1 Network
IP cameras and controllers live on your network: PoE, separate VLANs and properly sized bandwidth come first.
CCTV and access control for businesses: a guide to choosing well (without over-buying)
Short answer: a mid-sized company doesn't need “more cameras” — it needs to cover entrances and critical points with useful video, tie access control to that video, and run everything on a well-designed network. The costliest mistake is buying equipment first and thinking about the network later.
The three components (and the right order)
2 CCTV
Cameras placed by objective, retention set by your policy (15–30 days is typical), and local, cloud or hybrid recording.
3 Access
Cards, PIN or biometrics per door based on risk; every event tied to video.
Common mistakes we see on site
- 4K cameras at maximum quality running over a saturated network.
- A recorder with no access control of its own: it gets taken along with whatever was stolen.
- 7-day retention; the incident is discovered in week 2.
- Access control from one brand and CCTV from another, with no possible integration.
- No one defined who reviews the alerts: the system records, it doesn't watch.
What to ask before signing
- Does the project include network design, or does it assume the existing one?
- What actual resolution and retention will each camera have?
- Are access events linked to video?
- Who monitors it, and with what escalation protocol?
- What support SLA does the system have in year 2 — not at handover?
Frequently asked questions
How many cameras does a mid-sized company need?
Enough to cover entrances, high-value points and risk areas — not every square meter. A typical warehouse or office floor is well covered with 8 to 24 well-placed cameras; more poorly planned cameras just generate storage and monitoring that no one reviews.
What's better: local recording (NVR) or cloud?
Local (NVR) gives you control and predictable cost; cloud gives you simple remote access and resilience if the recorder is stolen. In Mexico, hybrid is the most common setup: local recording plus cloud backup for critical cameras, sized to the site's actual bandwidth.
Does access control integrate with the cameras?
Yes, and that's where the value is: every door event (access granted or denied) gets tied to video. To achieve that, cameras and access control need to be planned as a single project on the same network, not purchased separately.
STI designs and implements CCTV, access control and the network that supports them, as a single project. Book a free consultation and we'll review your site before talking about equipment.