Internet Protocol (IP) Cameras

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What is an IP Camera?

Internet Protocol cameras, also called IP cameras or network security cameras, provide digital video surveillance by
sending and receiving footage over the internet or local area network (LAN). Like their name suggests, IP cameras
connect to a network through WiFi or a Power over Ethernet (PoE) cable. They’re often used with network video
recorders (NVRs) and sometimes digital video recorders (DVRs, making them a common solution for enterprise video
surveillance.

IP cameras are commonly used in:

Retail Stores

Business Offices

Government Buildings

Industrial Sites

Banks

Military Facilities

Traffic Intersections

Types of IP Cameras:

PTZ IP Camera: Pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) cameras can adjust their field of view and angle via a remote operator, allowing
users to track events with greater control. They can cover potentially large areas and are commonly used to monitor
public outdoor spaces.

Fixed IP Camera: Fixed IP cameras operate in a static position and provide a single view within the camera’s field of
vision, continuously surveilling subjects within a predetermined frame. Fixed cameras are widely used both outdoors
and indoors, typically in retail stores and business offices. Compared to PTZ cameras, they require less bandwidth to
support.

PoE or PoE+ IP Camera: PoE IP cameras use an Ethernet cable (usually Cat 5 or 6) to supply both electrical power and
data simultaneously. This eliminates the need to run two cables for power and data separately, thus reducing the
amount of hardware required. With fewer parts to deal with, PoE systems tend to be easier to install and cost less to
maintain compared to traditional systems. The difference between PoE and PoE+ is the amount of electricity each one
transmits to power their systems. Standard PoE systems power most IP cameras and transmit up to 15 watts of
electricity. PoE+ systems transmit up to 30 watts and are usually used in more high-power cameras with their own
heating and cooling mechanisms.

Wireless IP Camera: Wireless IP cameras connect to a WiFi router to send video data. The footage is then transferred to
cloud storage or the camera’s local built-in storage. Wireless IP cameras can be a good solution for small homes, but a
wired camera system is less susceptible to interference and recommended for larger areas.

Must-Have Features of IP Cameras:

Cloud and Built-In Storage: Storage space is a huge consideration when surveying IP cameras. By law, many companies
are required to retain security footage for a specific amount of time depending on their industry and local mandates.
Most surveillance systems will transmit video data onto cloud storage, a Solid-State Drive (SSD), or a Hard Disk Drive
(HDD). Advanced solutions store footage locally on an SSD or HDD while also backing it up in the cloud; these “hybrid
cloud” security systems are considered safer and more reliable than systems that rely on just one type of video storage.

PoE Capabilities: IP cameras that can be powered over a PoE connection eliminate the risk and cost of running electrical
wire. Compared to purely wireless cameras, PoE IP cameras tend to have more stable data transmission and less likely
to encounter interference from nearby devices. You can use either STP or UTP cables for the connection.

Video Data Encryption: How secure an IP camera is depends on its level of data encryption and network security.
Encryption is a way to conceal information by scrambling data so that only authorized parties can decode it. Since IP
cameras are often targeted in IoT breaches, utilizing modern security standards is key to prevent hackers from lifting
company information and even disabling whole systems. There are two states of encryption, at rest and in transit.

At Rest Encryption: Data encrypted “at rest” means data is protected while on the camera. RSA and AES are two
examples of Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) encryption standards, which ensure that anyone who accesses video data
won’t be able to extract it from onboard storage.

In Transit Encryption: Data encrypted “in transit” means data is protected while it’s traveling over the network, or being
transferred from local to cloud storage. Secure systems encrypt data in transit using HTTPS/SSL over Port 443, and only
make outbound connections to dedicated cloud services.

Extra Features of IP Cameras:

Instant Video Sharing: One capability of modern IP surveillance systems is not only remote access, but the ability to
share video clips through SMS texts, emails, or live links. This decreases the amount of time it takes to alert authorities
when incidents occur and immediate action is required.

Video Quality: IP cameras are generally known to provide higher video quality compared to analog cameras traditionally
used in CCTV systems. Because they transmit digital signals, they are able to capture greater detail. This makes it
possible for many IP security systems to incorporate advanced video analytics like facial recognition and matching into
their software.

Edge-Based Video Analytics: Modern surveillance systems incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) and edge-based
analytics to detect people and objects in the camera’s field of view. Software with deep learning capabilities can use
facial and vehicle matching to alert users of incidents in real-time and speed up investigations. These advanced
surveillance systems also allow users to define restricted areas within the camera’s view and be notified if meaningful
activity is detected during a certain time of day.

Steady State Streaming: IP cameras that operate in “steady state” consume significantly less bandwidth, making them
more scalable and less costly for enterprises and large organizations. In steady state, cameras send a constant stream of
encrypted thumbnails and related metadata to the cloud once every 20 seconds. A steady state IP camera operates at
about 20 kbps, which is roughly 1/100 of a traditional cloud camera that streams at 1-2 mbps. Given the low bandwidth
footprint, over 100 steady state cameras can share the same network connection and consume the same bandwidth as
one traditional cloud camera.

Considerations when Choosing the Best IP Camera:

What’s the scope of the area being surveilled? (Distance? Scope?)

How much internet bandwidth is needed to support the camera?

How will footage be stored, and how much space will you need?
Is data encryption up to modern security standards? (RSA vs. AES? At rest vs. in transit?)

Where is it being placed? (Indoor? Outdoor?)

Does it utilize encrypted transmission? (SSL/TLS?)

How to Choose the Best Security Cameras

Whether you’re upgrading an existing surveillance system or starting from scratch, choosing the best security camera
system is critical to ensuring the safety and security of your property. While traditional security cameras offer simplicity
and reliability, cloud-based IP solutions provide advanced features, scalability, and remote access. Verkada’s hybrid-
cloud security cameras combine the best of both worlds, delivering a secure, scalable, and easy-to-use solution for
modern surveillance needs.