Choosing the Right CCTV & Surveillance Platform for Your Brisbane Property
1. Clarify Your Security Goals
Before you compare camera specs or prices, list the exact problems you need to solve—today and five years from now.
Surveillance only? Record, review, and store evidence.
Active deterrence? Pair cameras with a dedicated perimeter alarm (see our post on why sirens beat built‑in deterrents).
Compliance or OH&S? Factor in privacy zones, data‑retention rules, and audit trails. Do you need to ensure privacy & Cyber Security?
Analytics Integration: People Counting, Heat mapping, object profiling, Integration with Business Management software, Integration with Building Controls, etc
Need to scale? How many users need to access the system, intending to bring on multiple sites, is SSO required for improved user management and security?
How quick do you need to find footage? Are you managing a video platform with eight, or 50+ cameras? The number of cameras you need to manage will dramatically impact the ease of trying to find critical footage, especially in busy or public places
Redundancy: Does the system need to remain operational in a power outage, if a HDD fails and you lose all video, is this acceptable to your operations?
Ongoing service costs: On prem solutions need regular maintenance and updates performed on site, cloud based architecture doesn’t - does this cost saving potential warrant the cost of ongoing licencing?
Creating separate wish‑lists for surveillance and alarm functions keeps your budget realistic and prevents feature overlap.
2. Put User Experience First
A brilliant camera is useless if you can’t find footage quickly. When evaluating VMS software, ask:
Search speed – Can you jump to events in seconds?
Ease of use – Is the interface intuitive for non‑tech individuals?
Remote management – Can you add users, revoke access, or adjust recording times without a site visit?
Privacy control – Does the installer still have access to camera live view after hand‑over? They shouldn’t.
For homes and small businesses, AJAX offers a clean, app‑centric dashboard. For larger sites, Hanwha Wave delivers lightning‑fast playback—even with thousands of hours of footage. For enterprise deployments, Motorolla’s Avigilon Alta offers advanced integrations and end user simplicity that is unmatched.
3. Dodge the Vendor Lock‑In Trap
Some camera brands lure you in with cheap bundles, then sting you later with per‑channel licences or licences to scale. Choose platforms that support ONVIF Profile M or publish a robust API. This guarantees you can:
Mix best‑of‑breed cameras as new tech emerges.
Add extra sites without ballooning licence fees.
Integrate camera analytics with access control, building management, or smart‑home systems down the track.
4. Judge Camera Analytics Realistically
AI analytics are powerful, but only when they run on the right software stack. If you plan to stream cameras into third‑party VMS or automation platforms, confirm that:
Analytic metadata passes through ONVIF/RTSP without being stripped.
The VMS can act on analytic events (e.g., trigger lights, lock doors).
License Plate Recognition (LPR) databases can sync across sites.
Otherwise, you may end up paying for analytics you can’t use.
5. Match the Platform to the Project Size
Homes & Small Businesses
Recommended: AJAX
Why: Human/vehicle detection, instant push alerts, seamless alarm integration, and an intuitive mobile app.
Commercial, Multi‑Site Retail, Education, or Aged‑Care Facilities
Recommended: Hanwha Wave
Why: AI search by vehicle colour, gender, or bag detection; rapid export tools; heat‑mapping; and cost‑effective licensing. Rapid playback without lag.
Enterprise & Government
Recommended: Motorolla’s Avigilon Alta
Why: Active Directory integration, Single Sign‑On (SSO), true cloud storage, powerful REST API, and extensive third‑party integrations, track and trace objects throughout a timeline for simplified playback. Can easily be retrofitted to existing camera infrastructure minimising deployment and camera costs
6. Remember: Software Drives Everyday Satisfaction
Hardware defines potential; firmware and VMS determine reality. Low Cost NVR based solutions often ship with buggy updates, limited mobile apps, and zero long‑term support. Investing in reputable software (AJAX, Hanwha, Motorola Avigilon) ensures:
Predictable updates and cyber‑security patches.
Continuous feature improvements without forklift upgrades.
Lower total cost of ownership thanks to fewer call‑backs.