Cloud video surveillance or an NVR: which is better for my business?
Cloud recording is better when video must survive theft, fire or a failed hard drive, when you manage more than one site, or when you want to view cameras anywhere without opening ports. An NVR is better when you want no monthly fee and have the upload speed or budget constraints that make cloud impractical.
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The short answer
- Cloud: video is stored off site, so it survives if the recorder is stolen or destroyed.
- Cloud: view every site in one account from a browser or phone, with no port forwarding.
- Cloud: no hard drives to replace; retention is set per camera, up to 3 years on custom plans.
- NVR: one-time cost, no subscription, and no upload bandwidth used.
- NVR: video, drives and updates live on site and are yours to maintain.
- Both: many businesses run an NVR for a local copy and the cloud for the off-site copy.
Silarius Cloud vs. a traditional NVR or DVR
Recorders in a closet made sense when every camera lived in one building. Here is what changes when your video lives in the cloud.
When the cloud is the better choice
- Evidence matters: break-ins often target the recorder, and cloud video is already off site.
- You have several locations and want one login for all of them.
- Nobody on site manages IT: there are no drives, firmware or port forwarding to look after.
- You need to keep video longer than your disks allow, or set different retention per camera.
- You want AI search and alerts on every camera, not only on the models that support them.
When an NVR makes sense
- Your upload speed is too low for the number of cameras (cloud plans use 400 to 1,600 kbit/s per camera).
- You want no monthly cost at all and can maintain the hardware yourself.
- Your policy requires video to stay on your own premises.
Can I have both?
Yes. Silarius X cameras support ONVIF, so they can also record to a Silarius NVR on site. In most setups, existing IP cameras on your network can keep recording to your NVR while the Silarius Gateway sends them to the cloud; our team confirms your setup for free.
Frequently asked questions
Is cloud video surveillance more secure than an NVR?
For keeping the evidence, yes: video stored off site cannot be taken or destroyed with the recorder. Silarius Cloud also needs no port forwarding, which removes a common way recorders are attacked over the internet.
Is cloud recording more expensive than an NVR?
An NVR has a higher upfront cost and no monthly fee; the cloud has a monthly fee per camera, from $6.99 with Silarius Cloud, and little or no upfront hardware. Over several years the right choice depends on how many cameras you have and how long you keep video.
Can my NVR upload to Silarius Cloud?
Not as a recorder. Silarius Cloud connects IP cameras directly, through the Silarius Gateway or with Silarius X cameras. NVRs and DVRs cannot be added to the cloud.
How much internet speed does cloud recording need?
Plan for the bit rate of each camera: 400 kbit/s on Mobile (720p), 750 kbit/s on Pro (1080p) and 1,600 kbit/s on 4K, plus some headroom.
Get the off-site copy your recorder cannot give you
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