If you implement camera surveillance, you need to decide, among other things, whether and how to store the footage. Essentially, there are two options: a Network Video Recorder (NVR) or a Video Management System (VMS). Often, a VMS is preferred, mainly due to its flexibility and future-proof capabilities.

Video Management Systems are software solutions, usually developed by independent software developers, focusing solely on creating software to record footage from security cameras—preferably from all camera types and manufacturers. A VMS typically integrates the functions and intelligence of the cameras.

A Network Video Recorder directly records the signal from IP cameras. On the back of this recorder, there are usually several network ports where the cameras can be connected. The number of ports determines the number of cameras that can be connected. Despite the use and development of the ONVIF protocol, an NVR from one brand is not always compatible with a camera from another brand, especially when it comes to camera intelligence. It’s best if the NVR and the connected cameras are from the same brand.

A VMS offers freedom of choice

The range of security cameras is vast, and the options change constantly. Which camera is best for you depends on your objectives and the local circumstances. In practice, this means that you may have different cameras for different goals or locations, even from different brands. Due to the need for freedom of choice, a Video Management System is often the best solution.

Secure and manageable

A VMS runs on a PC or server with a Windows operating system. This allows for a lot in terms of software and network security. For example, management and security can take place via VPN connections and other forms of network management since the cameras are integrated into a standardized IP network. And since VMS software is based on Windows, it can also be incorporated into your existing server infrastructure through virtualization.

Suitable for small and large systems

A VMS runs on a PC or server with a Windows operating system. This allows for a lot in terms of software and network security. For example, management and security can take place via VPN connections and other forms of network management since the cameras are integrated into a standardized IP network. And since VMS software is based on Windows, it can also be incorporated into your existing server infrastructure through virtualization.

Up-to-date and future-proof

A VMS remains up-to-date and future-proof through software updates. Thanks to developments in user-friendliness and integrations with other systems, such as burglar alarms and access control systems, a VMS is also highly flexible. A VMS further offers a variety of proprietary or third-party add-ons that can be purchased or added later, for instance, if they are not already included in the camera. Think of license plate recognition, facial recognition or detection, people detection, and crowd detection.

If you want to expand your camera system, you can easily purchase new licenses. If it becomes necessary to expand your storage capacity, this can be done easily with additional servers or cloud storage, for example.

More value for your money

If you want to be flexible and always choose the most suitable camera for your objectives or circumstances, a VMS offers the most possibilities. Although an NVR is cheaper and simpler, the question is whether this will still be the case in the long run. When choosing a VMS, make sure you have or acquire enough expertise in this type of software and network architecture.

A bit of history

Initially, there were only analog cameras. The recordings were transmitted with a PAL or NTSC signal to a timelapse recorder, which still used VHS tapes that had to be changed every day. The timelapse recorder was eventually the first to be digitized, leading to the introduction of the Digital Video Recorder (DVR). VHS tapes were replaced by hard drives, and the software in the DVR converted the analog PAL signal into a digital stream based on a codec with a set number of frames per second. Initially, this was done with Motion JPEG (filmstrips of digital photos), later with MPEG2 (DVD) and MPEG4. Recording footage from different brands and types of cameras was not an issue at that time. Every camera produced PAL or NTSC signals, and there was no other option.

The advent of the digital CMOS chip (megapixels) in cameras changed everything. The cameras themselves became digital and transmitted a stream directly via the IP network, based on a codec. However, the signal from the different brands was not universal. The stream required a software “handshake” that varied by brand. The ONVIF protocol and the use of an RTPS stream did improve the situation, but differences between the signals from various camera brands still exist, and certain functions (such as analytics) are not always covered by this protocol.

Currently, various manufacturers are collaborating in the Open Security & Safety Alliance to develop a standardized, Android-like platform for cameras. The aim of this alliance is to ensure that third-party analytics add-ons can be easily added to cameras in the future and that communication with recording equipment will be standardized.