Plain-language definitions of the video surveillance terms used in the HTS TCO Calculator. If a term is missing, emailcalculator@hts.pro and we'll add it.
The full cost of buying, running, and disposing of a system over its useful life. For a video surveillance system, the HTS calculator uses an 8-category framework: field devices, install, licenses, storage, IT labor, maintenance, server room, and decommissioning.
How many still images the camera captures and records each second. 30 FPS is the standard for smooth video; 15 FPS is acceptable for most surveillance use cases; 1-5 FPS is enough for license-plate capture or general overview. Higher FPS means more storage.
A video compression standard that is roughly 40% more efficient than H.264 at equivalent visual quality. Most new surveillance cameras support H.265. The calculator assumes H.265 by default; selecting H.264 scales storage up by 1.67×.
A server that records and stores video from IP cameras. NVRs typically use spinning hard drives in a RAID array. The calculator assumes a 5-year NVR refresh cycle for on-prem systems; cloud-native systems shift this cost to the vendor as a per-camera license.
A small on-site appliance that connects existing IP cameras to a cloud VMS. Cloud bridges (e.g., Eagle Eye Networks Bridge, Rhombus Cloud Connector, Avigilon Cloud Connector) let you keep your existing cameras and move recording, retention, and analytics to the cloud. Different from cloud-native (which uses proprietary cameras).
A camera system where the camera itself is the recording device. The camera records to local storage and the cloud. No NVR is required. Verkada, Rhombus, and Avigilon Alta are examples.
The software that manages the cameras, recordings, and user access. On-prem VMS examples: Genetec Security Center, Avigilon Unity, Milestone. Cloud VMS examples: Verkada Command, Eagle Eye Cloud VMS, Rhombus Console.
The list price published by the vendor. HTS uses the public MSRP for every line item in the calculator; actual prices paid may differ based on reseller markup, volume discount, and contract terms.
A HIPAA-required contract between a covered entity (healthcare provider) and a vendor that handles protected health information (PHI). A BAA makes the vendor a "business associate" with corresponding security obligations. The calculator flags vendors that offer BAAs for HIPAA compliance.
A US Department of Defense certification that defense industrial base (DIB) contractors must pass to handle controlled unclassified information (CUI). Requires on-prem storage or FedRAMP-authorized cloud.
FBI security policy for systems that handle criminal justice information. Requires on-prem storage or a FedRAMP-authorized cloud provider.
A US government program that standardizes security assessment, authorization, and continuous monitoring for cloud products and services. Vendors that are FedRAMP-authorized (e.g., Verkada GovCloud, AWS GovCloud) can handle federal data.
A way to combine multiple hard drives into one logical unit for performance or redundancy. RAID 5 reserves one drive for parity (1-drive fault tolerance); RAID 6 reserves two (2-drive fault tolerance); RAID 10 mirrors pairs (best performance, lowest capacity). The calculator assumes RAID 5 by default.
A spinning-platter storage device. Surveillance-class HDDs in 24/7 write workloads fail at roughly 5% per year. The calculator applies a 5% per-drive, per-year replacement cost on top of the planned 4-year refresh.
The amount of data a camera generates per second. A 1080p H.265 camera at 30 FPS is roughly 2-2.2 Mbps. A 4K H.265 camera at 30 FPS is roughly 8 Mbps (range 6-8.8). The calculator uses the formula GB/day per camera = bitrate × 10.8 (where 10.8 = 86,400 seconds / 8 bits / 1,024).
A standard that delivers both data and electrical power over a single Ethernet cable. PoE+ (802.3at) delivers up to 25.5W; PoE++ (802.3bt) delivers up to 60-100W for PTZ and multisensor cameras.
The level of onboard AI / video analytics the camera supports. Basic = motion detection + tamper. Standard = person/vehicle detection, line crossing, loitering. Advanced = face recognition, license plate recognition, attribute search, heat maps, occupancy, crowd detection. The matching engine factors in the analytics tier when picking an equivalent model across vendors.
A single camera body with 2, 3, or 4 separate image sensors. Used to cover a wide area (a parking lot, a large retail floor) with one camera instead of 2-4. The Verkada CH52-E is a 4-head multi-sensor; each head requires its own camera license.
The physical shape of the camera. Dome = half-sphere, typically ceiling-mounted, indoor or outdoor. Bullet = cylindrical, typically wall-mounted, outdoor. PTZ = pan-tilt-zoom, can be remotely steered. Mini = small, often pinhole or covert.
How far the camera can see in total darkness using its built-in infrared illuminators. Typically 30-100 meters for most cameras; 200+ meters for specialty long-range cameras. The calculator factors in environment (indoor vs outdoor) and IR range when picking an equivalent model across vendors.
