NVR vs NAS vs Cloud Storage: Choosing Where Your Camera Footage Lives
Camera footage has to live somewhere, and the three main options trade off cost, control and access very differently. Here's how to choose.
NVR: purpose-built and self-contained
A Network Video Recorder is a dedicated device built specifically to record and manage camera footage, with a simple local interface and no dependency on internet connectivity to keep recording. It's the most common choice for CCTV-only setups precisely because it does one job reliably and doesn't need IT expertise to run.
NAS: shared storage for more than just cameras
A Network Attached Storage device is more general-purpose — it can store camera footage alongside backups, files and other data, and usually offers more flexibility in how footage is organised and accessed. It's the better fit when video storage is one part of a broader on-site storage need, not the only one.
Cloud storage: access anywhere, at a recurring cost
Cloud storage removes the on-site hardware and its risk of physical damage or theft, and makes footage accessible from anywhere without a VPN back to site — but it comes with an ongoing subscription cost and depends on a reliable internet connection to actually get footage up in the first place. Many sites land on a hybrid: local NVR/NAS storage for reliability, with select cameras or clips also pushed to the cloud for off-site access and backup.
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