NVR

An NVR receives the data streams from multiple IP cameras over the network, stores them on disk, and provides an interface for viewing, searching, and exporting footage. Unlike the older DVR, which processes analog camera signals over coax cable, an NVR receives footage that's already digital because the camera itself handles compression. An NVR can be a dedicated hardware box or run as software on a server or NAS.

In practice, the NVR usually sits in a server room or comms cabinet, often with several drives in a RAID array to survive a single disk failure. Capacity depends on the number of channels, resolution, frame rate, and the configured retention period, which is why it's often underestimated when buying. Access to live view and the archive typically runs through an app or web portal, with individual accounts rather than one shared password.

A common misunderstanding: an NVR is not just a network drive holding video files, it manages recording schedules, motion detection, and per-camera access rights. If it's left reachable from the internet unprotected, for example through a port forward with no further hardening, it becomes a frequently underestimated attack target.