There are many debates currently going on in the security industry but one of the most common is one relating to whether video surveillance is still on a path for growth. One of the strongest arguments against this expansion regards image quality, according to a report by Security Info Watch.

Many pundits believe surveillance cameras need to be all about the megapixels and say that this is the one thing that is slowing down the overall market. In many cases, high-definition resolution is about 2.1 megapixels per frame, yet less expensive consumer digital cameras boast upward of 14 megapixels, the news source said. For this reason, a significant number of analysts believe the security camera has fallen behind.

Fortunately, this isn't necessarily the case. Surveillance cameras, often considered the foundation of a robust integrated security system, need to balance a wide variety of capabilities beside image quality, as putting too much of an emphasis on resolution can upset the equilibrium needed for an effective crime-deterrent tool, Security Info Watch noted.

Pixel count is indeed a piece of the overall schematic, but it needs to stay in check with other functions, including bandwidth and storage capabilities. Focusing only on image quality will end up costing the user more without truly enhancing device quality, the news source said.

Educating decision-makers is one of the best ways to ensure an enterprise installs the most effective surveillance solution, as these individuals are ultimately in charge of picking out an offering and deploying it within the company. While image quality is an important piece of the puzzle, it is not necessarily the whole thing.

Cloud-based video surveillance, often referred to as Video Surveillance-as-a-Service, may be able to resolve some of the issues surrounding image quality and storage restraints, as the virtual environments can be more flexible than traditional offerings. A separate report by IMS Research echoed this finding, noting that the VSaaS market is forecast to double during the next three years.

VSaaS also has the ability to balance a number of features such as self monitoring, real-time alerts and integrated analytics with off-site storage, allowing organizations leveraging the tools to be more efficient, IMS Research noted.

All these capabilities are sure to spell growth for the surveillance industry. Since nothing is certain, however, it ultimately comes down to the decision-makers and if they want to implement surveillance cameras.