A CCTV upgrade typically involves replacing cameras, the recording platform (NVR or cloud-based), and cabling where required.

Where existing Cat5 or Cat6 cabling is already in place, this is reused wherever possible to minimise cost and disruption. Older coaxial cable runs generally need to be replaced to support modern IP cameras.

Camera replacements are carried out in a rolling fashion where possible, meaning partial coverage is maintained throughout. However, when the core recording platform (headend) is replaced, the entire system will be temporarily offline. This is typically a short window and is scheduled in advance so building managers can plan accordingly.

Installation work is confined to common areas and plant rooms. There is no requirement for access to private units unless cameras are being installed at unit entry points.

Modern CCTV platforms deliver a significant improvement over cheaper and older analogue systems - many of which are no longer manufacturer-supported or difficult to use. This leaves buildings exposed to unpatched security vulnerabilities and degrading image quality and systems where no one knows how to extract footage.

The most immediate improvements clients notice are:

• Resolution and clarity - modern cameras deliver crisp, detailed footage in conditions where older cameras produce blurry or unusable images. This is particularly important when footage is needed for an insurance claim or police investigation

• Night vision - current generation cameras use colour night vision and advanced low-light sensors, replacing the grainy black and white footage typical of older systems

• Mobile access - live and recorded footage can be reviewed from a smartphone or tablet from anywhere, without needing to be on-site or at a dedicated monitor

• Cloud accessibility - all systems are accessible via secure cloud connection, with on-premise recording as standard and cloud backup available for added redundancy

• Integration - modern CCTV platforms integrate directly with access control systems, linking camera footage to access events for instant visual verification

Yes. All CCTV systems installed by CXI are accessible remotely via a secure cloud connection, these include:

• NX VMS/Witness

• Avigilon Alta

• Vivotek Vortex

allowing live and recorded footage to be viewed from a smartphone, tablet, or computer from anywhere in the world.

Building managers and strata managers can be given their own secure login with configurable permissions, meaning they can view footage relevant to their building without accessing unrelated sites or cameras. Multiple users can be provisioned with different access levels depending on their role.

Remote management functions include live view, playback, camera health monitoring, and in some cases PTZ (pan, tilt, zoom) camera control. CXI can also access the system remotely for fault diagnosis and configuration changes, reducing the need for onsite attendance for minor issues.

In most cases yes with CXI Cloud. Using our modern remote platform you can get some level of remote access to your old Dahua, Hikvision, IDIS system securely from anywhere in the world.

Talk to us about how we can enhance your legacy soluiton today.

CXI designs all CCTV systems to retain a minimum of 30 days of continuous footage as a baseline, which meets the standard requirement for most strata and commercial buildings in Australia.

Retention periods can be extended by increasing on-premise storage capacity with additional hard drives.

Some building types have specific retention requirements driven by compliance or insurance obligations. Childcare centres, for example, commonly require up to 6 months of footage retention. CXI is experienced in designing systems to meet these requirements and will confirm the appropriate storage configuration for your building type during the scoping phase.

Higher resolution cameras and sites with high levels of motion activity consume storage faster - this is factored into the system design to ensure your retention target is consistently met.

CXI specifies cameras based on the specific requirements of each location rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. Common camera types include:

• Dome/Turret cameras - discreet and vandal-resistant, suited to internal common areas, lobbies, and corridors

• Bullet cameras - longer range, suited to car parks, perimeters, and external areas

• PTZ cameras - pan, tilt, and zoom capability for large open areas where a single camera needs to cover a wide area

• Fisheye cameras - 360 degree coverage suited to open plan areas where a single camera can replace multiple fixed units

• Thermal/LPR cameras - for specialist applications including heat detection, fire detection, license plate recognition, and environments where standard cameras are ineffective

Camera brand is selected based on the application and budget. CXI typically specifies Milesight or Ajax for standard commercial and strata installations, Axis or Avigilon for high-end commercial environments, and Mobotix for thermal and specialist use cases.

Camera placement and coverage is determined during a site survey, taking into account lighting conditions, distances, entry and exit points, and any specific areas of concern raised by the building manager or body corporate.

Yes. CCTV installations in Australia are subject to privacy legislation that requires building owners to notify people when they are being recorded in common or public areas.

CXI supplies and installs compliant CCTV warning signage as part of every installation to meet this requirement.

Camera placement must also respect the privacy of residents and neighboring properties. Cameras cannot be positioned to capture private areas such as balconies, internal unit spaces, or neighboring private property.

CXI designs camera coverage with these restrictions in mind and will flag any placement concerns during the site survey.

Building owners and body corporates are responsible for ensuring their ongoing use of the CCTV system complies with applicable privacy legislation, including how footage is stored, accessed, and shared with third parties such as police or insurers.

Cybersecurity is a significant and often overlooked risk with CCTV systems. Hikvision and Dahua in particular have a well-documented history of security vulnerabilities.

Both manufacturers release a high volume of camera and NVR models, which makes firmware management difficult - finding the correct firmware for a specific model can be challenging, and older models frequently stop receiving security patches well before the hardware reaches end of life.

For this reason CXI no longer installs Hikvision or Dahua equipment on new projects.

CXI addresses cybersecurity through several measures on every installation:

• Brand selection - we specify cameras from manufacturers with strong cybersecurity track records and active, long-term firmware development and ease of firmware installation.

• Network isolation - CCTV systems are generally placed on a dedicated VLAN or their own physical network, separating camera traffic from the building's general network

• Firmware updates - all cameras are updated to current firmware at installation and kept current through scheduled maintenance visits

• Strong authentication - all default passwords are changed at commissioning and unique credentials are set for every device

• CXI Connect monitoring - where installed, our monitoring platform tracks device health and flags connectivity or configuration anomalies proactively

• CXI Cloud - our secure remote access platform eliminates the need for port-forwarding, which is one of the most common attack vectors for CCTV systems. Remote access is tunnelled through an encrypted connection without exposing your network to the internet and adds a separate authentication layer with OTP (One-Time PINs) so no password vulnerabilities.

Yes. Modern CCTV platforms integrate directly with Inner Range Inception/Integriti and ICT Protege GX, linking camera footage to access control events.

This means when a door is accessed, a forced entry is detected, or an alarm is triggered, the relevant camera footage is automatically associated with that event for instant visual verification.

This integration significantly reduces the time required to investigate incidents - rather than manually scrubbing through hours of footage, building managers can navigate directly to the relevant clip from the access event log.

Using modern LPR (License Plate Recognition) cameras we can integrate license plate numbers as credentials allowing gates and roller doors to open when and authorised car approaches.

The core CCTV system has no mandatory ongoing software fees or subscriptions with the exception of cloud-only systems such as Vivotek Votex and Avigilon Alta.

Recording generally happens on-premise on the NVR for Ajax and NX Witness VMS, meaning there is no cloud storage subscription required for basic operation.

Optional ongoing services include:

• Cloud backup - recommended for buildings where on-premise footage loss would be a significant risk, such as theft of the NVR. This is provided through a third-party cloud storage provider and is priced based on storage requirements

• CXI Connect - remote device health monitoring and fault detection for cameras and recording equipment

• CXI Cloud - secure remote access without port-forwarding, eliminating a common network vulnerability

• Maintenance plan - scheduled preventative maintenance, firmware updates, camera health checks, and priority support response

Yes. All CCTV systems installed by CXI are designed with scalability in mind. Additional cameras can be added at any time provided the NVR has available channels and the network infrastructure can support the additional load.

Where an NVR is reaching capacity, it can be expanded with additional storage or replaced with a higher capacity unit without needing to replace the cameras.

CXI recommends discussing anticipated future growth during the scoping phase so the system is sized appropriately from the outset, avoiding unnecessary upgrade costs down the track.