Advances in IP video technology have expanded the use of video surveillance from the closed circuit television (CCTV) application, to applications that can improve virtually every aspect of a business – streamlining operations to increased protection and safety of facilities, inventory and staff. However, the ultimate value of surveillance systems is dependent on the critical video storage and recovery element, ensuring video data can be reviewed and analyzed long after an event has occurred. Video storage systems initially used magnetic tapes, however surveillance systems today use hard drives in two very different video recording systems – digital video recorders (DVRs) and network video recorders (NVRs).
DVRs first appeared in early 2000; NVRs appeared a few years later. The differences between the two technologies are significant.