What devices are included in a CCTV surveillance system?

A complete CCTV surveillance system includes several devices:

• one or more wired or wireless CCTV cameras,
• a display where recordings can be viewed (as part of computer or smartphone), 
• a recorder,
• and possibly an alarm system.

There are easy DIY installation kits (no need to call a specialised technician) which include all this equipment. If you want to keep your offices under surveillance with your iPhone or smartphone, you will need a specific software application to view your recordings. CCTV surveillance software solutions for PCs also exist, and some are available free of charge on the Internet (ZoneMinder, for example).

These software products offer a whole range of features like video compression (which helps store more videos), detailed recording options settings (scheduled or motion-activated), or complete camera control (tilt, digital zoom… if the hardware allows it) and password protection.

To find out more read our article about CCTV surveillance equipment.