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CCTV Storage Explained
The number of cameras is only one part of CCTV storage planning. Recording bitrate, video compression, resolution, frame rate, recording schedule and retention period determine how much data is generated. The recorder and storage architecture must be able to handle both incoming video and required playback.
Identify the purpose of each camera, required image detail and the areas that need continuous or event-based recording. Camera settings may vary between entrances, large open areas and general monitoring.
Bitrate represents how much data the video stream produces per second. It can change with codec, scene complexity and configured quality. Use realistic configured or measured bitrates rather than assuming every camera generates the same data.
For continuous recording, an initial decimal estimate is: camera count × bitrate in Mbps × 10.8 GB per day per Mbps × number of days. For example, ten cameras at 4 Mbps each for 30 days would produce approximately 12,960 GB, or 12.96 TB, before storage overhead, redundancy and variation. This is an illustrative calculation, not a final equipment specification.
Raw drive capacity is not necessarily the capacity available for recording. RAID, reserved space, filesystem overhead and drive support affect usable storage. Verify recorder channel limits, incoming bandwidth, supported disks, playback requirements and resilience.
Agree the required recording period and any site or authority requirements with the responsible parties. Confirm how footage will be accessed, exported and protected. Revisit capacity if cameras or recording settings change.
Send PROVE your camera count, expected bitrate or resolution, recording schedule and retention requirement. We can review recorder and storage options against the project scope.
