Network Security Camera and CCTV Comparison

By Will Edison

Network Security Camera

The benefits of a network security camera system extend beyond the functionality that an analog security camera system can provide. The advantages include remote accessibility, high image quality, even management and intelligent video capabilities, easy integration possibilities and better scalability, flexibility and cost-effectiveness.

A network security camera system allows multiple users to access, configure, view live and recorded video at anytime from anywhere in the world with an internet connection. With an analog CCTV system, you would have to be at the monitoring site to view and manage video, and remote video access would require installation of additional equipment such as a video encoder or a network digital video recorder (DVR).

When there is a need for high quality images to identify people’s faces or detailed objects, network security cameras with progressive scan and megapixel technologies can deliver better image quality and higher resolution than an analog CCTV camera. Image quality is also better retained in a network security camera system than an analog camera system. With analog systems that use DVR, there has to be conversions from analog to digital in the camera, then converted back to analog to transport through the analog cables, then again to digital to be recorded. In a fully digital system, images are digitized once in the network camera and stay digital so there is minimal degradation.

Also, as the video system grows, the scalability and flexibility of a network security system comes in extremely handy. In an analog system, each camera needs a cable running directly from the security camera to the monitoring station. Network cameras can be placed and networked or removed from virtually anywhere. Network cables and wireless devices are also cheaper than traditional cabling for analog systems.

Also, check out my other guide on home security cameras, home alarms and wireless security camera system