As surveillance technology has evolved, so have the demands placed on storage infrastructure. The advent of high-resolution cameras, advanced video analytics and ever-expanding retention requirements has pushed traditional storage solutions to their limits. Enter enterprise-grade storage.
Network attached storage, NAS, and storage area networks, SANs, are powerful technologies that have made significant forays into the video surveillance industry. But with this shift comes a critical question for security integrators and IT professionals — which solution suits the unique demands of modern surveillance systems? Here specialists in this field at BCD Video explain the differences and how to make an informed decision when choosing between the two.
Network attached storage is a file-level storage architecture that provides centralised data access over a network. NAS systems are essentially dedicated file servers that connect to the network via standard Ethernet connections.
Noteworthy NAS features include:
● File-level access: NAS systems store and serve data as files, making them ideal for sharing documents and multimedia across a network.
● Ease of deployment: NAS devices are often plug-and-play, requiring minimal configuration.
● Cost-effectiveness: Generally, NAS systems are more affordable than SAN solutions, especially for smaller deployments.
● Built-in data management: Many NAS systems include features like RAID, snapshots and backup utilities.
In contrast, storage area network is a high-speed network of storage devices offering block-level access to data. SANs create a dedicated storage network separate from the regular local area network.
SAN’s unique characteristics
● Block-level access: SANs provide raw disk access for high-performance and low-latency data transfers.
● High-speed connectivity: SAN solutions often use fiber channel or iSCSI protocols for rapid data transmission.
● Scalability: SANs can easily expand to accommodate growing storage needs.
● Centralised management: SAN systems allow for efficient allocation and management of storage resources across multiple servers.
It is important to grasp the unique demands of video surveillance storage to choose between NAS and SAN. These requirements shape the decision between the storage solutions and influence system performance.
Thing to consider:
● High-resolution video data requirements: Modern surveillance cameras capture high-definition footage, generating massive amounts of data. For instance, 4K cameras can produce up to seven gigabytes of data per hour, necessitating robust storage solutions capable of handling this data flood.
● Continuous recording and data retention policies: Many surveillance systems operate 24/7, continuously writing data to storage. Moreover, retention policies often require storing footage for extended periods, increasing storage demands.
● Scalability and flexibility considerations: As organisations expand their camera networks or upgrade to higher-resolution devices, storage systems must scale seamlessly to accommodate growing data volumes.
● Importance of data security and redundancy: Surveillance footage often contains sensitive information, making data protection paramount. Storage solutions must offer robust security features and redundancy to safeguard against data loss.
Comparing NAS vs. SAN storage for video surveillance
NAS systems are suitable for small to medium-scale deployments. They can handle multiple simultaneous read/write operations but may experience performance bottlenecks in high-traffic scenarios. SAN solutions excel in high-performance environments. Their low-latency block-level access is ideal for real-time video streaming, making them better suited for large-scale deployments with numerous high-resolution cameras.
NAS is easy to scale by adding devices. However, it can become complex to manage as the number of devices increases and may require careful planning to avoid performance degradation during scaling. SAN systems are highly scalable and can easily accommodate hundreds of terabytes or petabytes. SAN is cost-effective for organizations with limited IT resources but may become less cost-effective at larger scales.
NAS systems have lower upfront costs, especially for smaller deployments, making them cost-effective for organisations with limited IT resources. Nevertheless, they may become less cost-effective at larger scales. SAN solutions require a higher initial investment due to specialised hardware and infrastructure. However, they are more cost-efficient for large-scale deployments and potentially offer a lower total cost of ownership in enterprise environments.
Generally, NAS systems are simpler to set up and manage. Their user-friendly interfaces are suitable for organisations with limited IT expertise. They may require additional effort to optimise for video surveillance workloads. SAN systems are more complex to set up and configure and require specialised knowledge for optimal performance tuning. However, they offer additional flexibility and control for advanced users.
Network attached storage often includes built-in RAID capabilities for data protection, and some systems offer failover and high-availability features. However, it may require additional configuration for robust disaster recovery. SAN provides enterprise-level redundancy and failover capabilities, supports advanced features like replication and snapshots and offers comprehensive disaster recovery options.
SAN systems are ideal for large-scale deployments with hundreds of high-resolution cameras, environments requiring real-time video analytics and organisations with existing SAN infrastructure or specialised IT teams. NAS systems are perfect for small to medium-sized businesses with limited IT resources, deployments with moderate performance requirements and organisations seeking cost-effective, easy-to-manage video surveillance storage solutions.
As a company BCD positions itself as an industry expert and a trusted advisor, it offers purpose-built video surveillance storage solutions to meet diverse client needs. The product lineup includes NAS and SAN options, aiming to ensure it is able to provide the right fit for any deployment.
BCD’s NAS solutions feature scale-out architecture supporting up to 28 petabytes of storage, no single point of failure for enhanced reliability and a five-year on-site, next-business-day, Keep Your Hard Drive warranty. For environments demanding peak performance, its SAN storage arrays offer up to 1.68 petabytes capacity in a single chassis, ADAPT, RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, 10 and 50 options for flexible data protection and redundant power supplies for increased uptime.
