SECURITY CAMERAS
Cameras that join the network you already have, with no monthly fees.
Ubiquiti UniFi Protect only. Local recording, no per-camera license.
We deploy and support Ubiquiti UniFi Protect security camera systems exclusively. The cameras integrate with the UniFi network gear most of our clients already run, the controller usually lives on the same gateway as the firewall, and there are no per-camera monthly fees, cloud storage subscriptions, or license costs after the hardware is installed.
- Ubiquiti UniFi Protect, exclusively
- No per-camera monthly fees, ever
- Local recording, controlled by your own gateway
Most business security camera systems are sold as a recurring subscription. Per camera, per month, every month, for as long as you have the cameras. Storage in the cloud, software access, app login, firmware updates, and increasingly any feature labeled “smart” all live behind the subscription. Over a five-year horizon, the subscription often costs more than the cameras themselves did. Netsafe Solutions deploys Ubiquiti UniFi Protect security cameras instead. The cameras integrate with the UniFi network gear our clients already run; the controller is typically the same gateway that runs the firewall; storage is local; and there are no per-camera monthly fees. The pricing model is “buy the hardware once.”
Why Ubiquiti only.
Most security camera platform pages would list the alternatives politely. We are not going to. We deploy UniFi Protect exclusively because the integration with the rest of the UniFi product stack is what makes the system economical to own and operate. The cameras land on the same management plane as the wireless and the firewall. The controller usually lives on the same UniFi Dream Machine or UniFi gateway that already runs the network. Storage is local on the same hardware. There is no separate cloud subscription, no separate per-camera license, and no separate app you have to pay extra to use.
The competing systems (Verkada, Eagle Eye Networks, Ring for Business, Rhombus, and most cloud-first vendors) are well-built products. They also charge per camera per month indefinitely. For a typical twelve-camera small-business deployment, the subscription side of those platforms is somewhere between three and six thousand dollars a year, every year, on top of the hardware. We will not put a customer into that pricing model when UniFi delivers the same outcome with a one-time hardware cost.
If your environment is already running a non-UniFi security camera system and it is working, we will leave it alone. We will not push a rip-and-replace just to standardize. But if you are deciding what to deploy now, the answer is UniFi Protect.
What gets delivered.
Four pieces of work, scoped together as one project. Hardware sourced through our distributor channels at competitive pricing.
Site assessment and camera placement
On-site walkthrough to identify the coverage areas (entrances, parking, common areas, warehouse floor, secure rooms, perimeter). Security camera type matched to each location: dome, bullet, turret, fisheye, license-plate, or specialty as the situation calls for. Mounting points identified and lighting checked. Output is a placement diagram with camera type and rationale per location.
Hardware sourcing and installation
UniFi Protect security cameras sourced through our distributor accounts at standard pricing. Power over Ethernet runs to each camera location, mounting per the placement diagram, structured cable runs back to the network closet, and patching to the UniFi switching infrastructure. Outdoor cameras rated for the weather conditions at the install location.
Controller and recording configuration
The UniFi Protect controller usually lives on a UniFi Dream Machine, a UniFi Cloud Gateway, or a dedicated Network Video Recorder appliance. Storage configured for the retention window your business actually needs. Motion-detection zones tuned per camera so you are not buried in alerts from leaves moving in the wind. Remote viewing through the UniFi mobile app set up for the staff who need it.
Network integration and ongoing management
Cameras placed on a dedicated virtual network so a compromised camera cannot reach the rest of your environment. Firmware updates pushed remotely through the same controller that manages your wireless and switching. Camera health, recording status, and storage capacity visible on the same dashboard as the rest of the UniFi gear. For active managed services clients, the monitoring is part of the engagement at no separate charge.
What twelve security cameras cost over five years.
A simplified comparison for a hypothetical twelve-camera deployment. Numbers approximate; the shape of the curve is what matters.
$25,000 to $45,000 over 5 years
- Year 1: $8,000 to $14,000 hardware and install
- Years 1 to 5: $30 to $60 per camera per month subscription
- Twelve cameras × $40/month average × 60 months = $28,800 in subscription alone
- Storage in vendor cloud, behind vendor login
- Some features locked behind tier upgrades
- Cancellation typically forfeits the recordings
~$36,000 typical 5-year total
$8,000 to $14,000 one-time
- Year 1: $8,000 to $14,000 hardware and install
- Years 1 to 5: $0 in subscription fees
- Storage local on your own gateway or recorder appliance
- App access free, all features included
- Recordings stay yours regardless of vendor relationship
- Replacement cameras available individually as needed
~$11,000 typical 5-year total
The hardware cost on both sides is roughly comparable. The five-year difference is almost entirely subscription. For a deployment that lives ten years instead of five, the gap widens further.
How security camera projects are priced.
One project quote covering site assessment, hardware, install, and configuration. No recurring fees on the camera side after the install is done.
Fixed-fee, scaled to building size. On-site walkthrough, camera type and placement diagram, network capacity confirmation, and a hardware list scoped to the design. The deliverable is yours regardless of whether installation goes through us.
UniFi Protect cameras sourced through our distributor accounts at standard pricing with any handling margin called out per line. You can also source the hardware yourself if you prefer; the install quote works without the materials line. No markup hidden inside a single project number.
Power over Ethernet cable runs, mounting, controller setup, retention configuration, motion-zone tuning, and remote-viewing setup for the staff who need it. Most installations of fewer than fifteen security cameras run inside a single day on site.
No per-camera monthly fee. No cloud-storage subscription. No license tier upgrades. Once the install is done, the only ongoing cost is electricity and the eventual hardware replacement when cameras reach end of life. Active managed services clients get the camera health monitoring folded into the engagement at no separate charge.
Why this is the right model.
Security cameras are infrastructure, not a service. Owning the infrastructure outright keeps the math simple and the recordings under your roof.
The math is clearly cheaper
The five-year difference between a subscription security camera system and UniFi Protect is roughly the cost of the hardware itself for a typical small-business deployment. We are not arguing the marginal feature differences; we are arguing that paying twice for the same outcome is not a good model.
Same management plane as your network
Cameras, wireless, switching, and firewall all live on the same UniFi controller. One login, one dashboard, one place to push firmware updates, one place to spot a problem. Most small businesses end up with three or four separate management consoles for these systems; UniFi consolidates them onto one.
Recordings stay yours
Storage is local on hardware you own. If you ever decide to leave us as your IT provider, the cameras and recordings stay where they are. Subscription camera systems sometimes hold the recordings hostage to the contract; UniFi does not have a contract to hold anything hostage to.
One platform we know cold
Standardizing on UniFi Protect means our team knows the platform inside out. Edge cases, firmware quirks, and the configurations that look fine in the controller but cause problems in the field. The same depth of platform expertise we bring to UniFi wireless applies to the cameras.
Frequently asked questions.
Why only Ubiquiti cameras and not Verkada, Hikvision, or Ring?
Two reasons. First, the integration with the rest of the UniFi stack means our security cameras run on the same controller as the network and wireless, on the same gateway as the firewall, with one login and one dashboard. Second, Ubiquiti has no per-camera monthly fee, no cloud-storage subscription, and no per-feature licensing tier. The competing platforms are well-built products that charge per camera per month indefinitely. For a typical twelve-camera deployment, the five-year subscription cost on a competing platform is somewhere around the cost of all the Ubiquiti hardware combined.
Can I view the cameras remotely from my phone?
Yes. The UniFi mobile app provides remote viewing for any staff who need it, with role-based permissions so a front-desk user does not see what an executive sees. Remote viewing is included; there is no separate app subscription or cloud-storage fee for it.
How long is footage retained?
As long as the storage capacity allows. Retention is a function of how much storage is on the controller appliance and how high the recording resolution is set. A typical configuration retains 30 to 60 days of continuous recording for a twelve-camera deployment on standard storage. We size the storage during the design conversation against the retention window your business actually needs.
Do the cameras need their own network?
They get their own virtual network. Same physical infrastructure as the rest of your network, but isolated logically so a compromised camera cannot reach the rest of your environment. The controller and the cameras talk on a dedicated virtual network with the firewall enforcing the boundary. This is standard configuration on every install.
Can you add cameras to a system you did not originally install?
For UniFi Protect installs that someone else put in, yes. We can take over management, add cameras, and bring the system under our standards. For non-UniFi systems we will not run them; if your existing system is working we will leave it alone, and if it is not working we can scope a phased migration to UniFi Protect.
What about audio recording?
Most UniFi cameras support audio recording, but North Carolina is a one-party-consent state with specific rules about recording employees and visitors. We do not enable audio recording by default. If audio recording is desired, the configuration conversation includes the legal and policy work that should accompany it: signage, employee notification, and a written policy. We will configure audio when the policy framework is in place.
Do cameras work during a power outage?
Cameras are powered through Power over Ethernet from the network switches. If the switch and controller are on a battery backup, the cameras and recording continue during a short outage. For longer outages, the cameras need their own power source. We typically recommend battery backup on the network closet equipment as part of the install scope, which keeps cameras and recording alive for the duration of most building power issues.
Let’s design your security camera coverage.
Tell us the building footprint, what you want your security cameras to cover (entrances, parking, warehouse floor, retail floor, secure areas), and whether you already run UniFi network gear. We will scope a camera layout, quote the hardware, and walk through the recording configuration before any work begins.
Or call us:
(704) 333-0404
What our clients say
NetSafe is responsive, knowledgeable, and professional. Each person we deal with has the expertise to handle our IT needs. Great!!LeighAnn P. Feb 2025 · Google
Always quick to respond and solve any problem, which is crucial in the business world!CJ A. Sep 2025 · Google
Yesterday's service was punctual, effective, and Professional - just like every time I need help. Good listeners, easy to talk to (and understand), and always pleasant.Drake S. Sep 2025 · Google
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