The most common CCTV regret is discovering that footage has already been overwritten when an incident is reported. Retention — how many days of video your system keeps — should be designed in from the start, not discovered afterwards.
What drives storage needs
- Number of cameras: more cameras need more storage, in direct proportion.
- Resolution and compression: 2MP, 4MP and 8MP streams vary greatly, while H.265 compression significantly reduces storage use.
- Recording mode: continuous recording uses far more space than motion-based recording.
- Retention policy: security, HR and audit teams usually decide this. Agree it before you buy.
Choose the right drives and recorder
Desktop hard disks are not designed for 24×7 video writing. Use surveillance-grade drives, and choose an NVR with enough SATA bays for your retention target plus spare bays for later.
Real example: Brookfield Advisors
For Brookfield Advisors, SNA Infotech paired six Hikvision 2MP domes with a 32-channel, 8-bay Hikvision NVR and six 10 TB Seagate surveillance drives, giving 60 TB of raw capacity. The network runs on a D-Link 24-port PoE managed switch over AMP CAT6 cabling. The result is long retention today and room for 26 more cameras later. Read the full case study.
Quick checklist before you buy
- Agree the retention period with your security and compliance teams.
- Use H.265 compression and right-size camera resolution.
- Use surveillance-grade drives only.
- Buy an NVR with spare channels and spare drive bays.
- Use a managed PoE switch so IT can monitor it.
A quick sanity check: storage is the one part of a CCTV system you cannot add retroactively to footage already lost. If the budget is tight, cut camera count before you cut retention.
Planning CCTV for your plant, office or branch network?
SNA Infotech offers a free site survey across Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai, with brand options from CP Plus, Hikvision, Dahua and Honeywell. Call us on +91 22 4218 2620 or email mktg@sna-infotech.co.in.
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