF standard provide businesses with access to thousands of camera and I/O-device products from various vendors, ensuring compatibility and smooth operation regardless of whether systems have been tested in-house.
This not only broadens the range of brands available to buyers, but also makes it easier to find cameras with all the features they require, such as fisheye lenses, varifocal lenses, and pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) functionality. Another feature to look for is the ability to manage I/O modules such as door controllers, IP speakers, and POS systems directly from the monitoring interface.
Take storage scalability into account
With ever-rising surveillance footage standards (and your own potential business growth) in mind, you should not be limited by non-expandable storage. And, with so many options for secure, flexible, and scalable storage on the market, there’s no reason to settle for anything less.
Network attached storage (NAS) solutions are specifically designed to protect large amounts of data professionally, and they allow users to replace drives with larger units and add entire new volumes with expansion units. Flexible storage allows users to store larger video recordings at higher resolutions or frame rates, while advanced backup and management features protect their deployment.
Consider the licensing model
Earnings models are present in all surveillance solutions, but some are more complex than others. For example, while many surveillance solutions charge separate annual or monthly fees for advanced features, some NAS-based surveillance solutions only require a one-time licence purchase for each camera and include all features for free. This not only results in a lower total cost of ownership in the long run but also reduces the complexity of licence management.
Large-scale management
Finally, consider whether additional surveillance systems will be required. For example, if users have multiple locations or want to protect a business, a storage unit, and a home. If they answered yes, look for a solution that includes a free but fully functional central management system (CMS).
Even if users only manage two or three recording servers, the ability to view all camera streams in a single window, backup video between locations, and receive notifications in a single location can significantly improve the effectiveness of all their deployments.
CMS features such as camera batch deployment and the ability to move camera streams to other recording servers (while continuing to record) can also benefit larger organisations. By plotting buildings, deployments, and cameras on a map, security incidents can be quickly pinpointed.
Furthermore, by incorporating AI-enabled units for deep video analytics tasks, capabilities such as licence plate and face recognition, people detection, and traffic alerts can be added to larger deployments.
For a more in-depth look at choosing your own video surveillance solution, you can choose to join the Synology Surveillance Webinar on 30th Aug, Tuesday from 2pm to 3pm. The webinar will see Synology teach users how to deploy a scalable surveillance solution for their business. Those interested can register here.
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