As a security integrator, you’ll likely encounter some challenges when deploying video surveillance systems on a large scale. These problems include bandwidth and storage limitations, scalability issues, interoperability concerns, and product reliability. The good news is you can navigate them with different strategies and provide value for your clients.
This guide addresses the challenges with video deployments and provides solutions to help you overcome them.
4 Common Challenges in Large-Scale Video Deployments
Overcoming deployment challenges is only possible when you know what they are. Here are four common issues that arise during large-scale video deployments:
1. Bandwidth and Storage Limitations
Most organizations now demand high-resolution surveillance systems to enhance security. However, they may not be able to accommodate them — high-resolution video streams on a large scale can strain network bandwidth and require significant storage capacity. As a result, companies may be forced to choose low-quality video options to avoid network congestion and data loss.
2. Scalability Issues
Expanding video surveillance systems while optimizing performance can be challenging. This problem often involves finding hardware and software that function seamlessly to produce the best results.
Adding new cameras and other devices to an older system can disrupt existing infrastructure. Determining the appropriate bandwidth and storage capacity is also essential for planning. Unfortunately, getting accurate estimates can be problematic, considering that different projects have varying requirements.
3. Interoperability Concerns
With the emergence of diverse video surveillance platforms, interoperability between systems has become a major concern. Integrating different video systems from different manufacturers can lead to compatibility issues. This makes it vital to ensure all components work together cohesively for a unified and efficient surveillance system.
4. Reliability and Maintenance
Regularly maintaining large-scale video surveillance systems can be time-consuming and costly. However, these processes are necessary to ensure equipment longevity, so finding a way to implement them properly is essential.
How to Overcome the Video Surveillance Deployment Challenges
Fortunately, you can overcome deployment issues by understanding and prioritizing a few different strategies.
Upgrading Existing Network Infrastructure
As the security landscape evolves, upgrading existing infrastructure can improve the safety, reliability and integrity of the surveillance system. Replacing old components with new models can promote compatibility and interoperability. However, the process should be well thought out to ensure success.
First, assess the existing infrastructure to determine the extent of upgrade needed. Does the client need a complete or partial upgrade? What hardware and software are required for the project? Second, assist the client in defining their objectives. What is the purpose of the security system? Is integrating advanced analytics crucial? Answering these questions will help you develop comprehensive insights into the upgrades that might be necessary.
Managing Video Surveillance Storage
Large-scale video surveillance deployment requires more storage, and as a security integrator, you can help clients develop a robust data retention policy.
One strategy is using both local network data storage infrastructure and cloud-based systems. Centralizing video surveillance storage in a scalable and easily accessible system can streamline data retrieval and management. Another vital aspect of data storage is privacy and protection, especially in highly-regulated industries. In these instances, encrypting stored data can safeguard against unauthorized access or tampering. This helps ensure security and compliance with privacy regulations.
The third consideration is implementing redundant storage systems and regular backups. Considering the load of large-scale video deployments, this approach mitigates data loss resulting from hardware failures, cyberattacks or accidental deletions. The ultimate goal is ensuring data integrity.
Optimizing Bandwidth Usage
When upgrading or deploying video surveillance on a large scale, optimizing bandwidth usage is important to ensure proper system function. Bandwidth is the maximum amount of data the network can receive in a given time, usually within one second. It plays a vital role in data transmission and impacts the speed and quality of the network.
Every system has different bandwidth requirements, which are determined by varying factors. Common examples include:
- Number of cameras
- Camera model
- Video resolution
- Video storage type
- Video compression
- Smart Codec
- Video analytics
It’s best to estimate the current bandwidth requirements based on these factors before implementation. Having sufficient bandwidth enables the system to send video feeds to servers faster, eliminating stream delays, poor video quality and video corruption.
Consulting With Experts
Expert opinion is key when deploying video surveillance systems on a large scale. With the rapid evolution of the digital security landscape, professionals can provide invaluable services and assist in the following ways:
- Technical expertise: Professionals can tailor solutions to meet specific needs, considering the existing infrastructure, budget constraints and growth strategies. You can leverage your industry experience and knowledge to develop innovative solutions to enhance system performance.
- Industry insight: Security integrators can exchange information with professionals and gain insight into industry trends, standards and best practices. This collaboration can empower teams to scale with emerging technologies.
- Troubleshooting and support: Experts can provide troubleshooting assistance for technical issues before and after deployment. They can diagnose problems and offer solutions to resolve them promptly. Technical support could be remote or on-site, depending on the circumstances.
How BCD Can Help
BCD is the leading video surveillance provider in the United States, helping security integrators implement practical solutions. We have an impressive array of resources and technologies you can use to streamline your large-scale security system deployment. Here are a few examples:
BCD Bandwidth and Storage Calculator
BCD’s IP video bandwidth and storage calculator generate precise estimates of the bandwidth and hard storage drive needs for your network. This solution works for large-scale deployments, allowing you to develop personalized plans.
BCD RAID Calculator
A redundant array of independent disks (RAID) combines multiple physical drives for data redundancy and performance improvement. With BCD’s RAID requirement calculator, you can determine the appropriate capacity for your video security projects. The tool enables you to execute projects with certainty.
BCD Harmonize RMM Plug-In
The Harmonize remote monitoring and management (RMM) plug-in connects every aspect of your security environment into one central management hub. This tool lets you easily monitor and manage the video surveillance system on-site or remotely. Additionally, you customize the telemetry thresholds and alerts to reduce downtime.
BCD Strategic Partnerships
Over the years, BCD has collaborated with powerful technology partners to provide innovative, advanced solutions that can support you in your project needs.
Solve Your Video Security Deployment Challenges With BCD
BCD is dedicated to delivering video surveillance solutions globally. We offer integrated systems and sophisticated hardware and software platforms to solve diverse video security deployment challenges. Our team is here to help you find the solutions you need to successfully deploy large-scale video systems. Contact us today to discover how we can assist.
