You're ready to install security cameras, but suddenly you're overwhelmed by technical questions:

  • How much internet bandwidth do cameras actually need?
  • Should they be hardwired or WiFi?
  • How much storage do you need for 30 days of footage?
  • What's an NVR and do you need one?

A bad security camera network design leads to dropped frames, storage running out, or worse—when you need footage, it's corrupted or missing.

In this guide, I'm walking through how to design a proper IP camera network so you get clear, reliable footage without breaking the bank.

Understanding Camera Bandwidth Requirements

This is where most DIY installations fail. The camera salesman says "bandwidth requirements are minimal" and you believe them. Then you install 8 cameras and your internet becomes unusable.

Here's the reality: Bandwidth depends on resolution, frame rate, and compression.

Bandwidth by Camera Type

1080p (1920 x 1080) at 30 fps (frames per second):

  • H.264 compression (older, better compression): 4-6 Mbps
  • H.265 compression (newer, best compression): 2-3 Mbps

2K (2560 x 1440) at 30 fps:

  • H.264: 6-10 Mbps
  • H.265: 3-5 Mbps

4K (3840 x 2160) at 30 fps:

  • H.264: 12-20 Mbps
  • H.265: 6-10 Mbps

What this means in practice:

  • One 1080p camera: 4-6 Mbps
  • Eight 1080p cameras: 32-48 Mbps
  • Eight 2K cameras: 24-40 Mbps

If you have 100 Mbps business internet and 8 cameras using 40 Mbps, you've just cut your usable business bandwidth in half.

Why H.265 Matters

H.265 is newer compression that reduces bandwidth and storage by 50% compared to H.264. If you're buying new cameras, insist on H.265. Yes, you'll need a compatible NVR, but the savings in bandwidth and storage are enormous.

The Right Approach: Separate Networks

The right way to handle security camera bandwidth is to isolate cameras from your business internet.

Two options:

Option A: Dedicated internet circuit

  • Buy a second, separate internet circuit just for cameras
  • Keeps business internet clean
  • Cameras never impact employee internet
  • Cost: $50-$150/month for second circuit
  • Good for: Businesses where internet is critical (call centers, customer service)

Option B: Network segmentation (VLAN)

  • Cameras are on the same physical circuit but isolated via network VLAN
  • Cameras are rate-limited (capped at 40-60 Mbps)
  • Requires managed switch and router
  • Cost: One-time setup cost of $2,000-$3,000
  • Good for: Most businesses

For most situations, Option B (network segmentation) makes sense. The cameras are physically separate, won't interfere with business traffic, and you're not doubling your internet costs.

Storage Requirements

This is where people get surprised. "How much footage should I keep?"

Legal and practical minimums by industry:

  • Retail: 30 days minimum
  • Banks/financial: 90 days
  • Healthcare: 30-90 days (check HIPAA requirements)
  • Hospitality: 30-45 days
  • Manufacturing: 30 days

Let's calculate storage for a typical setup: 8 cameras, 1080p, H.265 compression, 30-day retention.

Storage Calculation

Per-camera per day storage:

1080p H.265 at 3 Mbps = 3 megabits/second

  • 3 Mbits/second × 3,600 seconds/hour = 10,800 megabits/hour
  • 10,800 megabits/8 = 1,350 megabytes/hour
  • 1,350 MB/hour × 24 hours = 32.4 gigabytes/day per camera

Eight cameras for 30 days:

  • 32.4 GB/day × 8 cameras × 30 days = 7,776 GB = 7.8 TB

Real-world storage needed: 10-12 TB (extra for redundancy, OS, metadata)

Storage Options

Local NVR with hard drives:

  • Cost: $3,000-$8,000 for system + drives
  • Pro: Data stays on-site, no ongoing cloud costs
  • Con: Hard drives fail; need backup
  • Good for: Businesses that need privacy or have unreliable internet

Cloud storage:

  • Cost: $50-$500/month depending on retention and camera count
  • Pro: Data backed up off-site, accessible from anywhere
  • Con: Ongoing monthly cost, requires reliable internet
  • Good for: Most modern installations

Hybrid:

  • Local NVR + cloud backup
  • Local drives for fast access, cloud for disaster recovery
  • Cost: $3,000 upfront + $100-$300/month
  • Best option for critical security needs

Camera Placement and Infrastructure

Where you place cameras affects both image quality and network design.

Wired vs. WiFi Cameras

Hardwired (PoE - Power over Ethernet):

  • Cost: More expensive installation (run cables)
  • Reliability: 99%+ uptime, never drops connection
  • Bandwidth: Consistent, no WiFi interference
  • Quality: Reliable video quality
  • Power: Powered through Ethernet cable (no separate power needed)

WiFi cameras:

  • Cost: Cheaper installation (no cables)
  • Reliability: 85-95% (WiFi can drop)
  • Bandwidth: Subject to interference and congestion
  • Quality: Can degrade with poor signal
  • Power: Need separate power source

Recommendation: Hardwired cameras (PoE) are superior for business security. Yes, installation costs more, but reliability is critical for security systems.

You can run Ethernet on the outside of buildings using conduit. Most installations are possible even with older buildings.

Placement Best Practices

  • Entrance/exits: High-definition, wide angle
  • Interior high-value areas: Clear facial recognition capable
  • Outdoor areas: Weather-resistant, night vision capable
  • Avoid backlighting: Position cameras so sun isn't behind subjects

Lighting Matters

Security camera quality is directly related to lighting:

  • Well-lit areas: 4MP+ cameras work great
  • Poorly lit areas: Need infrared (IR) or low-light cameras
  • Mixed light: Can cause issues (bright outdoor + dark indoor transitions)

Plan camera placement around existing lighting. Sometimes adding lights is cheaper than upgrading cameras.

Network Design Checklist

Before you buy cameras, ensure your network can handle them:

Upstream connectivity

  • Internet circuit size: At least 100 Mbps (to handle cameras + business traffic)
  • Separate circuit or VLAN segmentation: Plan to isolate camera traffic
  • Bandwidth cap: Set limits on camera traffic so it doesn't kill business internet

Local network

  • Network switch: Managed switch (not dumb switch) that supports VLANs
  • PoE capability: Switch or separate PoE injectors to power cameras
  • Cabling: Cat6 or better (supports modern speeds and future-proofs)
  • Redundancy: Path to backup internet if primary fails

Recording and storage

  • NVR capacity: 10-15 TB for 8 cameras, 30-day retention
  • Backup system: Cloud backup, separate hard drive, or second NVR
  • Access: Who can view footage? Set permissions appropriately
  • Retention policy: How long do you keep footage? (Legal requirement)

Security

  • Strong passwords: NVR and camera access (change defaults!)
  • User permissions: Admin accounts, limited view-only access
  • Network isolation: Cameras on separate VLAN from business systems
  • Regular updates: Firmware updates for cameras and NVR
  • Monitoring: Alert on camera failures or lost connections

Real Example: 8-Camera Office Building

Let's design a security system for a 20,000 sq ft office building with 50 employees.

Camera placement:

  • 2 entrance cameras (1080p, facial recognition capable)
  • 2 hallway cameras (1080p)
  • 2 parking area cameras (2K night vision)
  • 1 server room camera (1080p)
  • 1 executive area camera (1080p)

Network design:

  • Primary internet: 200 Mbps business circuit (handles business + cameras)
  • Backup internet: Fixed wireless 50 Mbps (automatic failover)
  • Network switch: Managed Gigabit switch with PoE
  • Cameras: PoE hardwired (Cat6 cables run through conduit)
  • Storage: 12 TB local NVR + cloud backup

Infrastructure costs:

  • Cameras and NVR: $4,000-$6,000
  • Cabling and installation: $2,000-$3,000
  • Network upgrades (switch, PoE): $1,500-$2,000
  • Backup internet circuit: $50-$100/month
  • Cloud backup: $150/month

Total first-year cost: $8,000-$11,000 + $300/month ongoing

Total ongoing: $300/month ($3,600/year)

This is reasonable for a 20,000 sq ft building. The investment pays for itself in liability protection and theft prevention.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Intermittent dropouts or lost frames:

  • Cause: WiFi interference or bandwidth congestion
  • Fix: Switch to hardwired cameras or increase bandwidth cap

Pixelated or degraded video:

  • Cause: Insufficient lighting or wrong camera for environment
  • Fix: Add lighting or upgrade to low-light camera

Storage fills up unexpectedly:

  • Cause: Compression settings misconfigured or cameras recording 24/7
  • Fix: Check compression settings (should be H.265), verify motion detection is working

Can't access footage when needed:

  • Cause: Poor documentation or permissions not set
  • Fix: Create access list, document where footage is stored, test recovery process

System performs slowly:

  • Cause: NVR is overloaded (too many cameras, high resolution)
  • Fix: Upgrade NVR or reduce resolution/frame rate of less critical cameras

When to Call a Professional

Consider professional installation if:

  • You have more than 8 cameras
  • You need hardwired installation (running cables)
  • You need night vision or specialized cameras
  • Your building has complex layouts or lighting
  • You need integration with access control or other systems
  • You want professional redundancy and disaster recovery setup

A professional installer will design the system properly, run cables neatly, configure everything correctly, and document everything so you know how to access footage later.

Ready to Design Your Security System?

Sandbar Systems designs and installs security camera networks for businesses throughout the country. We handle network design, camera selection, installation, and ongoing support.

We'll ensure your system has enough bandwidth, storage, and redundancy to work reliably for years.

Schedule Your Free Consultation

Call us: (804) 510-9224 Email: info@sandbarsys.com

Let's design a security camera network that actually works when you need it.