A Network Video Recorder (NVR) is a digital device which sits on your IP CCTV network to receive live image/video streams and record them digitally to a hard disk.
An alternative to PC/server-based recording, the NVR offers a less complex installation, is easier to set up and has a user-friendly interface for day-to-day use. As the NVR is solely designed for IP CCTV surveillance, the embedded operating system is optimised to handle the maximum number of cameras the unit supports. This means that you can be confident that the NVR will be reliable, stable and perform as intended, unlike a PC/server based approach which has many variables that could affect performance.
Multi-site installations are simplified with the use of NVRs. If your organization spans multiple locations you can centralize the security monitoring to one location by linking an NVR at each location to management software. Most NVRs today offer live video monitoring too and also allow remote access so a number of people can log in and view their cameras on the same machine simultaneously using secure logins.