Which CCTV system should you choose?

CCTV systems at a glance

The two big decisions

1. A recorder on site, or cloud-managed? Most systems record to a network video recorder (NVR) in a cupboard on site. You own it, there is no monthly fee, and someone has to look after it: updates, hard drives, remote access and passwords. Cloud-managed systems record on each camera and are managed through a web browser or app. There is no recorder to fail or update, and adding a second or tenth site is simple, but you pay a licence for each camera.

2. Pay once, or pay a licence? Recorder systems cost more of their money up front and little after. Licensed systems spread the cost and include software updates and support while the licence runs. Compare the total over five or ten years, not just the day-one quote.

Brand by brand

Hikvision and Dahua. Two of the largest camera makers in the world, both based in China. Wide ranges, good image quality for the money and very common in the UK. Their position has changed: see security and restrictions below. Hikvision says its products comply with UK law and denies being a security threat.

Ubiquiti UniFi Protect. A US company best known for networking. Cameras record to a Ubiquiti recorder or gateway on site, with no subscription, and you view them in the UniFi app. Good value and easy to use, especially if the network is already UniFi. It works best with Ubiquiti’s own cameras, and someone needs to keep the recorder and network updated.

Axis. A Swedish company, owned by Canon since 2015, known for well-engineered cameras and a very wide range, including specialist models. Usually paired with separate video management software, so the overall cost and complexity depend on that choice.

Hanwha Vision. The South Korean company formerly known as Hanwha Techwin. A broad commercial range with recorders and software, and a common choice where buyers want an established brand that is not Chinese-owned.

Verkada. A US company whose cameras store footage on the camera and are managed in the cloud through its Command software, alongside access control, intercoms and sensors. Strong for multi-site organisations and for teams without in-house IT. Each device needs a licence; if licences lapse, the cameras keep recording while connected, but you lose access to view and manage them after a 30-day grace period. In 2021 Verkada suffered a security breach in which a hacker accessed customer cameras; in 2024 it agreed a settlement with the US Federal Trade Commission that requires an independently audited security programme. Our sister company SEGcore installs Verkada.

Security and where brands are restricted

• UK, November 2022: the government told departments to stop deploying surveillance cameras from companies subject to China’s National Intelligence Law on sensitive sites, and to consider removing existing ones there. This applies to government sites, not homes or private businesses.
• US, November 2022: the Federal Communications Commission stopped approving new Hikvision and Dahua equipment for sale. Equipment already approved was not affected.
• Canada, June 2025: the government ordered Hikvision to close its Canadian business and barred federal departments from buying or using its products.
• UK, since April 2024: the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure (PSTI) regime bans universal default passwords on new connectable consumer products, including security cameras, and requires makers to say how long they will provide security updates.

Whatever you choose, a camera system is a computer on your network. Unique passwords, current firmware and keeping cameras on their own network segment matter as much as the badge on the camera.

Which CCTV system suits you?

• Home or a single small shop: a recorder-based system such as UniFi Protect, installed and set up properly, is usually the best value.
• Office or single commercial site: a recorder-based system from Ubiquiti, Hanwha or Axis, or a cloud-managed system if you would rather not maintain a recorder.
• Several sites, schools, care and housing providers: a cloud-managed system such as Verkada, so every site is managed from one place and nobody has to look after recorders.
• Public-sector or sensitive sites: check your organisation’s procurement policy before choosing a brand; many now exclude some manufacturers.

What matters more than the brand

• Cabling and power. Most modern cameras run over a single network cable that also powers them (PoE). Good data cabling is what makes a system reliable.
• Where the cameras go. Covering entrances, the approach and the areas that matter, at a height that is hard to tamper with.
• Lighting. Cameras need light or good infrared to give useful pictures at night.
• How long footage is kept and who can see it.
• Data protection. If your cameras capture beyond your boundary, data protection law applies, even at home. Businesses need clear signs, a reason for recording and a retention policy. See the ICO’s guidance.
• Maintenance. Clean lenses, check recording, update firmware and replace failing drives.

CCTV questions we’re asked

Sources

• UK government restrictions on surveillance cameras on sensitive sites, 24 November 2022, as reported by CNN
• FCC equipment authorisation rules (FCC-22-84), as reported by Security Sales & Integration
• Canada’s order on Hikvision, 28 June 2025, as reported by SecurityInfoWatch
• UK Government, new cyber laws to protect people’s personal tech (PSTI)
• Verkada, managing licences, and the FTC settlement as summarised by Hunton Andrews Kurth
• ICO, domestic CCTV systems guidance

Written by SEG. Last updated 10 October 2026.