Surveillance cameras are a crucial component of your and your team’s safety at the office, acting as your eyes and ears while you are hard at work. Despite the wide range of security cameras available in the market with endless features, one piece of this buying decision is pretty universal regardless of your other camera must-haves: video storage. 

There are two main types of storage for surveillance cameras - local and cloud - and they're quite different from one another.

Choosing between cloud and local storage will help narrow down your options and prepare you to set priorities for your broader security system and smart office preferences.

This article will dive into the main differences between the two storage options and walk you through some important factors to consider before taking the plunge.

What is Local Storage?

Local video storage is exactly what its name implies: it saves all of your clips locally, keeping the footage on your device and is on your property. This means you won't need an internet connection or monthly fees to use the camera. Plus, your recordings will be less vulnerable to data breaches or unauthorized viewings. Although the footage is physically recorded on your device, you are able to access the camera from outside your home or business on your phone.

To store CCTV footage locally, you’ll need a recorder or a hard drive, or in the case of standalone security cameras, an SD card. Generally, microSD card slots in compatible cameras can accommodate cards up to 256GB in size. Cameras almost never come with microSD cards installed, so it would require you to purchase one separately.

Either way, here's how they work – place or attach the storage device to the camera, then set your preferences for video storage in the app on your mobile device. You can choose between event-based recording, which saves clips only when motion or sound is detected, or continuous recording, which records everything the camera sees at all times.

When your storage is full, the system will begin overwriting previously recorded footage on a first-in, first-out basis.

Some benefits of local storage for surveillance systems are:

·       Better Security: Local storage means that no one can access the video recordings without the memory card. If your system is protected by a firewall and as long as you don't give out the memory card to anyone else, your recordings are completely secure and confined within the walls of your office.

·       Enhanced Video Quality: In some cases, video stored in the cloud can look blurry or less clear than you remember due to the compression process used by cloud services to preserve storage space. While this is not always the case, locally stored videos generally have better quality than those uploaded to the cloud.

·       Lower Long-Term Costs: Memory cards, especially Secure Digital (SD), are far more affordable today than ten years ago. By using local storage instead of cloud subscription plans, you can significantly reduce the cost of your premise security system, especially when some companies charge per camera.

Some drawbacks of local storage for surveillance systems are:

·       Vulnerable to Theft: If someone steals your recorder, you won’t have any video footage to use against the thief as the storage is inside the recorder.

·       Limited Storage Capacity: If you use local storage, you’re limited by the amount of space on the memory card or the built-in storage on the device.

·       Storage Purchased Separately: SD Cards for storing video footage may need to be bought separately from the camera. Additionally, there is a higher up-front cost for equipment since you would need to purchase a server/recorder.

What is Cloud Storage?

Your videos are stored on the cloud behind usernames, passwords, and encryption, where they are protected from prying eyes. Since cloud storage relies solely on the internet, you won't be able to record videos when your camera isn't connected.

Cloud storage provides easy remote access to users, where anyone with authorization can browse footage from their smart devices. Since all the data is stored centrally on the cloud, it is easy to streamline visibility across any number of locations. Unlike the surveillance systems with local storage, cloud video security solutions are significantly easier to maintain. By using simplified setup techniques and removing the need to buy and manage hardware and equipment, users can reduce the amount of management overhead required to ensure the system's smooth operation.

Some benefits of cloud storage for surveillance systems are:

• Safeguarded Security Footage: Cloud servers protect surveillance footage using safeguards such as single sign-on, password protection, and two-step authentication.

• Data Retrieval: All live, and historical camera footage can be accessed online, simplifying the surveillance management process for users.

• Scalable: Storage capacity for cloud cameras can be customized to meet individual needs. Providers typically offer a certain amount of storage for a set monthly fee, but there is essentially no limit to the amount of storage available.

Some drawbacks of cloud storage for surveillance systems are:

• Unpredictable Gaps In Coverage: The cloud-based surveillance system requires a reliable and robust internet connection. If the network goes down, cloud cameras become inoperable and will not be able to record footage.

• High Bandwidth Consumption: It isn't uncommon for businesses to experience significant lags or interruptions in their internet connection if they deploy many cameras across a facility. Cloud cameras stream footage continuously, so they consume a substantial amount of bandwidth.

• High Storage Fees: Cloud storage costs are higher for businesses with sophisticated surveillance needs, using advanced hardware and cameras that record high-resolution videos. The more storage space used, the higher the cost.

The Trade-Off

From our years of experience in providing premise security camera systems, we think the key differences between local and cloud storage boil down to these three factors:

1. Cost: Local and cloud storage are both associated with different costs. Local video storage requires on-premises recorders that require upfront spending. While cloud camera systems don’t come with an upfront cost, users are expected to pay a monthly subscription fee. The good news is that there are various storage options from which organizations can select the option that best fits their needs.

2. Setup: Network Video Recorder (NVR) systems, which store footage locally, can be bulky and may need maintenance since numerous components are required to operate. Generally, in cloud camera systems, or ones that work with wireless cloud cameras, there are three essential elements - a camera, a power supply, and a wireless router to connect the device to the internet.

3. Storage Capacity: Because local solutions rely on local recorders, only a limited number of ports are available on an NVR or Digital Video Recorder (DVR). As cloud cameras do not require a recording device, their storage capacity is only determined by the amount of data they are allowed to store in their subscription.

Making the Right Storage Choice for Your Business

Both local and cloud storage options have a lot to offer, and it really comes down to personal preference. Local storage is hard to beat for affordability, and it doesn't require the internet. On the other hand, cloud storage is convenient and adds a backup layer if something happens to your camera. Or you could use the two options in tandem for the super storage of your dreams.

While local storage does require an initial investment in the equipment and labour to install and set up, it can be much more cost-effective in the long run when storing large video files from high-resolution cameras or multiple cameras. Overall, it provides a more reliable and secure surveillance solution than its cloud-based counterpart.

On the other hand, opting for cloud storage could make more sense for you if you have minimal requirements (1 camera and don’t want to invest in a recorder) or if there is a heightened risk of your recorder being stolen/vandalized (such as at a construction job site trailer).

At Cabco, we understand the importance of having your company and its people safe. Our team is always happy to answer any questions you may have and guide you towards creating a comprehensive security plan with plenty of backups for each component.

Contact CABCO today for a customized solution for your business!

Ahona Saha
Marketing Assistant
Cabco