Signed, Sealed, Delivered
From transmission to storage, IP floods security market
- By Jon Epperson
- Apr 01, 2010
It is no secret that the use of IP video has flooded every corner of the
physical security market. Driven by a continuous stream of technology
advancements, such as high-definition IP cameras, the IP video
movement continues to gain momentum each year. In fact, despite the
impact of the economic slowdown on the video surveillance industry,
the 2009 growth rate for global IP video equipment is expected to top
15 percent, according to IMS Research.
The Digital Movement
The transition from analog to digital video surveillance technology
is happening fast, which is no surprise when you consider the
many useful applications for IP video. In analog infrastructures,
which are still widely used, transmitting a signal via coaxial cable
proved an effective and practical solution -- but one that suffered
from limitations in transmission distance and signal degradation.
Today, with the ongoing transition to digital technology,
massive amounts of data can be effectively transported throughout
vast network geographies. This presents numerous application
opportunities in a variety of markets.
Corporate surveillance. Businesses across the board are utilizing
state-of-the-art IP megapixel cameras to monitor and maintain
security across their facilities and corporate campuses.
Transportation. Chains of high-performance surveillance
cameras provide a critical view of activity, breaches, congestion
and traffic patterns along railways and freeway systems.
Education. Colleges and universities are implementing comprehensive
video surveillance across their campuses, inside and
out, to ensure the safety of students and faculty.
Utilities. Power plants and water treatment facilities can effectively
monitor perimeters to maintain the high level of security
required to ensure continuous, uninterrupted operation.
Despite the promise of IP video, organizations must overcome
obstacles before they can take full advantage of it. More powerful
HD/megapixel IP cameras -- the true game changers in the surveillance
industry -- are generating huge amounts of video data,
which poses a significant challenge in terms of how to store video
data, faithfully receive the high-resolution video signals at the recorder,
and then effectively and efficiently transmit that information
throughout the organization to those who need it, all without
compromising the integrity and quality of the video data.
Storing IP Video
For recorded video to become a truly useful asset, it needs to be
properly stored and the quality of the video must be high. Whether
it’s an insurance company gathering information for a lawsuit
or claim, or a law enforcement agency sifting through video evidence
to solve a crime, organizations depend on stable, high-quality
surveillance video. Anything less is simply unacceptable.
DVRs. Used by roughly 70 percent of the video surveillance
market, DVRs have been a tried and true storage option
for many years. With the heavy demands of today’s dataintensive
IP surveillance systems, however, DVRs sometimes
struggle to deliver adequate performance and reliability in
certain environments.
NVRs. A more robust storage alternative, NVRs can support
more cameras, including demanding megapixel cameras, and provide
greater scalability and opportunities for integration. However,
like DVRs, NVRs are most effective when they are specifically
built for video storage. That is, they need to be designed to
write data as opposed to reading it and feature specially designed
drives that deliver high-speed, high-volume data input/output.
Storage area networks. As video storage requirements rise,
storage area networks also have jumped into the spotlight. By
providing dedicated networks for connecting multiple storage
devices to a central server (or servers), SANs offer a high level
of storage flexibility and simplified storage administration. The
challenge with SANs lies with their relatively moderate ability
to provide quick retrieval of video data. Rather, SANs are designed
more for “deep” archival of massive amounts of video
for future use.
For any IP video system to be truly effective, it must include
a storage system that allows instant access to recorded video.
Still, some IT managers insist that system integrators lump video
storage with enterprise-wide network storage projects to justify
the investment, but often with poor results.
Delivering Video Data
Regardless of the protocol, storage is a critical consideration for
any IP video environment. As IP camera advancements continue
to push video storage needs into the stratosphere, storing IP video
data becomes more important. In other words, advanced storage
capabilities are useless if you can’t put your high-quality IP video
data into action across the network.
However, not all networks are built for the high demands of
video. Established IP networks are designed to handle traditional
forms of data -- such as text or documents -- low traffic volume
with intermittent spikes and very short connection times. In this
type of environment, the accuracy of the data takes precedence
over the length of time it takes to reach its destination.
With video, on the other hand, networks must be able to accommodate
a consistently high volume of data traffic and prolonged
connection times. Here, while data accuracy also is critical,
the immediacy of the data -- video footage -- is the primary
concern. And unlike traditional data, the quality and integrity
of streaming video can be greatly affected by packet loss. When
information is lost in a video stream, the impact is clearly noticeable
and can significantly hinder a security professional’s ability
to capture critical events.
Couple these concerns with emerging camera technology that
produces never-before-seen video quality and the objective becomes
clear: an advanced transmission infrastructure is an absolute
must. Fortunately, as one would expect, there are a variety
of available communication media that
can ensure high-quality IP video data is
successfully transported and delivered.
Fiber transmission has long played an
integral role in the surveillance industry
and continues to do so as the digital revolution
gets up to speed. Offering the highest
data transmission capacity available, fiber
will always be a relevant part of the IP
video discussion because it futureproofs
organizations as camera technology -- and
the amount of data they produce -- continues
to grow.
When it comes to transmitting IP video
data, fiber offers significant advantages.
EMI/RFI immunity. Unlike copperbased
systems, fiber-optic transmission is
immune to electromagnetic interference
and radio frequency interference.
Distance. Fiber optics can transmit
video data over longer distances than
Cat-5 cabling and with far less degradation
in overall quality. This is particularly
important for organizations that need to
extend the reach of their video system to
remote locations.
Highly secure. Because fiber does not
radiate electromagnetic pulses or other
energy forms, it remains very difficult for
intruders to detect.
High bandwidth. Fiber optics provide
capacities far above that of other network
structures that can easily handle the heavy
data transmission demands of IP video.
Lightning protection. Fiber does not
conduct electricity, making it completely
immune to nearly all forms of interference,
such as lightning and power surges.
Network Transmission
In addition to fiber’s virtually limitless potential,
a tremendous opportunity exists
for products that improve video transport
within an Ethernet network or across public
networks. The broad availability of the
Internet, for example, makes it an ideal
medium for a wide range of businesses
that need to exchange video data throughout
the world on a 24-hour basis.
Most businesses need to ensure that
their communications remain separate, private
and secure. Public or shared networks
are typically unable to provide a suitable
platform for transmitting information privately.
But that trend is changing.
Virtual private networks, for example,
have for years enabled organizations to establish
a secure private network over the
Internet. Promising new hardware VPN
devices reduce the complexity and cost of
implementing VPNs, making them more
accessible for many businesses. By using
encrypted tunneling devices that are optimized
for controlling video throughput
on an Ethernet network, organizations
can eliminate the need to use costly leased
lines to transport Ethernet data between
remote connections to video systems, access
control systems or data/audio links.
Wireless Transmission
The ongoing digital movement also has
opened the door for greater wireless connectivity
as IP nodes are interconnected
across large installations. Digital conversion
technology has spread to the wireless
world as well as to fiber, which has improved
the quality and reliability of wireless
connectivity in point-to-point, point-to-
multipoint and mesh configurations.
Fiber-optic technology is by far the
most efficient way, in terms of bandwidth,
to transmit video in a digital environment.
As IP-based video surveillance continues
to gain momentum, fiber optics will most
certainly play a key role in the future of
the security industry.
A system’s transmission infrastructure
is a top priority for many organizations,
and providers of fiber, wireless and networking
products stand poised to meet the
growing needs of the marketplace. Rapid
adoption of high-definition video systems
has raised the stakes, making reliable communication
connectivity for high-definition,
high-bandwidth video -- precisely
what fiber delivers -- an absolute must for
organizations in every major market.
It is apparent, however, that some
technology integrators remain apprehensive
about selling and installing fiber
and wireless transmission products. With
the ongoing transition to digital technology,
analog integrators would certainly
be wise to invest in expanding their IP
expertise. Similarly, network integrators
should make a concerted effort to maximize
their security system capabilities
and add fiber and wireless products to
their toolset so they can provide a range
of transmission options to their customers
with supreme confidence.
Contrary to popular perceptions, fiber
is very easy to use. Simple splicing and
diagnostic tools are affordable and user
friendly, and wireless point-to-point products
provide plug-and-play integration.
Wireless mesh systems continue to fill immediate
wireless transmission needs across
the industry and provide an excellent
solution for specific applications. Whatever
the chosen medium, it is critical for today’s
integrator to fully understand the nature
of the applications and environments to
be served, and choose appropriately.
Sweating the Data Details
The key point to remember is that storage
and transmission go hand in hand.
While properly storing IP video data is a
critical component of any IP infrastructure,
the transport part of your system
requires an equal amount of attention, if
not more. Any surveillance system is only
as good as its weakest link, and a poor
transmission infrastructure will lead to
video gaps, pixelation and, ultimately,
system failure.
As the adoption of HD cameras and
monitors extends across the broader market,
technology integrators, in particular,
will be looked upon to help companies deliver
their high-quality digital video information
without degradation. And as the
decision making for security systems shifts
at least in part to IT managers, ensuring
the integrity of the information streaming
across the network will be top of mind.
With more surveillance devices generating
more video and data information --
whether video, video analytics, access
control, biometrics or building control --
the industry will require more advanced
monitoring and a stronger community of
forensic professionals to properly analyze
information in security centers that are
long distances from the signal source.
New Opportunities
for Ethernet
While a growing number of organizations
leverage new or existing IP infrastructure
rather than traditional analog point-topoint
fiber links, a range of new opportunities
have been created, both for Ethernet-
over-fiber and the appliances that help
connect the signal-gathering devices to the
network, such as managed and unmanaged
switches and media converters.
More importantly, however, is what
the future holds for IP networks. With the
exponential growth of IP data streams, it
is only a matter of time before 10, 40 and
even 100 Gigabit networks become part of
the mainstream. When that happens, fiber
won’t be just one option for delivering
data, it will be the only option.
This article originally appeared in the April 2010 issue of Network-Centric Security.