Moving Up the IP Video Ladder: Five Steps to Success

Security dealer integrators and end users alike need to start planning for the transition to IP video. In its latest report on the video surveillance market, JP Freeman expects the production of IP cameras to exceed analog cameras by the third quarter of 2(108. With manufacturers growing their line of IP equipment and investing in new features the time has come to ask these questions below so that you can make the process of stepping up to IP video a success.

1) Why IP video? This is a key question, and one that not enough people think through. When it comes to IP video, there seem to be two consistent answers: Total cost of ownership (TCO) or quality.

Yes, an IP-based system can have a lower TCO. The reason stems from using the existing IT infrastructure and knowledge that most companies have already purchased. The IT industry, for example, uses standardized low cost cabling.

People are tired of video looking like the unrecognizable faces in a convenience store tape on the 6 o'clock news. "My vision is that (high resolution) will be the driving factor for IP video adoption," says Ed Chandler, Chairman of Security By Design. "There is a consistent complaint that security video isn't good enough."

There are other benefits as well. Most digital video recorders (DVR) today have the ability to sit on the corporate network and allow remote video viewing from any computer. They often run afoul of the IT folks, however, since many are built using a Windows operating system without the ability to use the standard management tools IT demands for virus and patch control.

"Large corporate customers don't want to have any devices on the network that they can not secure," says Fredric Nilsson, GM Americas for AXIS Communications.

Building a true IP-based system using the IT group's preferred choice of servers, or network appliances that are not virus prone, solves this problem. When designed in this fashion, much of the task of maintaining the system can be picked up by the IT group as a part of their normal administration activities. "Moving to IP-based systems gives you, for the h'rst time, systems that can be maintained by the IT staff," says Paul Smith, COO of DVTel.

Integration with other security systems is another area where IP video systems excel. Not that it is impossible to integrate analog CCTV systems, but as a practical matter, IP systems have been designed in the last few years and are more suitable to the task. "IP systems tend to have a very rich API (application programming interface) which makes integration easier. This is a key driver in many markets," says Smith.

So, while there are a number of reasons to jump on the IP video bandwagon, you need to take the time to get it clear what your goals and perceived benefits are. Combining those goals with an understanding of the current system will make it easy to explain to management the current situation and why the upgrade makes sense.

2) Is IT our partner? It is hard to imagine how a security department or its vendors could be planning a network video installation without talking to the IT group.

3) Has a network assessment been performed? Key to the planning of any IP video system is an assessment of the state of your corporate network.

4) Is the transition based on the benefits that are needed? The transition plan from the old system to the new depends on two key factors: the state of the system now and the goals you have for the new project.

5) Have you planned for success? In this brave new converged world, it seems like these projects get more complex.

Moving Up the IP Video Ladder: Five Steps to Success . . Melville: .Vol.28, Iss. 11; pg. S8, 3 pgs