CCTV Installation Guide for Delhi Businesses
A
AP Infotech Team
September 02, 2026
Updated Sep 02, 2026
CCTV Installation Guide for Small Businesses in Delhi
A well-planned CCTV system protects your business from theft, resolves disputes, and provides evidence when something goes wrong. But a poorly planned system — wrong camera types, insufficient storage, or blind spots in coverage — gives you a false sense of security.
This guide helps you plan a CCTV installation for a small business in Delhi.
Step 1: Decide what you are trying to achieve
Before choosing cameras, be clear about your objectives:
• Deterring opportunistic theft
• Monitoring staff activity (lawful employer use with clear policy)
• Recording incidents for insurance or legal evidence
• Remote monitoring of the premises when closed
• Covering entrances, exits, and cash counter areas
Your objectives determine how many cameras you need, what resolution is appropriate, and how long you need to store footage.
Step 2: Understand the different camera types
Bullet cameras: Cylindrical shape, visible deterrent, good for long-range coverage of entrances, parking, and corridors. Easy to aim. Cannot be repositioned without tools.
Dome cameras: Circular, ceiling-mounted, less obtrusive, harder to tell where they are aimed. Good for indoor use — offices, shops, reception areas.
PTZ (Pan-Tilt-Zoom) cameras: Can rotate and zoom, controlled remotely. Used for large areas where one camera needs to cover a wide space. More expensive.
Fisheye cameras: 180° or 360° view from a single camera. Good for covering an entire small room with one camera. Image distortion increases at the edges.
For most small Delhi businesses, dome cameras (indoor) and bullet cameras (outdoor/entrance) are the most practical choice.
Step 3: Choose the right resolution
The most common resolutions available in 2026:
• 2MP (1080p Full HD): Good for most indoor and general use
• 4MP (2.5K): Better detail, good for areas where you need to read faces or number plates from a distance
• 8MP (4K): Highest detail, required for large open spaces or specific high-risk areas
Higher resolution increases storage requirements significantly. For a small shop or office, 2MP–4MP is usually sufficient.
Step 4: DVR vs NVR — which do you need?
DVR (Digital Video Recorder): Works with analogue (coaxial cable) cameras. Cheaper cameras and cabling. Lower maximum resolution than IP cameras. Good for budget installations.
NVR (Network Video Recorder): Works with IP (network) cameras. Cameras connect via standard Cat6 cable (often PoE — Power over Ethernet). Higher resolution available. More flexible system design.
For new installations in 2026, we recommend NVR + IP cameras unless you are expanding an existing analogue DVR system.
Step 5: Plan your storage
How long do you need to keep footage? For most small businesses, 7–30 days is sufficient. Insurance requirements may specify a minimum retention period.
Storage calculation example (approximate):
• 4 cameras at 4MP resolution, 24/7 recording, H.265 compression
• Approximately 100–150 GB per camera per month
• 4 cameras = 400–600 GB per month
• For 30-day retention, you need 400–600 GB of storage
Hard disk drives in DVR/NVR systems are the primary storage method. We recommend 1TB–4TB surveillance-grade HDDs (regular desktop drives wear out faster under 24/7 recording).
Step 6: Power over Ethernet (PoE) simplifies installation
PoE IP cameras receive both data and power through a single Cat6 cable. This means:
• No separate power supply needed at each camera
• Simpler cable routing — one cable per camera to the NVR
• PoE switch or PoE NVR required (both are readily available)
For most small business installations, a PoE NVR (NVR with built-in PoE switch) is the simplest setup.
Step 7: Remote viewing setup
All modern NVR and DVR systems support remote viewing via smartphone apps (Hik-Connect, gDMSS, iVMS-4200) and web browsers.
Requirements for remote viewing:
• Static IP from your ISP, OR DDNS (Dynamic DNS) service
• Port forwarding on your router
• Strong password on your DVR/NVR (never use the default!)
We always set up remote viewing as part of our CCTV installations and train you to use it.
Step 8: Legal considerations for CCTV in Delhi
• Display CCTV warning notices — let staff and visitors know cameras are in operation
• Do not install cameras in areas where people have a reasonable expectation of privacy (toilets, changing rooms)
• For employee monitoring, have a clear written policy that employees are aware of
• For customer-facing areas, a notice at the entrance is standard practice
How AP Infotech helps with CCTV in Delhi
We carry out a free site survey, recommend the appropriate system, handle all cabling and installation, configure remote access, and provide a brief user walkthrough. We also offer annual CCTV maintenance contracts.
Call +91 78278 47488 or contact us online to arrange a free CCTV survey for your business.