A digital video recorder can be one of the most useful for your business security needs. It can record footage in digital format, helping you to transfer files and examine them in detail later on without so much effort. A special kind of digital video recorder is the embedded standalone DVR, which is a complete electronic unit that can receive signals and then record the video signals onto its own chip. Inside this single case, the DVR will have its own processing unit, memory chip, and its own operating system. It will also have its own hard drive, and you can attach more hard drives for a longer recording session.
The latest models of embedded stand alone digital video recorders enable Internet access to users. This type of DVR can be used in several locations and can handle recording of feeds from many camera systems. You can use a single DVR to remotely track and monitor different locations. Another advantage of the stand alone recorder is that its operating system is not easy to access or hack, which can be advantageous if you already have Internet access to begin with. This can also protect the unit from spyware, viruses, Trojans, and other malicious software that could destroy its contents. Because this security is well-established for the unit, you are not required to keep on downloading security patches to protect it.
Due to its being able to operate remotely, its settings can also be changed remotely. As an administrator, you have full control over the system and you can change settings from afar or even online. Many of today’s embedded stand alone digital video recorders can also provide high image quality, and they can provide you with high resolution recording that can make the footage easier to make out and even present as evidence in the courts of law.
Despite all these pros, the DVR is still not absolutely fool proof. If a thief or criminal knows enough about it, he or she can simply look for the embedded stand alone digital video recorder and wreck it manually. Manually destroying the DVR, taking the chip, or destroying the memory could destroy the footage and prevent the camera from further use. Moreover, because the stand alone system is a closed system that has its own operating system, it could be more costly and difficult to maintain. Many stand alone systems might need to be overhauled to accept a new operating system, the same way that you have to prepare your computer for a system or operating system upgrade.