Recording Is the Heart of the System
Cameras get the attention, but when an incident happens, everything depends on the recorder and its hard disks. Undersized storage silently overwrites the footage you need. This article explains how we size recording systems for our clients.
DVR or NVR
A DVR records analog HD cameras connected by coaxial cable. An NVR records IP cameras over the network, often powering them through built in PoE ports. Choose the recorder to match your camera technology, and buy channel capacity with headroom: if you need 12 cameras today, a 16 channel unit costs little extra and leaves room to grow.
How Much Storage Do You Need
Storage consumption depends on four factors: number of cameras, resolution, frame rate and recording mode. As a rough guide, one 2 MP camera recording continuously with efficient H.265 compression consumes around 15 to 20 GB per day. Motion based recording can cut that by half or more in quiet areas. A typical 8 camera office aiming for 30 days of retention usually lands between 4 TB and 8 TB.
Retention Policy
- Offices and retail: 30 days is the common standard, since many issues surface weeks later.
- Warehouses and factories: 30 to 90 days, especially where insurance claims or statutory audits are possible.
- Cash handling and high risk zones: consider 90 days at full frame rate.
Practical Safeguards We Configure
- Surveillance grade hard disks rated for continuous writing, not desktop drives
- Disk health monitoring and email alerts on failure
- UPS backup so recordings survive power cuts
- Locked recorder cabinets, because thieves target the recorder first
- Periodic export of critical footage to separate storage
Get the Numbers Right First Time
We calculate storage from your actual camera list and retention target, and put the assumptions in writing in every quotation. For a sizing exercise for your premises, reach us at app.techguru.co.in or +91-8800567676.
