Potential advantages
IP cameras differ from previous generation analog cameras which transmitted video signals as a voltage, instead IP camera images are sent using the transmission and security features of the TCP/IP protocol, which provides numerous benefits:
- Two-way audio via a single network cable allows users to listen to and speak to the subject of the video (e.g. gas station clerk assisting a customer on how to use the pay pumps)
- The use of a Wi-Fi or wireless network.
- Distributed intelligence such as video analytics can be placed in the camera itself allowing the camera to analyze images.
- Transmission of commands for PTZ (pan, tilt, zoom) cameras via a single network.
- Secure data transmission through encryption and authentication methods such as WPA, WPA2, TKIP, AES.
- Remote accessibility which allows live video from selected cameras to be viewed from any computer, mobile smartphones and other devices (with sufficient access privileges).
- PoE Power over Ethernet to supply power through the ethernet cable and operate without a dedicated power supply.
Potential disadvantages
- Higher initial cost per camera, except where cheaper webcams are used.
- High network bandwidth requirements: a typical CCTV camera with resolution of 640x480 pixels, 10 frames per second (10 frame/s) and a bit depth of 24-bit (uncompressed) would require over 73 Mbit/s.
- As with a CCTV/DVR system, if the video is transmitted over the public Internet rather than a private network / intranet, the system potentially becomes open to a wider audience including hackers and hoaxers. Criminals can hack into a CCTV system to observe security measures and personnel, thereby facilitating criminal acts and rendering the surveillance counterproductive. This can be counteracted by ensuring the network and device is secured and staying informed on new security methods.
- Public internet connection video is rather complicated to set up and requires a dynamic DNS. Some producers of IP cameras have made their own software available with built-in dynamic DNS.