CCTV is one of the easiest security investments to overspend on, because it's easy to be sold on camera count and resolution numbers that sound impressive but don't actually match the layout of the property they're protecting. Here's what genuinely matters when specifying a system.
Analogue (HD-TVI/CVI) vs IP cameras
Analogue HD systems send video over coaxial cable to a recorder, are cheaper per camera, and are simple to install and maintain — a solid choice for most homes and small shops. IP cameras send digital video over network cable, generally offer sharper detail and easier remote access, and integrate more naturally if you're also installing structured network cabling. Neither is objectively "better"; the right choice depends on your budget and whether the site already has, or needs, network infrastructure.
How many cameras you actually need
The honest answer is almost always fewer than the eye-catching bundle sizes suggest. A residential compound typically needs cameras covering the main gate, the compound approach, and any secondary access points — often four to six cameras, well-placed, cover a typical home far better than eight poorly-positioned ones. For shops and offices, entrances, tills or safes, and stockrooms are the priority zones; blanket coverage of every corner rarely adds proportional value.
Local storage vs cloud storage
- Local (NVR/DVR): footage stored on-site on a hard drive; no ongoing subscription, but footage is vulnerable if the recorder itself is stolen or damaged unless it's secured out of easy reach
- Cloud storage: footage backed up off-site, protecting it even if the on-site hardware is compromised, but requires a reliable internet connection and typically a monthly fee
- Hybrid setups: local recording as the primary copy with selected cameras or events also pushed to the cloud, giving resilience without the full cost of cloud-storing everything
Remote viewing: the feature people actually use most
Being able to check your property from a phone app, whether you're in the next room or in another country, is often the single most-used feature of a modern CCTV system. It requires a stable internet connection at the property and a system properly configured for remote access — something worth confirming works before the installer leaves, not discovering it doesn't a month later.
Questions worth asking any CCTV installer
- What resolution and low-light performance do these cameras actually deliver at night?
- How many days of footage will the storage hold at this recording setting?
- Is remote viewing set up and tested before you leave?
- Is the recorder itself secured against tampering or theft?
- What's covered under warranty, and for how long?
A well-designed six-camera system that covers the right zones, records reliably, and lets you check it from your phone will outperform a cheap sixteen-camera bundle every time. Specification matters more than camera count.