CCTV is one of the most common technology purchases for Philippine businesses, and one of the most commonly regretted. Systems are often bought on the strength of a megapixel number on a box, installed wherever a ladder could reach, and connected to the office network with the default password still in place. Months later, when footage is actually needed, faces are unrecognisable, the recording stopped weeks ago because the disk filled up, or the cameras turn out to be visible to anyone on the internet.
This article explains how to choose an IP camera system that does the job you bought it for. You will learn how to match cameras to areas, why lens and pixel density matter more than megapixels, how to estimate storage, how to keep the system secure, and what the Data Privacy Act of 2012 expects of you when you record people.
Start with the purpose of each camera
Before looking at any product, walk the site and decide what each camera must achieve. Security professionals usually describe three levels:
- Detect: see that something or someone is present, such as movement in a car park.
- Observe: see what a person is doing, such as activity in a stockroom.
- Identify: recognise a face or read a plate, such as at the entrance or cashier.
Identification needs far more detail on the target than detection does. Writing down each position's purpose keeps spending focused where it matters.
Resolution, lens and pixel density
Resolution by area
As a rough guide, 2MP (1080p) cameras suit corridors, small rooms and general overview; 4MP is a sensible default for most business areas such as shop floors, counters and entrances; 8MP / 4K is worth considering for large open areas like warehouses and car parks where you want to zoom into recorded footage.
Why megapixels alone mislead
A camera's usefulness depends on pixel density: how many pixels land on the subject at the distance that matters. That is set by both resolution and the lens, which determines the field of view (how wide an area the camera sees). A high-resolution camera with a very wide lens spreads its pixels across a huge area, so a face at the far side of the room may still be a blur. A modest camera with a narrower lens, aimed at a doorway, can capture a clearer face. Varifocal lenses, which can be adjusted during installation, help get this right on site.
Low light and difficult lighting
Much of what you need to record happens at night or in poor light. Check for infrared (IR) illumination and its effective range, good low-light sensor performance, and WDR (wide dynamic range), which handles scenes with bright and dark areas together, such as a doorway facing the street. Without WDR, people entering from bright sunlight often appear as dark silhouettes.
Choosing camera types
Outdoor cameras should carry at least an IP67 rating, meaning they are dust-tight and can withstand temporary immersion in water, which matters in typhoon season. For vandal-prone spots, look for an impact-resistant housing.
| Type | Typical use | Strengths | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bullet | Perimeters, car parks, building exteriors | Visible deterrent, easy to aim, often longer IR range | Easier to tamper with or knock out of position |
| Dome | Indoor areas, counters, offices | Discreet, vandal-resistant, hard to tell where it points | IR can reflect off the dome cover if poorly installed |
| Turret | Indoor and outdoor general use | Easy to adjust, no IR glare from a cover, good all-rounder | Less discreet than a dome |
| PTZ (pan-tilt-zoom) | Large sites with active monitoring | Can be moved and zoomed remotely to follow activity | Only sees one direction at a time; best paired with fixed cameras |
Cabling, recording and storage
PoE cabling
Most business IP cameras use PoE (Power over Ethernet), which carries both data and power on a single network cable. This simplifies installation, and if the PoE switch or recorder is on a UPS (uninterruptible power supply), the cameras keep recording during brownouts.
NVR or cloud
An NVR (network video recorder) stores footage on site. It works without relying on your internet connection, but footage can be lost if the recorder is stolen, damaged or flooded, so place it in a secure, elevated location. Cloud recording keeps footage offsite and is easier to view remotely, but depends on your upload bandwidth and introduces an ongoing subscription. Many businesses choose an NVR with selective cloud backup for critical cameras.
Codecs
A codec compresses video. H.265 typically needs roughly half the storage of the older H.264 for similar quality, so confirm your cameras and recorder both support it.
Estimating storage
Storage depends on the number of cameras, each camera's bitrate (how much data it produces each second), hours recorded per day, and how many days you keep footage. The method per camera is:
bitrate in Mbps × 3600 × 24 ÷ 8 ÷ 1000 ≈ GB per day
Worked example (assumed figures, for illustration only): suppose a camera records continuously at an assumed bitrate of 4 Mbps. That gives 4 × 3600 × 24 ÷ 8 ÷ 1000 ≈ 43 GB per day. Multiply by the number of cameras and the number of days you want to retain. Your real bitrate depends on resolution, codec, scene activity and settings, so check the actual figure in your recorder.
How long to keep footage should be a business and policy decision, based on how quickly incidents are usually discovered and reported, not simply whatever fits on the disk.
Keep the cameras secure
Cameras are small computers, and poorly configured ones are a common way into business networks.
- Place cameras and the recorder on a separate VLAN (a logically separate network segment) away from staff computers and payment systems.
- Do not expose cameras or the NVR directly to the internet through port forwarding.
- Change every default password and use unique, strong credentials.
- Keep firmware updated on cameras and the recorder.
- For remote viewing, use a VPN or the manufacturer's secured app with MFA where available, and limit who has access.
CCTV and the Data Privacy Act
Under the Data Privacy Act of 2012, footage of identifiable people is personal data, so your CCTV system falls under your privacy obligations. In practice this means posting visible CCTV notices at entrances and monitored areas, limiting who can view and export footage, defining and following a retention period, keeping a record of who accessed footage and why, and avoiding cameras in places where people reasonably expect privacy, such as restrooms. The National Privacy Commission has issued guidance on CCTV use, and it is worth reading before you finalise your setup.
Key takeaways
- Define what each camera must detect, observe or identify before choosing products.
- Pixel density, lens and low-light performance matter more than the megapixel figure alone.
- Estimate storage from cameras, bitrate, hours and retention, and set retention as a policy decision.
- Segment the camera network, never expose it directly to the internet, and change default passwords.
- Treat footage as personal data: post notices, limit access and define retention.
Where to start
Walk your premises with a floor plan and mark every position where you need coverage, noting the purpose and lighting of each. List who should be able to view footage and how long you need to keep it. If you already have a system, check today whether default passwords are still in place and whether the recorder is reachable from the internet. That short list is the brief any installer should be working from.
Northgate IT Consultancy can review an existing setup or an installer's proposal through our Vendor & Developer Quote Review, or design and install a system as a scoped Build engagement. To discuss your site, book a free 30-minute call.