Security & Surveillance: How We Design Camera + Access Packages That Hold Up in Court and Daily Life

At a glance

Clear, useful security video comes from design — not luck. We pair overview views that tell the story with identification views at doors and choke points, size retention to your goals, and document how to export footage. Access control ties events to nearby cameras so incidents are easy to reconstruct. Our default stack is UniFi Protect for unified cameras, doorbells and UNVR storage; for certain budgets and scenarios we also deploy Reolink effectively.

• Security & Surveillance services
• UniFi Camera Installation (service)
• Security & Access checklist

Evidence starts at design

Think in two layers. Overview cameras capture how events unfold — driveways, lobbies, corridors. Identification cameras capture who and what at decisions points — front doors, gates, package areas, transaction counters. We place ID cameras at roughly eye level with the right lens so faces and plates are legible without relying on digital zoom later.

• Overview: wide views for context and sequence
• Identification: tighter framing at entries and gates
• Mount ~7–9 ft for faces; avoid steep top‑down angles
• Plan for sun angles and night lighting per scene

• UniFi placement for context vs ID
• Smart security cameras buyer’s guide

Retention that matches the risk

Retention should reflect how and when you discover issues. Homes often keep 7–30 days; commercial sites commonly target 30–90 days for audit windows. We mix continuous recording at doors with motion recording elsewhere to extend storage without gaps, and we document the plan so stakeholders know what exists and for how long.

• Define retention by area and purpose (e.g., 30 days at entries)
• Use continuous at ID points; motion elsewhere for efficiency
• Label camera names by location and purpose for easy exports
• UPS protection for NVR and PoE switches to preserve footage

• Networking quick wins (stability)
• Best low‑cost PoE switches (sizing)

Exports and simple chain of custody

When footage matters, the number of steps should be small and repeatable. In UniFi Protect we export original clips with timestamps and, where relevant, include a short screen capture showing camera name/time. We keep a brief checklist: who exported, what time window, where files are stored, and the handoff path. This isn’t legal advice; it’s practical process control so teams can act quickly and consistently.

• Export original files with timestamps and camera name
• Record who exported, when, and the file path or share link
• Store a copy on write‑once or protected storage when required
• Avoid re‑encoding; keep the original format for review

Notifications without fatigue

Useful alerts call attention to a decision, not every motion. We prefer person/vehicle detections where they apply, small activity zones at doors/gates, and schedules that reflect business hours or quiet times at home. After a week, we tune further based on actual frequency so notifications remain meaningful.

• Use person/vehicle detection on ID cameras; overview cameras stay quieter
• Set business‑hours vs after‑hours schedules as needed
• Exclude roads, trees and reflective surfaces from zones
• Audit weekly and remove noisy alerts

Access control that ties the story together

Access events make video faster to review. Door unlocks, badge swipes and schedules can bookmark nearby cameras so you jump straight to relevant footage. We set roles and clear ownership: who can change schedules, who can add users, and how holidays are handled.

• Security & Surveillance services

Platform choices: UniFi Protect first, Reolink when it fits

We favor UniFi Protect for cohesive day‑to‑day use: unified cameras and doorbells, straightforward remote access, and clear exports from a local UNVR. In some cases — limited budgets, single‑purpose coverage, or existing hardware — we deploy Reolink cameras and recorders effectively. Either way, we plan lenses, power, storage and labeling the same way so footage is clear and service stays simple.

• UniFi Protect: unified stack, clean mobile apps, local UNVR storage
• Reolink: solid value and viable for focused coverage or retrofits
• Same design principles: scene‑matched lenses, protected PoE, labeling

Networking and PoE basics for reliability

Cameras are only as good as their network. We right‑size PoE with margin, prefer wired uplinks, separate camera traffic when helpful, and label ports. Remote access is secured without public port forwarding. These small choices keep systems recording and support predictable.

• Size PoE with 20–30% headroom for cameras and doorbells
• Document VLAN/port maps and label rack positions
• Secure remote access; avoid exposing services to the internet

• Wired vs Wireless: the right mix
• Networking infrastructure quick wins

Privacy, signage and roles

Good systems respect privacy and local rules. We avoid audio recording unless it is necessary and appropriate, set privacy zones where needed, and ensure signage meets building policy. Roles keep access sensible: admin for changes, limited viewers for day‑to‑day. For any legal requirements, we suggest clients consult counsel — our job is to deliver clear, documented capabilities.

• Use privacy zones; avoid unnecessary audio where not appropriate
• Keep admin and viewer roles separate with named accounts
• Post signage where policies or law require

Commissioning checklist

• Name cameras by location/purpose; label ports and patch cords
• Verify day/night framing for overview and ID scenes
• Set zones, smart detections and schedules; test alerts
• Confirm retention targets and export steps; save a quick guide

Frequently asked questions

• Security & Access checklist
• Network cabling cost guide