A Security Camera System Is Actually Not About the Cameras
Home security cameras like Ring, Blink, and Wyze are very affordable. Installing these devices and using the companion apps are not complicated either. But that’s the easy part.
So, what do you really need to know when setting up an IoT security camera system?
Centralized vs. distributed storage
In the past, most surveillance systems stored footage on a central DVR. Today, most service plans store the footage in the cloud (aka, “other people’s computer connected by a series of tubes”) — which means footage may not get stored, or you may not be able to retrieve a recording if your internet connection goes down.
Plus, it’s not if but when security breaches will happen. Personally, we don’t want to store our security camera recordings in the cloud, potentially giving bad actors access to footage of our property and schedule.
That’s why we recommend that most clients use memory cards. Since each camera will have its own SD card, you automatically build redundancy into the system because you can keep recording from a different angle, even if one card or camera fails. These cards will also keep recording even when the internet goes down, allowing you to retrieve footage later.
Be sure you use high-quality, high-endurance memory cards. The Caliente weather is harsh, and extreme UV and temperature fluctuations may damage lesser hardware. Meanwhile, frequent rewriting will trash poor-quality products.
Cybersecurity and IoT vulnerability
IoT security is notoriously lax, and all camera systems are hackable. Don’t assume that you’re immune — always be cautious.
Consider what your cameras record and don’t include much personally identifiable information or anything of high economic value to cybercriminals in the frame (e.g., pointing at a driveway or your livestock is fine, but the keypad where you enter your PIN to disarm a security system — not so much!)
We have read enough cybersecurity cautionary tales to take cloud storage systems’ security with a grain of salt. Local storage has some constraints (e.g., the footage is overwritten in a few days), but it might be the more secure route to protect your privacy.
Additionally, you should create a subnet for your IoT cameras (and other IoT devices like thermostats), isolating them from your home’s main WiFi network. These devices are notoriously easy to hack, and criminals can use them as a pivot point to infiltrate your network and steal valuable information.
Signal strength and network planning
Most consumer security camera solutions use wireless connectivity. The devices' impact on a network may go unnoticed in suburban homes where only one or two cameras are placed close to the router.
However, you’ll likely bring the router, cameras, and your existing WiFi to their knees if you plop six or eight cameras, some of which are far from the router, onto your main network.
To ensure all the IoT devices coexist happily, we perform network and wireless frequency planning for everything on WiFi. For example:
We push all the cameras to the 2.4 GHz band for longer-distance transmissions.
We put devices for activities that need fast connectivity and low latency (e.g., gaming, video calls, productivity apps) into the 5 or 6 GHz band, where they can access more spectrum and won’t compete with the 2.4 GHz band.
(Here’s a nerdy tidbit: Microwave ovens run on 2.4 GHz. If you use the 2.4 GHz band for a video call and start the microwave, the call may cut out.)
Then, you must beam the internet to where you place the cameras. You may use various methods (e.g., directional antenna, wireless bridge relay) based on the terrain, distance, and requirements. As a bonus to this exercise, many of our clients also get good-quality internet coverage throughout their properties!
A multi-faceted implementation
Designing and implementing a security camera system is actually about network security and planning.
When you research your options, take reviews and recommendations with a grain of salt. For example, people who write about product issues may actually have network challenges. Those who put one camera on their WiFi may not experience problems, but those who dump eight onto their network without reconfiguration won’t get lucky.
While mounting and aiming the cameras are the visible part of the work — that’s the easy stuff. There’s more than what meets the eye if you want multiple cameras covering various areas on your property.
Need help with the nerdy stuff? Get in touch!
