IP vs Analog cctv cameras

It is advisable to first understand how the technologies work before choosing between an analogue or IP security system because the differences in both technologies and method of video transmission are crucial in in developing a well planned CCTV solution.

What is an analog video security system? Cameras on an modern analog CCTV system send their video in the traditional base band format over coax or UTP cabling back to a digital video recorder (DVR). Here, video is digitized and stored on hard drives. Most modern DVRs are a network device, and as such can be accessed remotely from the LAN, or with the proper configuration, from across a WAN or the internet. There are no tapes to change. Video is kept on hard drives, typically on a FIFO basis so there is always a rolling video archive of the past X days. So, despite the fact that video is being transmitted from the cameras in an analog format, live and recorded video is still available over the network. What is an IP video security system? IP video cameras broadcast their video as a digital stream over an IP network. Like an analog system, video is recorded on hard drives, but since the video is an IP stream straight from the camera, there is more flexibility as to how and where that video is recorded. The DVR is replaced with an NVR (network video recorder), which in some cases is just software since it doesn't need to convert analogue to digital. Video footage can then be stored on new or existing network RAID drives as directed by the NVR software.

What is a Hybrid video security system?

Hybrid CCTV systems combine IP and analog video, and can be a great way to transition an analog system to IP without needing to replace all of the existing cameras. Many NVR boxes on the market today are actually Hybrids in that they accept analog cameras, and IP cameras and combine them onto a a single platform for the user.

Reference: http://www.cableorganizer.com/articles/ip-cameras-vs-analog-cameras.html