IP video surveillance cameras

IP camera, video camera for video surveillance systems - a device that allows you to organize video surveillance with exceptional quality, apply video analytics, transmit a video signal without loss of quality over unlimited distances using digital communication channels.

Internet Protocol cameras, also called IP cameras or network cameras, provide digital video surveillance by sending and receiving signals over the Internet or local area network (LAN). As the name implies, IP cameras are connected to the network via a LAN cable (Internet cable), including Power over Ethernet (PoE), or via a wireless network WiFi. They are often used with network video recorders (NVRs) and sometimes digital video recorders (DVRs), making them a common solution for home or business video surveillance.

Where are IP cameras used?

  IP cameras are usually used in:
• Retail stores
• Business centers, offices
• Government buildings
• Industrial sites
• Banks
• Military facilities
• Transport junctions
• Private home ownership

What are the types of IP cameras?

  Types of IP cameras:
• PTZ IP Camera: Pan Tilt and Zoom (PTZ) cameras can adjust the field of view and angle with a remote operator, allowing users to monitor events with greater control. They can cover potentially large areas and are commonly used to monitor public open spaces.
• Stationary IP camera: Stationary IP cameras operate in a static position and provide a single view in the camera's field of view, continuously monitoring objects within a predefined frame. Fixed cameras are widely used both outdoors and indoors, usually in retail stores and 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) for simultaneous power and data transmission. This eliminates the need to run two power and data cables separately, thus reducing the amount of hardware required. With fewer parts to work with, PoE systems are generally easier to install and less expensive to maintain than traditional systems. The difference between PoE and PoE+ is the amount of electricity each transmits to power their systems. Standard PoE systems power most IP cameras and transmit up to 15 W of power. PoE+ systems transmit up to 30W and are typically used in more powerful 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 sensitive to interference and is recommended for larger spaces.

 What are the mandatory functions of IP cameras?

  Mandatory functions of IP cameras:
• Cloud and built-in storage: Storage space is important when researching IP camera footage. Many companies are required by law to retain security footage for a certain period of time depending on the industry and local authority. Most video surveillance systems transfer video data to cloud storage, or the video recorder's hard disk (HDD). Advanced solutions store footage locally on a microSD card, as well as create backup copies in the cloud; these "hybrid cloud" security systems are considered more secure and reliable than systems that rely on only one method.
• PoE capabilities: IP cameras that can be powered via a PoE connection eliminate the risk and cost of running electrical wires. Compared to pure wireless cameras, PoE IP cameras tend to have more stable data transmission and are less likely to encounter interference from neighboring devices.
• Video data encryption: how secure an IP camera is depends on its level of data encryption and network security. Encryption is a way to hide information by encrypting the data so that only authorized parties can decode it. Since IP cameras are often the target of IoT hacks, using modern security standards is key to preventing hackers from stealing company information and even bringing down entire systems. There are two states of encryption: "at rest" and "in transit".
• Encryption at Rest: Data encrypted "at rest" means that the data is protected while on the camera. RSA and AES are two examples of public key infrastructure encryption standards that ensure that anyone accessing the video data cannot retrieve it from the on-board storage.
• Encryption in transit: Encrypted data in transit means that data is protected as it travels over the network or is transferred from on-premises to cloud storage. Secure systems encrypt data in transit using HTTPS/SSL over port 443 and establish outgoing connections only to dedicated cloud services.

What additional features do IP camera systems have?

 Additional features of IP cameras:
• Instant Video Sharing: One of the features of today's IP surveillance systems is the ability to share video clips via SMS, email or live links. This reduces the time required to notify the authorities of incidents and the immediate action required.
• Video quality. It is generally known that IP cameras provide higher video quality compared to analog cameras traditionally used in video surveillance systems. Because they transmit digital signals, they are able to pick up more detail. This enables many IP security systems to incorporate advanced video analytics such as face matching into their software.
• Video analytics: Modern video surveillance systems incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) and neural network-based analytics to detect people and objects in the camera's field of view. Software with deep learning capabilities can use face-vehicle matching to alert users to incidents in real-time and speed up investigations. These advanced surveillance systems also allow users to define restricted access areas within the camera's field of view and receive alerts if significant activity is detected during certain times of the day.
• Steady-state streaming: "steady-state" IP cameras consume significantly less bandwidth, making them more scalable and less expensive for enterprises and large organizations. At steady state, the cameras send a steady stream of encrypted thumbnails and corresponding metadata to the cloud every 20 seconds. A fixed IP camera operates at about 20 kbps, which is about 1/100 of a traditional cloud camera that streams at 1-2 Mbps. Considering the low bandwidth, more than 100 cameras in stationary mode can use a single network connection and consume the same bandwidth as a single traditional cloud camera.

What should you pay attention to when buying an IP camera?

  What should be considered when choosing an IP camera:
• What is the scope of the surveyed territory? (Distance? Volume?)
• What internet bandwidth is required to support the camera?
• How will the footage be stored and how much space will you need?
• Does data encryption meet modern security standards? (RSA or AES? At rest or in transit?)
• Where is it placed? (Indoors? Outdoors?)
• Is encrypted transmission used? (SSL/TLS?)