The Video Recorders came with the camera and monitor first. The system is closely followed by the Video Cassette Recorder (VCR). Later on technology then brought us the multiplexer. It allowed several streams of video to be recorded onto the same tape and separated out into discrete and viewable streams. These days, there are different types of Video Recorders are available in market such as DVR and NVR. People face problem when choosing a security system is whether or not they want to record with the NVR or DVR.

Security camera system consists of many different products and technologies. The suppliers build pieces of the system. It is part of a hybrid analog/digital implementation or an end-to-end networked IP solution. Evolution of the CCTV system, starting with a fully analog system and adding components that now achieved networked capability.

IP video surveillance system and Network Video Recorders (NVRs) are two of the most common equipment for security. Describing the use of IP cameras and network based computers in physical security. Both of these terms are marketing phrases and are not controlled by standards body. There is no authoritative definition is possible and many diverging opinions are held. All NVRs are software applications. The software functionalities vary significantly with Network Video Recorder. This variance can appear between suppliers and even amongst supplier's offerings.

Analog CCTV recording systems have been the basis surveillance and monitoring. This technology is extremely old and outdated. It is rapidly being replaced by digital recording technology, now representing over 80% of all new installations.

Network Video Recorders is not a "turn-key box" or network appliance. It is created with a combination of network devices. NVR can be a standard network server with internal or attached storage capability along with recording software. It has video surveillance system or communication software and possibly even intelligent video analysis software.

DVR is defined as Digital Video Recorder, a device that records video from analog cameras to one or more hard drives. The videos from IP cameras can be recorded on DVRs but a codec is needed for each camera. It converts the IP video stream back to an analog signal so it can be recorded. Some DVRs connect to the network and can be viewed using the camera.

Network video server is a computer that runs special VMS (Video Management Software). It is used to record video from IP cameras. The system is so similar to NVR in that they both record the video.