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Factors that affect how much data storage you need<\/h3>\n
It\u2019s probably not a surprise that there isn\u2019t a simple rule of thumb for figuring out how much capacity you need to store your video footage. It depends on a few key factors:<\/p>\n
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- The number of cameras<\/strong> \u2013 a small warehouse might have just a handful of cameras placed around the building\u2019s perimeter, while an airport could have thousands of cameras spread across several square miles. Obviously, the airport is going to need more data storage capacity.<\/li>\n
- Image resolution<\/strong> \u2013 not everyone needs the latest 8K video resolution. Higher resolution takes up more storage space. In fact, depending on various factors, a solid-state drive (SSD) that can store 25 hours of 4K video might only be able to store 80 minutes or so of 8K footage.<\/li>\n
- Camera bitrate<\/strong> \u2013 this refers to the quality of the video and, similar resolution, higher bit rate is higher quality but also takes up more storage.<\/li>\n
- Compression<\/strong> \u2013 this is a way to make video files smaller and some compression formats will need more storage space than others. Some popular compression formats are MP4, AVI, MOV and H.265 and which one you choose will depend on how and where the video will be used.<\/li>\n
- Storage time<\/strong> \u2013 some experts estimate that the value of CCTV video footage begins to decrease after just 15 minutes, but many organizations are subject to industry regulations that require them to keep video footage for specific amounts of time to stay compliant. The longer you have to retain video footage, the more storage you will need.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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How SSDs and SDs are used in data storage for video surveillance footage<\/h3>\n
Today\u2019s organizations have a lot of options when it comes to methods of storing video surveillance footage\u2014from USB drives and microSD cards to hard disk drives (HDDs), SSDs and the cloud\u2014and again, which method is best can vary based on the company\u2019s needs and use cases. However, two of the most common storage methods are SSDs and SDs.<\/p>\n
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Why SSDs?<\/strong><\/p>\n
In the past, SSDs were considered less ideal to store data in CCTV recorders because while they offered higher performance and lower latency than traditional HDDs and other devices, they were designed with a preset number of write cycles (or how often data can be written to the drive). Once those write cycles reached the limit, the SSD\u2019s durability decreased quickly. NAND flash SSDs were also quite pricey compared to other types of storage as well.<\/p>\n
Now, however, SSDs are becoming more common in storing video surveillance footage. That\u2019s because pricing has begun to come down and also because some manufacturers, such as Phison, have created SSDs that are optimized for write-intensive workloads. These write-intensive SSDs<\/a> can stand up to the needs of CCTV recorders.<\/p>\n
Why SDs?<\/strong><\/p>\n
Video surveillance cameras have evolved from bulky, hard-to-access professional devices to lightweight, mobile, wireless and generally public-friendly commercial products. Therefore, the storage devices that go with these new types of cameras must also have the same characteristics of being easy to use and easy to access.<\/p>\n
As automotive technology<\/a> has evolved, video surveillance has become more common in vehicles. The importance of drive recorders becomes more significant for both legal and recreational purposes, especially when the industry is aggressively shifting from analog vehicles to electric cars that are connected by complicated networks.<\/p>\n
To meet these new needs in terms of being easy to use and accessible\u2014and also well-suited to use in automobiles where space is limited, SDs are a very popular data storage choice for manufacturers and end users alike.<\/p>\n
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<\/a>Read: Leveraging Advanced Data Storage To Empower the Future of Smart Cities<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
Benefits of using SSDs or SDs for video data storage<\/h3>\n
In addition to offering much higher performance than HDDs and other storage devices, SSDs:<\/p>\n
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- Have no moving parts, which makes them emit less heat at the source and reduces the likelihood of component breakages<\/li>\n
- Can withstand vibrations and movement<\/li>\n
- Consume less energy<\/li>\n
- Are smaller and lighter than HDDs<\/li>\n
- Run silently to create less distraction in sensitive environments<\/li>\n
- Deliver fast performance so footage plays back smoothly<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
The benefits of using an SD include:<\/p>\n
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- Small size, which make them perfect for any type of video camera from fixed to mobile<\/li>\n
- Simple, portable and easily replaceable so end users can manage data the way they want<\/li>\n
- Inexpensive and readily available<\/li>\n
- Stable high performance that increases in quality depending on the grade of the drive (common UHS-I ultra-high-speed mode vs. even faster UHS-II or SD Express<\/a>, for instance)<\/li>\n
- Resistance to harsh environments, such as high\/low temperature, high humidity, moisture and so on<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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![\"\"](\"https:\/\/phisonblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/964_2890273177.jpg\")
<\/a>Read: How to Choose the Right Rugged and Industrial SD Cards for Your Application<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
SSDs excel at the edge<\/h3>\n
Cloud storage has become incredibly popular for storing video footage, thanks to its near-infinite scalability and no need to purchase hardware. While some CCTV recorders and cameras use on-board storage devices such as SSDs or microSD cards to hold onto data until it\u2019s uploaded to the cloud, other CCTV systems record video that bypasses an on-board storage device altogether and streams the footage to cloud storage in real time.<\/p>\n
That doesn\u2019t mean, however, that the need for SSDs will gradually decrease when it comes to storing video surveillance footage. And that\u2019s thanks to the emergence of edge computing<\/a>.<\/p>\n
Edge computing allows organizations to process data closer to the source where it\u2019s gathered. Before edge computing, for instance, a traditional surveillance camera at a traffic intersection would record video, which might be stored temporarily on an SSD or other storage device, but would then be transmitted to a central computing system that could analyze that data and send insights or alerts about possible problems to a Department of Transportation manager.<\/p>\n
With edge computing, however, the camera would be outfitted not only with a camera and a storage device, but would also have some software in its system that allowed it to analyze the footage right there as it\u2019s being collected. AI-based applications<\/a> could detect possible problems or identify bottlenecks and send the insights directly to the manager, eliminating the need\u2014and extra time it takes\u2014to send raw data to the central computing system.<\/p>\n
Edge computing requires fast performance and robust data storage. SSDs are exactly what those cameras on the edge need. They can store quite large capacities and deliver the performance and speeds the system needs to analyze data and get results quickly.<\/p>\n
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- Resistance to harsh environments, such as high\/low temperature, high humidity, moisture and so on<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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- Image resolution<\/strong> \u2013 not everyone needs the latest 8K video resolution. Higher resolution takes up more storage space. In fact, depending on various factors, a solid-state drive (SSD) that can store 25 hours of 4K video might only be able to store 80 minutes or so of 8K footage.<\/li>\n
- The number of cameras<\/strong> \u2013 a small warehouse might have just a handful of cameras placed around the building\u2019s perimeter, while an airport could have thousands of cameras spread across several square miles. Obviously, the airport is going to need more data storage capacity.<\/li>\n
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