CCTV cameras, access-control readers, alarms and other physical security technologies were once comparatively isolated systems. Many are now connected to corporate networks, cloud platforms and mobile applications. Security teams can view sites remotely, integrate cameras with access events, receive real-time alerts and manage multiple locations from a single interface. That connectivity creates considerable operational benefits. It also introduces a different kind of risk.
A poorly secured camera, recorder or access-control device is not simply a physical-security weakness. It may be a network-connected endpoint containing valuable data, providing remote access or potentially creating another route into the wider organisation.
The National Protective Security Authority warns that physical security systems such as CCTV, access control and intruder detection are increasingly interconnected and therefore exposed to cyber attack. In some circumstances, compromise of a physical security system could also be used to target the wider corporate network.
For buyers, this means procurement needs to consider physical protection and cyber resilience together.
This guide examines what security professionals should compare when selecting IP-based CCTV, access control and integrated physical-security technologies.
At a Glance: What IP Security Buyers Should Compare
| Area | What Security Teams Should Consider |
|---|---|
| Network architecture | Segmentation, firewalls and connectivity |
| Devices | Cameras, controllers, sensors and recorders |
| Authentication | Passwords, MFA and privileged access |
| Software | Updates, patching and vulnerability management |
| Cloud | Hosting, encryption, access and resilience |
| Integration | CCTV, access control, alarms and other systems |
| Monitoring | System health, security events and alerts |
| Data | Video, access records, retention and permissions |
| Supplier support | Installation, maintenance and security updates |
| Lifecycle | Support period and end-of-life planning |
What Are IP Security Systems?
IP security systems are physical-security technologies that communicate over Internet Protocol networks.
These may include:
- CCTV cameras
- Network video recorders
- Access-control systems
- Intercoms
- Intruder alarms
- Perimeter sensors
- Video analytics
- Visitor-management systems
Rather than operating as completely independent systems, they may communicate with:
- Local networks
- Cloud platforms
- Security control rooms
- Mobile applications
- Corporate identity systems
- Remote monitoring centres
The result can be a much more integrated physical-security environment.
For example:
Access denied → CCTV automatically displays relevant camera → security operator investigates
Or:
Intrusion sensor activates → video analytics verifies activity → remote security team responds
The value comes from connecting information that previously existed in separate systems.
IP CCTV and Network Video Surveillance
Modern CCTV increasingly relies on network-connected cameras rather than traditional analogue architectures.
IP cameras can provide:
- High-resolution video
- Remote access
- Centralised management
- Analytics
- Cloud storage
- Multi-site monitoring
G4S, for example, provides electronic-security technology spanning CCTV, access control, alarm systems and remote monitoring, allowing organisations to build integrated security environments rather than deploy each technology independently.
G4S Electronic Security Technology – https://www.g4s.com/en-gb/what-we-do/electronic-security-technology
But every network-connected camera also becomes a device that requires appropriate configuration and management.
Buyers should understand:
- How cameras authenticate
- Whether default passwords are removed
- How firmware is updated
- Which network services are enabled
- Who can access footage remotely
- How long manufacturers provide security updates
Security Principle
A camera should be treated as both:
a physical security device
and
a network endpoint.
Procurement needs to consider both roles.
Network Segmentation for Physical Security
One of the most important architectural considerations is whether security devices sit directly on the wider corporate network.
Where appropriate, CCTV and other security infrastructure can be placed within dedicated network segments or VLANs.
This helps limit unnecessary communication between security devices and other business systems.
Solink, for example, recommends isolating video-security infrastructure from the wider corporate network and placing recording devices behind firewalls rather than exposing them directly to the internet.
Solink – Security Practices – https://solink.com/solinks-security-practices/
A simplified architecture might look like:
Security cameras → dedicated security network → recording/management platform → controlled connection to authorised users
rather than:
Security cameras → unrestricted corporate network
Buyer Tip
Ask suppliers to provide a network architecture diagram before installation.
Security teams should understand exactly which devices communicate with which systems, using which protocols and through which firewall rules.
Physical Security and Cyber Security Convergence
Physical and cyber teams increasingly depend on one another.
A physical-security manager may understand:
- Camera coverage
- Access permissions
- Alarm response
- Site threats
An IT-security team may understand:
- Network segmentation
- Authentication
- Firewall policy
- Vulnerability management
Both sets of knowledge are required when deploying networked security technology.
The NPSA specifically notes that cyber attacks against physical-security systems could:
- Deny authorised users access
- Change security settings
- Allow unauthorised access
- Steal site information
- Provide an avenue into wider corporate systems
NPSA – CAPSS – https://www.npsa.gov.uk/cyber-assurance-physical-security-systems-capss
Governance Insight
Physical security should not purchase connected technology and then ask IT to “put it on the network”.
IT and cyber teams should be involved before the supplier and architecture are selected.
IP Access Control Systems
Modern access-control platforms increasingly combine physical doors and barriers with networked software.
Capabilities may include:
- Cards and fobs
- Mobile credentials
- Biometrics
- Visitor management
- Contractor access
- Remote administration
- Centralised permissions
G4S describes access control as part of a wider integrated security environment, supporting staff, visitor and contractor access across individual buildings, campuses and multiple locations.
G4S Access Control – https://www.g4s.com/en-gb/what-we-do/electronic-security-technology/access-control
Lexnis similarly provides access-control solutions incorporating key cards, biometric authentication and digital entry records alongside CCTV and alarm integration.
Lexnis Access Control – https://lexnisservices.co.uk/electronic-security/access-control/
Integration can improve situational awareness.
For example:
Credential denied at Door 12
can automatically be linked with:
Camera 12A video
allowing operators to determine whether the event is:
- A legitimate employee using the wrong credential
- A tailgating attempt
- A stolen access card
- Suspicious behaviour
Cloud Physical Security
Physical security is increasingly moving into cloud environments.
Cloud platforms can make it easier to:
- Manage multiple sites
- Access footage remotely
- Deploy software updates
- Centralise permissions
- Run analytics
- Investigate incidents
Solink’s cloud platform, for example, combines video, access-control data, alarms and business information within a centralised security environment.
Solink – Physical Security – https://solink.com/solutions/physical-security/
This can be particularly useful for organisations operating many sites.
Instead of maintaining separate security systems at each location, central teams can potentially monitor and investigate events across the estate.
However, cloud deployment changes the security architecture.
Buyers need to understand:
- Where data is hosted
- How it is encrypted
- Who can access it
- How administrators authenticate
- What happens if connectivity fails
- How long footage is retained
Encryption and Security Data
Physical-security systems can process highly sensitive information.
CCTV may reveal:
- Employee activity
- Customer behaviour
- Site layouts
- Restricted areas
- Vehicle movements
Access-control systems may contain:
- Names
- Credentials
- Access permissions
- Entry and exit records
Buyers should therefore establish how information is protected:
in transit
and
at rest.
Solink, for example, states that its cloud systems use encryption both in transit and at rest alongside role-based access controls and security logging.
Solink – Security – https://solink.com/security/
The security of the data should be assessed alongside the security of the physical device itself.
Authentication and Privileged Access
Security platforms often provide administrators with powerful capabilities.
An administrator might be able to:
- View cameras
- Export footage
- Unlock doors
- Create users
- Change access permissions
- Disable alarms
- Modify system settings
These accounts therefore require strong protection.
Buyers should compare:
- Multi-factor authentication
- Password policies
- Role-based access control
- Administrative permissions
- User audit logs
- Account lifecycle management
The principle of least privilege should apply.
A security officer who only needs to view live CCTV should not necessarily have the ability to change network or administrative settings.
Privileged Access Principle
Ask:
“Who can change the security system itself?”
Then ensure that privilege is restricted, authenticated and logged.
Default Passwords and Device Configuration
Connected security devices have historically created risk when organisations leave:
- Default passwords
- Unnecessary services
- Open ports
- Weak remote-access controls
Procurement should therefore include secure configuration requirements.
Buyers should ask suppliers:
- Are default credentials changed during commissioning?
- Which network ports are required?
- Is Telnet disabled?
- Is secure HTTPS management available?
- Can unnecessary services be switched off?
- How is remote supplier access controlled?
Solink’s own standard recommendations include using private IP addresses, placing recording infrastructure behind firewalls and disabling insecure management protocols such as Telnet and HTTP.
Solink – Security – https://solink.com/security/
These principles can be applied more broadly when evaluating IP security technology.
Firmware Updates and Patch Management
Physical-security equipment may remain installed for many years.
That creates a challenge.
Software vulnerabilities can emerge long after installation.
Buyers should therefore establish:
- Who monitors vulnerabilities
- How patches are delivered
- Whether updates are automatic
- How long products receive security support
- What happens when support ends
A camera expected to remain operational for ten years needs a credible security-update policy.
Cloud platforms may simplify software updates because suppliers can deploy changes centrally.
But buyers should still understand how:
- Cameras
- Controllers
- Recorders
- Edge devices
…receive firmware updates.
Lifecycle Insight
The useful life of an IP camera is not simply the period during which the image remains clear.
It is also the period during which the device can be securely supported.
Integrated Physical Security
Modern security platforms increasingly combine information from multiple technologies.
Potential integrations include:
CCTV + access control + alarms + analytics + visitor management
Solink, for example, integrates access-control events with video, allowing security teams to investigate denied entries and detect patterns such as repeated access failures.
Solink – Physical Security – https://solink.com/solutions/physical-security/
Lexnis similarly offers CCTV monitoring, access control, intruder alarms, gates and barriers within a broader electronic-security environment.
Lexnis – Electronic Security – https://lexnisservices.co.uk/services/
Integration can reduce the need for operators to switch between multiple systems during an incident.
But integration also creates additional data connections.
Buyers should therefore understand:
- Which systems exchange information
- Which APIs are used
- What happens if one platform is compromised
- Whether integrations create new privileges
More integration can improve security operations, but only when the architecture remains controlled.
AI Video Analytics
Artificial intelligence is increasingly being applied to CCTV and video-security systems.
Potential applications include:
- Intrusion detection
- Object recognition
- Loitering
- Vehicle detection
- People counting
- Unusual behaviour
- Automated investigation
Solink, for example, uses AI-supported video tools to help investigators follow people or vehicles across camera environments and identify events requiring attention.
AI can reduce the need for operators to watch large numbers of video streams continuously.
But buyers should assess:
- Accuracy
- False alarms
- Training data
- Operational use case
- Human oversight
An AI alert should help an operator identify potentially relevant activity, rather than automatically being assumed to prove an incident.
Remote Monitoring
Connected security technology can support remote monitoring centres.
Instead of relying entirely on guards based at each location, organisations may use remote operators to:
- Monitor alarms
- View CCTV
- Challenge intruders
- Verify incidents
- Escalate response
G4S combines electronic-security technologies with remote-security operations, including surveillance and alarm monitoring.
G4S – Electronic Security Technology – https://www.g4s.com/en-gb/what-we-do/electronic-security-technology
This can create a more scalable security model across distributed estates.
But remote access must be tightly controlled.
Buyers should establish:
- How monitoring centres authenticate
- Whether access is logged
- How connections are encrypted
- When supplier access is enabled
- How privileges are revoked
System Health Monitoring
A security system can fail without being attacked.
Cameras may:
- Lose power
- Lose connectivity
- Stop recording
- Become obscured
- Develop faults
Connected platforms can provide automatic health monitoring.
Solink, for example, generates system-health alerts when cameras, recording equipment or networks become unavailable or behave unexpectedly.
Solink – Security Practices – https://solink.com/solinks-security-practices/
For physical-security teams, this is important because a camera that fails silently can create an unnoticed security gap.
Monitoring should therefore cover:
security events
and
security-system health.
Data Retention and Privacy
CCTV and access-control data also create privacy obligations.
Buyers need to establish:
- How long footage is retained
- Who can view it
- Who can export it
- How access is logged
- How information is deleted
Solink, for example, allows organisations to control video retention and uses role-based access alongside audit logs to track system activity.
Solink – Privacy – https://solink.com/solinks-privacy-commitment/
The ICO provides guidance on video surveillance and the handling of personal information captured through CCTV.
ICO – Video Surveillance – https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/uk-gdpr-guidance-and-resources/cctv-and-video-surveillance/
Data protection should therefore form part of physical-security system design rather than being considered only after deployment.
On-Premises vs Cloud Security Systems
Buyers may encounter several deployment models.
On-premises
Servers and recording infrastructure remain primarily within the organisation’s own environment.
Potential benefits include greater direct control.
But internal teams become responsible for:
- Maintenance
- Updates
- Resilience
- Storage
Cloud
Management and potentially recording move into supplier-hosted infrastructure.
Potential advantages include:
- Remote access
- Scalability
- Central updates
- Multi-site management
Hybrid
Some processing or storage remains onsite while management and analytics operate through cloud services.
The best model depends on:
- Security requirements
- Connectivity
- Estate size
- IT resources
- Data requirements
There is no automatically ‘more secure’ deployment model.
The architecture and controls matter more than the label.
Resilience and Connectivity
Cloud-connected systems depend on network availability.
Security teams should therefore ask:
What happens when the internet goes down?
Can:
- Cameras continue recording?
- Doors still authenticate users?
- Alarms continue operating?
- Footage synchronise when connectivity returns?
Physical-security technology may need to remain operational even when the corporate network is experiencing problems.
This becomes particularly important for:
- Critical infrastructure
- High-security facilities
- Warehouses
- Distribution centres
- Healthcare
- Public buildings
Resilience requirements should be included in the original specification.
Security System Supply Chain
A typical security installation may involve:
- Camera manufacturer
- Access-control manufacturer
- Installer
- Cloud provider
- Monitoring centre
- Maintenance contractor
This creates a technology supply chain.
Buyers need clarity over responsibility.
If a vulnerability is identified in a camera, who:
- Receives the alert?
- Tests the patch?
- Installs the update?
- Verifies operation?
Likewise, if a subcontractor needs remote access, who approves and audits that connection?
Supplier Accountability Principle
Do not accept:
“The manufacturer handles that.”
Identify exactly which organisation is responsible for every security-critical part of the system lifecycle.
Working with IT and Cybersecurity Teams
Physical-security procurement should increasingly involve:
- Security
- IT
- Cybersecurity
- Data protection
- Facilities
Each brings different expertise.
Physical security can define:
- Threats
- Operational requirements
- Response
IT can assess:
- Architecture
- Connectivity
- Integration
Cyber teams can assess:
- Vulnerabilities
- Authentication
- Monitoring
Data-protection teams can assess:
- CCTV processing
- Retention
- Privacy
Bringing these groups together before procurement reduces the risk of discovering unacceptable technical or governance issues after contracts have been signed.
What Should Buyers Compare?
Physical-security capability
Does the system meet the site’s actual protection requirements?
Network architecture
How are cameras, controllers and servers connected?
Segmentation
Can security infrastructure be isolated from the wider corporate network?
Authentication
Are MFA and role-based controls available?
Updates
How are software and firmware vulnerabilities managed?
Cloud security
How are hosted data and services protected?
Integration
Can CCTV, access control and alarms work together?
Monitoring
Can both incidents and system health be monitored?
Resilience
What happens during network or cloud outages?
Supplier lifecycle
How long will the technology receive security support?
Questions to Ask IP Security Suppliers
- Which components connect to our network?
- Can you provide a full architecture diagram?
- Should security equipment sit on a separate VLAN?
- Which firewall ports are required?
- Are default credentials removed during commissioning?
- Does the platform support MFA?
- Can user privileges be restricted by role?
- Are administrator actions logged?
- How are camera and controller firmware updates managed?
- How quickly are critical vulnerabilities patched?
- How many years will each device receive security updates?
- Where is cloud data hosted?
- Is data encrypted in transit and at rest?
- What happens if internet connectivity fails?
- Can cameras continue recording offline?
- How does access control behave during outages?
- Which third parties can remotely access the system?
- How is supplier remote access authenticated and audited?
- Can the platform integrate CCTV, alarms and access control?
- How are system faults detected?
- What data-retention controls are available?
- What happens when hardware reaches end of support?
- Which cyber-security standards or assurance schemes apply?
- Who is responsible for vulnerabilities after installation?
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an IP security system?
An IP security system uses network-connected devices such as CCTV cameras, access controllers and sensors to provide physical-security capabilities.
Are IP CCTV cameras a cyber-security risk?
They can be if poorly configured or maintained because they are network-connected devices. Appropriate segmentation, authentication, patching and access controls can help reduce risk.
Should CCTV be on a separate network?
Network segmentation is commonly recommended to limit unnecessary access between video-security devices and the wider corporate network. The appropriate architecture should be determined with IT and cybersecurity teams.
What is cloud video security?
Cloud video security uses hosted platforms to manage, analyse or store CCTV information, often enabling remote access and centralised multi-site management.
What is the difference between physical security and cyber security?
Physical security protects people, buildings and assets, while cybersecurity protects digital systems and information. Network-connected physical-security systems increasingly sit at the intersection of both disciplines.
Can CCTV integrate with access control?
Yes. Integrated platforms can link access events with video, helping operators investigate denied entries, tailgating and other suspicious activity.
Why are firmware updates important for security cameras?
Firmware vulnerabilities can create cyber risk. Buyers should ensure manufacturers provide updates for an appropriate period and establish who is responsible for installing them.
Product Guide
Connected physical security increasingly combines guarding, CCTV, access control, remote monitoring, cloud software and network security. Buyers should consider both the effectiveness of the physical-security solution and how securely its underlying technology is deployed and managed. The following solution providers can be met at the Total Security Summit.
Featured Suppliers
G4S Secure Solutions (UK) Limited
Security provider combining physical security services with electronic-security technology. Its UK capabilities include CCTV and drone surveillance, access control, alarm systems, remote monitoring and integrated security solutions, supported by system design, installation and maintenance.
Website: https://www.g4s.com/en-gb/default
Lexnis
UK security and facilities-services provider offering manned and electronic security. Its electronic-security capabilities include CCTV installation and monitoring, access control, alarms, gates and barriers, biometric systems and integrated monitoring designed to support single and multi-site environments.
Website: https://lexnisservices.co.uk/
Solink
Cloud-based physical-security platform combining video surveillance, access-control information, alarms and business data within a central management environment. Its capabilities include multi-site video management, AI-supported investigation, access-event verification, system-health monitoring and role-based cloud security.
Website: https://solink.com/
Explore IP and IT Security for Physical Security Systems
The boundaries between physical and digital security are becoming increasingly difficult to separate.
A modern camera is a physical-security device, but it is also a computer connected to a network.
An access-control platform protects doors, but it also contains valuable identity information and potentially provides remote control over who can enter a building.
That means security procurement can no longer focus only on:
“Does the system protect the site?”
It must also ask:
“Is the system itself adequately protected?”
The strongest approach combines physical-security expertise with network architecture, cybersecurity, data governance and clearly defined supplier accountability throughout the technology lifecycle.
The Total Security Summit connects senior security professionals with carefully selected providers of electronic security, monitoring, access control and wider security services through a programme of pre-arranged one-to-one meetings.
Explore IP and IT security solutions for physical-security environments, compare specialist providers and discover how connected technologies can improve situational awareness without creating unnecessary digital risk.
Sources
- National Protective Security Authority – Cyber Assurance of Physical Security Systems – https://www.npsa.gov.uk/cyber-assurance-physical-security-systems-capss
- Information Commissioner’s Office – CCTV and Video Surveillance – https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/uk-gdpr-guidance-and-resources/cctv-and-video-surveillance/
- G4S – Electronic Security Technology – https://www.g4s.com/en-gb/what-we-do/electronic-security-technology
- G4S – Access Control – https://www.g4s.com/en-gb/what-we-do/electronic-security-technology/access-control
- Lexnis – Security Services – https://lexnisservices.co.uk/services/
- Lexnis – Access Control – https://lexnisservices.co.uk/electronic-security/access-control/
- Solink – Physical Security – https://solink.com/solutions/physical-security/
- Solink – Security Practices – https://solink.com/solinks-security-practices/
- Solink – Security – https://solink.com/security/
Image credit: https://unsplash.com/photos/a-security-and-privacy-dashboard-with-its-status–nBClEqKKVM
