FUJIFILM Recording Media U.S.A., Inc. unveils video surveillance retention cost calculator for LTO tape use in video security systems

FUJIFILM Recording Media U.S.A., Inc. (Fujifilm USA) has announced the release of an online calculator designed to help video surveillance (VS) industry professionals assess the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) for long-term retention of video surveillance content.

Modern low-cost, high-resolution cameras, combined with longer-term retention requirements, are driving video content storage costs upwards, across the video surveillance industry and leading many to take a new look at their storage strategy.

Online calculator tool

Developed by storage economics experts, Brad Johns Consulting and sponsored by Fujifilm, the decision-making tool allows users to input the specifications of their system, such as number of cameras, camera type, frame rate, resolution, retention period requirements, motion percentage, and duration of time, for keeping footage in ‘tier 1’ HDD storage or ‘tier 2’ tape storage.

With these inputs, the calculator instantly weighs the variables and projects a 5-year cost comparison of using HDD only, or a combination of HDD with an integrated LTO tape technology tier.

Data storage tape with LTO technology

Using the real world parameters of their surveillance systems, they can quickly and easily see the direct results"

“Fujifilm is excited about this opportunity to help video surveillance professionals calculate the real savings they can achieve by implementing a second tier of storage based on tape with LTO technology,” said Rich Gadomski, Head of Tape Evangelism, FUJIFILM Recording Media U.S.A., Inc.

Rich Gadomski adds, “Using the real world parameters of their surveillance systems, they can quickly and easily see the direct results on their bottom line.”

Establishing a strong cost-savings case for integrating high-capacity tape (12TB LTO Generation 8 cartridges), users with even modest retention requirements will typically find a 50% potential annual savings, when compared to disk alone. Those savings only increase with higher data volumes and longer retention times. Moving footage from disk to the tape tier sooner also drives costs down.

Low energy use and carbon footprint reduction

“In addition to lower cost, other quality and environmental factors are driving more surveillance industry professionals to consider data storage tape with LTO technology,” said Rich Gadomski.

He adds, “Tape leads all storage media in reliability, with a bit error rate significantly better than disk. And when compared to constantly-spinning HDDs, tape’s low energy consumption not only drives costs down, but reduces carbon footprint as well.”

LTO technology

LTO technology is also becoming more operator-friendly. New video management software solutions, such as Cozaint Corporation’s askALICE, are designed to easily playback video from either tier-1 disk storage or tier-2 tape, without any additional steps needed by the surveillance timeline operator.