Selecting and buying a network video recorder (NVR) today is not as easy as it used to be, simply because these security appliances are more powerful and capable than ever before, and offer more features. The basic questions one would ask about how many cameras/channels are supported, what the video storage capacity is, and how cyber-secure the NVR is are only the beginning of a list that security integrators should be prepared to discuss with potential vendors.
But first it’s mandatory that integrators know their own needs and those of their clients. “You’ve got to dig into determining what your customer requirements are — both from a technical and a business standpoint,” advises Mike Koponen, product and solutions manager for video surveillance, Quantum, San Jose, Calif. “I could rattle off all the technical things that have to do with storage capacity and number of cameras, the type of cameras, how long you’re going to keep your video, stuff like that. But then there’s also what the customers’ business requirements are.”