Security & Surveillance Cameras

Unlike Closed Circuit Cameras, IP Surveillance Cameras or Network Security Cameras can be defined as the transmission of video utilizing open internet protocols and standards for the purpose of recording and monitoring remotely, typically via the Internet. This should not be confused with more proprietary methodologies of transmitting video in which only the manufacturer of the camera can decode the video for the purpose of recording and/or display. Many IP Security Cameras (also called Internet Cameras, but not to be confused with Web Cams) provide software that allows the cameras image to viewed in client software or a web browser - in some cases IP security cameras also include microphones so you can hear not just see.

The first IP camera was released in 1996 by Axis Communications, which had an embedded Linux computer internal in the camera. This open architecture encouraged third-party software manufacturers to develop management and recording software resulting in exponential growth of the IP Video Surveillance market.

Today there are many vendors of wired and wireless IP cameras, digital video recorders, network video recorder (NVR) software, and accessories, including: D-Kink, Linksys, Lorex, Plustek, TREDnet, and others . IP surveillance camera vendors include both specialized digital imaging equipment manufacturers and larger manufacturers that are active in consumer, broadcast, and security video.