Below are the most important points that must be taken into account when analyzing the medium and long-term costs of a video surveillance system.
By Uri Guterman*
Thinking about the fundamental problems that affect the total cost of ownership (CTP), I recalled the following quote attributed to John Ruskin, poet and author of the nineteenth century: "It is not wise to pay too much, but neither is it prudent to pay too little. When you pay too much, you lose some money. That's all. When you pay too little, sometimes you lose everything, because what you bought didn't do what you were supposed to do.
Common business law prohibits paying little and getting a lot. It can't be done. If you go for the cheapest offer, you must add something because of the risk you run. And if you do, it's because you have enough to pay for something better."
With regard to video surveillance, the quote is as relevant today as it was when John Ruskin wrote it more than 200 years ago. In difficult economic times, when there are pressures to minimize expenses, there is always a risk that the return on investment (ROI) projections for a video surveillance system include only the costs associated with immediate or short-term objectives of the end users, rather than the CTP during the life of a system.
When calculating the CTP, it is recommended to take into account recurring charges as well as one-time costs. This means that in addition to the initial cost of cameras, recorders, video management software (VMS), cabling, network devices and installation charges, the cost of power supply, maintenance and service of the video surveillance system must also be taken into account. The cost of future upgrades should also not be ignored if your requirements are likely to change, either because you want to expand system coverage or perhaps to include other possibilities.
So, here are some suggestions we recommend keeping in mind when deciding which video surveillance products, in addition to meeting your immediate requirements, will offer long-term value and give no surprises in the future with unexpected costs that have not been budgeted:
1. Cameras must have an open platform and their chipset the ability to analyze third-party video in an integrated manner.
2. Cameras and recorders must have compatibility with H.265 and other compression formats. Multipixel images can quickly consume the storage space available on an NVR or server when recorded at full resolution and frame rate. This could be expensive in terms of bandwidth consumption and storage cost when there is a need to record and store expert type images.
3. It must be an upgradable and future-proof product, with integration capacity.
4. They must have upgradeable firmware. The ability to do so alone will justify paying a little more for cameras compared to those that can't. Verify that the manufacturer has a policy of offering updates free of charge.
5. Does the manufacturer offer cameras with integrated video analytics? If so, are the licenses free or how much will you have to pay for them? We recommend that any video surveillance system you install be future-proof by using AI-based analytics-enabled cameras with Deep Learning built into the camera.
6. Cameras and recorders must have integrated platforms offered by leading independent VMS development companies. Otherwise, this could have an impact on the costs associated with expanding a system as requirements change. If you do not intend to use third-party VMS, ask the camera manufacturer for a demonstration of their own video management software and/or user interface. An intuitive and therefore easy-to-use interface will minimize training costs.
7. Can the manufacturer provide a life cycle calculation of the specified products and can it give you proof of their reliability? This is especially important when there are moving parts. Does the manufacturer offer a hassle-free advanced replacement service for the products under warranty and does its warranty extend for at least 3 years? Some manufacturers, such as Hanwha Techwin, offer a 5-year warranty through the installers and system integrators that are part of the partnership program.
8. What are the estimated energy costs of the individual system components? we suggest that you specify IP network cameras with low power PoE. This also helps reduce installation costs by not having to install power outlets for each camera and reduces the amount of wiring needed.
9. How long will it take to install the specified cameras, VCRs and other devices? Can they be configured remotely or reconfigured in the future without a technician having to make a site visit? Some cameras have motorized PTRZ mechanisms that allow installation technicians to control the camera lens (move, tilt, rotate and zoom) remotely to set the optimal field of view.
10. There are also time- and money-saving advantages to working with manufacturers that supply video management software (VMS) pre-installed on NVRs, as well as video analytics preloaded on their cameras.
11. Undoubtedly the most important factor is the ability of a product to withstand a cyberattack, they are a major threat to the ability of end users to keep their confidential information safe and their resolution can be expensive.
12. It is strongly recommended that video surveillance products are only purchased from manufacturers that support the objectives of the Secure by Default Standard.
13. It would be preferable to look for manufacturers whose recorders can be integrated with specialized third-party video masking software. This will help protect the privacy of people whose images have been captured and recorded but who are not involved in any criminal activity, event or incident.
14. Recorders must also have GDPR-compliant features, allowing them to be programmed to automatically delete video evidence after a specified maximum number of days, unless the operator has marked the sequence for a longer period of time.
* Uri Guterman, Director of Product and Marketing at Hanwha Techwin Europe.
