Video surveillance has long been used in securing commercial and multifamily properties, but it has evolved to meet today’s growing threats. Where property managers once relied on grainy footage and local monitors, modern systems use high-definition video surveillance cameras with motion detection, event-triggered recording, and AI-powered analytics. When integrated with access control and alarms, these platforms can help security teams detect and respond faster to threats, preventing incidents and enabling coordinated security across multiple sites. 

In this guide, we answer the question of how video surveillance cameras work. We also explore the key components and smart features behind them and explain how managed services are transforming surveillance into a proactive, streamlined security solution for property owners. 

Core Components of a Commercial Surveillance System 

A modern video surveillance system is a network of interconnected components designed to capture, transmit, store, and manage video footage securely and efficiently. 

Cameras: Analog vs. IP Models 

How does CCTV work? Analog cameras send video through coaxial cables to a DVR (Digital Video Recorder) for storage. They’re usually more budget-friendly and simple to set up, but they lack the sharp image quality and smart features that newer technology has. 

In contrast, IP cameras capture and digitize video right at the source, then stream it over a network to an NVR (Network Video Recorder) or directly to the cloud. This allows for higher resolution, remote access, and more advanced surveillance capabilities. 

DVRs and NVRs: Where Footage Is Stored 

DVRs work with analog camera systems. They receive analog signals, convert them to digital, compress the footage, and store it on local hard drives. DVRs require direct, wired connections to cameras and are generally less expensive. 

NVRs are used with IP camera systems to receive already-digitized video over a network. They allow for higher-quality video, easier scalability, and greater flexibility in camera placement. NVRs also make remote viewing and management much simpler, which is a major advantage in multi-site properties.  

However, on-site NVRs require a VPN or specific software for remote access, which can be complex to set up. Cloud systems provide remote access to video footage from anywhere with an internet connection, with no need for special software. Additionally, cloud storage is more scalable, allowing for easy addition of cameras and locations without the limitations of physical storage. 

Cloud Storage and Hybrid Solutions  

With cloud storage, the surveillance system encrypts footage and sends it over the internet, typically from the cameras or recording devices to secure off-site data centers. This protects video footage even if on-site equipment is damaged or stolen and makes it easy for authorized users to access recordings from anywhere. Modern cloud platforms use encryption, multi-factor authentication, and continuous monitoring to safeguard data and minimize exposure. 

You can also use a hybrid approach, which means you keep recent footage on premises for quick access, while also backing up important recordings to the cloud. This way, you’ll get the speed and convenience of local storage plus the extra safety and flexibility of cloud backup. 

How Commercial Video Surveillance Captures and Transmits Footage 

How do video surveillance cameras work? 

1.  Image Capture: The camera lens focuses light onto an image sensor, usually a CMOS or CCD sensor. This sensor converts the light into electrical signals, creating a raw video signal representing the scene being monitored. 

2.  Video Processing and Encoding: The camera’s processor enhances the image quality by adjusting brightness and contrast, then compresses and encodes the video into a digital format to reduce file size and prepare it for transmission or storage. 

3.  Video Transmission: Once the video is encoded, it’s sent to a storage system. In analog setups, the footage travels through coaxial cables to a DVR for processing. With IP cameras, the digital video is transmitted over an Ethernet connection or Wi-Fi—either to an NVR or directly to the cloud for storage. 

4.  Recording and Storage: Video footage is stored locally on DVRs or NVRs or remotely in cloud storage. Hybrid systems combine both local and cloud storage for faster access and backup security. 

5.  Footage Review and Analysis: Recorded video can be reviewed anytime for investigation or evidence. Advanced systems may use AI-powered analytics to detect faces, objects, or unusual behavior. A downside to onsite storage is that any analytics of the footage must happen on location, and sharing the footage is challenging. In serious cases, it can even require giving the video to legal authorities as evidence, which they may physically remove to secure elsewhere. 

Smart Features That Modern Systems Offer 

Modern commercial video surveillance systems have intelligent features that make security more proactive, efficient, and accessible. 

Motion Detection and Event-Triggered Recording 

Motion detection enables cameras to recognize movement within their field of view. It can then trigger an alarm or start recording.  

Advanced motion detection algorithms also filter out irrelevant movements like animals or shadows, reducing false alarms and drawing attention to real security events. Because the system only records relevant footage, it saves storage space and makes it easier to identify and review relevant footage.  

Motion-based recording, combined with real-time alerts, helps prevent crime and protect your property. Alerts prompt quick action from the security team when something suspicious occurs, while the footage helps show what happened and who was involved. 

AI-Powered Analytics and Object Detection 

AI-powered analytics can identify and classify objects such as people, vehicles, and packages, and detect unusual behaviors like loitering or tailgating. Features like facial recognition, license plate recognition, and behavioral analytics help security teams respond faster and more accurately to potential threats. AI also drastically reduces false alarms by ignoring irrelevant activity, which makes surveillance more reliable and efficient.  

Remote Viewing and Mobile Access 

Cloud-based platforms allow users to access live and surveillance footage from anywhere via smartphones, tablets, or computers, making video surveillance for multifamily properties or commercial properties easier. 

System Integration with Broader Security Infrastructure 

 Cloud-based video surveillance systems can integrate with access control, alarm, and emergency systems to create a unified security solution that provides a more all-encompassing data record of any event.  

Access Control Integration 

Video surveillance can integrate seamlessly with access control, if you have an advanced system and provider, by tying live video footage directly to access credential activity records. When someone uses a badge to enter, for example, the system captures their visual identity and logs it alongside the access event. If a breach occurs, there is a visual record of entry that can verify if the access identity of an entrant matches what the visual record shows, which can be invaluable for forensic investigations. 

With AI, security teams can instantly verify if the person matches the credential used, detect tailgating, and flag suspicious activity. Some systems, like Kastle, smart search, even support natural language search, making it easy to find entries based on appearance, behavior, or specific timeframes. This makes it faster and easier for security teams to review incidents, confirm who accessed what areas, and spot any unusual activity. 

Alarm Systems Integration 

You can program your cameras to start recording once an alarm is triggered. This can be for many reasons: forced access, motion in a restricted area, or after-hours access. The system can then send footage immediately to security teams.  

Also, when your team gets an alert, they can see what’s happening in real time. This way, your security teams and emergency responders have more situational awareness and can respond more accurately. 

Emergency Systems Integration 

Video surveillance integrates with emergency systems to support faster, more coordinated responses during critical events. Live video feeds give first responders real-time visuals to assess the situation, identify safe entry points, and locate individuals in need. The system can also trigger automated actions, like locking down doors or activating alarms, to help contain threats and protect occupants. 

Challenges in Maintaining System Reliability 

Even the most advanced video surveillance system can experience breakdowns if it’s not properly installed, maintained, and monitored. Here are some of the most common challenges and how to stay ahead of them: 

• Improper Installation and Maintenance: Poor installation or skipped maintenance, like failing to clean lenses, check cable connections, or update software, can lead to camera malfunctions and produce blurry or unreliable footage. Regular professional servicing will keep your surveillance systems functioning well. 

• Power and Network Interruptions: Power outages or unstable internet connections can cause system downtime, which can lead to gaps in video coverage, and you may miss critical footage. Keep backup power sources like UPS, solar, or generators. 

• Missing Critical Updates: Failing to install software updates or regularly reset passwords can leave your system exposed to cyber threats. Hackers can exploit these weaknesses to access or disable your surveillance network. Stay protected by enabling automatic updates, using strong, unique passwords, and conducting regular audits. 

• Human Oversight: A human operator can get tired or distracted and miss important events or respond late to a security incident. AI-enabled surveillance can monitor feeds in real time and flag unusual activity, reducing the need for constant human attention. 

• Footage Loss and Compliance Risks: Without proper storage, you can lose critical footage, or it could be overwritten. Use cloud or hybrid storage solutions to reduce cost, get easier access to your footage, and prevent data loss. 

The Value of Managed Video Surveillance Services 

Managed video surveillance services offer several key benefits that simplify operations for building managers: 

• Expert 24/7 Monitoring: Managed providers like Kastle deliver continuous professional monitoring, ensuring rapid detection and response to security incidents without on-site staff.  

• Reduced Operational Burden: Outsourcing system maintenance, updates, and repairs to a provider removes the need for internal security teams to manage complex technology and troubleshooting. Cloud-based systems also push security upgrades regularly and automatically, ensuring the latest cyber protection without requiring manual oversight. 

• Cost Predictability: With a fixed monthly fee, you can avoid unexpected expenses related to equipment failures or emergency repairs, improving budget control. 

• Seamless Integration: Managed services ensure video surveillance works smoothly with other security systems like access control and alarms, creating a unified security infrastructure. 

• Regulatory Compliance and Reporting: Providers handle compliance requirements and offer detailed analytics and reports, helping managers maintain transparency and meet industry standards. 

Choosing the Right Surveillance System for Your Property 

Choosing the right surveillance system will help you get the full benefits of video surveillance. Here’s what to consider when making your decision: 

• Assess your current video surveillance system and security requirements based on property type, size, and layout. This helps you identify gaps, prioritize high-risk areas, and choose a solution that fits your unique environment. 

• Understand whether you need indoor, outdoor, or both types of coverage.  

• Choose a system that can grow with your business. 

• Balance upfront costs with features that improve system effectiveness, such as high-resolution imaging, motion detection, and AI-powered analytics.  

• Consider ease of use, compatibility with existing infrastructure, remote access capabilities, and compliance with legal requirements. 

Make Surveillance Smarter and More Reliable with Kastle 

Kastle’s cloud-based video platform and AI-powered cameras analyze every activity in real time, detect unusual events, and alert your security team for proactive threat response. We manage your security from the setup to your day-to-day operations.  

Our dedicated team of security professionals monitors your sites 24/7, ready to respond and alert your security team and law enforcement when we detect suspicious activity. This expert oversight reduces the risk of human error or missed events, so you can rest assured that your buildings are protected and monitored even when you’re off-site.  

Contact us to discover how Kastle’s security solutions can protect your property and streamline your operations.