Analog cameras predate the shift to networked IP cameras and are typically paired with a DVR (digital video recorder) that converts the incoming analog signal to digital format for storage and playback. More modern IP cameras, which are typically paired with an NVR (network video recorder), skip this conversion step entirely, since they output digital video directly.
Plenty of older commercial properties are still running analog systems, and replacing one outright isn’t always necessary. Many can be upgraded to HD-over-coax formats, which improve resolution while reusing existing coaxial wiring, or migrated to IP hardware incrementally rather than all at once. Whether that migration makes sense – and the optimal way to do it – typically comes down to the condition of the existing cabling and how much of the site’s other infrastructure would need to change alongside it.
If your security system is primarily older analog cameras, it’s probably worth talking to a modern security provider to see how you can upgrade.
