Best Surveillance Hard Disk Drive for CCTV and DVR and NAS Storage

Are you looking for the best surveillance hard disk drive from the market? First, you need to ensure their long-term reliability to ensure data does not get corrupted over time.

Surveillance system plays a significant role in our life nowadays. It comes in handy on many occasions, such as keeping a sensitive area under the eye, a crime scene investigation, and much more. Today, we will be discussing some top-quality surveillance hard disk drives. You may wonder, “Why can’t I only use the hard disk from my old desktop as it not in use currently. After all, all my DVR requires is a hard drive, and all hard disk drives are the same!” Well, you are a bit wrong here, as all hard disk drives are not the same.

Difference: Regular HDD v/s Surveillance Level HDD

A standard hard disk drive, which you use on your desktop, is designed to take 8 hours a day and six days a week. So the workload on them is small, and their performance lies between low to moderate level. They exhibit low mean time between failures as well. On the other hand, surveillance hard disk drive possesses average to high performance and load taking capacity. They have a high mean time between failure ability. In simple words, the chances of hard drive failure are too small. Moreover, some of them also offer a recovery firmware that helps recover the data lost due to mechanical failure or accidental cause.

So you see, there are some differences between a regular hard disk drive and a surveillance specific hard drive. For extended scalability and reliability, we highly recommend exclusive monitoring and Enterprise certified hard drives.

With that said, let us continue to the list of top Surveillance Hard Disk Drives for CCTV and DVR. Here we go:

Best Surveillance Hard Disk Drive for CCTV and DVR:

Note that every hard disk drive mentioned in this list is a monitoring or enterprise-level hard drive. Most stop them are available in different capacities ranging from 512 GB to 10 TB; select the appropriate one according to them based on your DVT system’s ability. For example, if a DVR supports 2 TB to 10 TB capacity, it will not support a 512 GB or 1 TB hard disk drive.

<2021 Update>

Seagate  Terascale HDD SATA 4 TB @ 6Gb/s

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The Seagate Terascale HDD typically comes in a 4TB capacity and SATA 6 Gbps interface speed. The HDD is ideal for Surveillance Systems, NAS-based Network Storage, or building a DAS RAID Storage array.

Toshiba HDWT140UZSVAR, S300 4TB Surveillance 3.5” Internal Hard Drive

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Designed to provide you access to 24 x 7 surveillance, it can cater to every area of your house. Engineered for a high degree of reliability, the hard drive has been known for high performance and high surveillance. The drive has undergone testing for around-the-clock performance.

The hard drive does support up to 32 HD cameras. The built-in rotational vibration sensors further increase your experience. An easy installation option, coupled with a three-year warranty, is a few features that would ideally make it a reliable option for all your needs.

The spec sheet-

Amazon

Toshiba (HDWE140XZSTA) X300

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Specifically designed for operations such as Office surveillance, the hard drive works with other requirements that include Performance Desktop and Gaming applications. A massive capacity to accommodate a massive workload further makes it a reliable hard drive for your needs in effective surveillance.

The Cache technology offered by Toshiba ensures a high level of performance in real-time. The Ramp loading and drive stabilization technologies ensure that you get access to reliable performance.

The spec sheet-

Toshiba N300

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This drive is useful for:

• Network Attached Storage (NAS)
• Designed for use in multi-RAID NAS systems up to 8 bays
• Desktop RAID and servers
• Tested for 24/7 reliability with workloads up to 180TB/year
• Multimedia server storage
• Private cloud storage
• Small business server and storage

<2019 List>

1. WD Red Pro

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While it may not be the option you would find impressive when it comes to enterprise drives, the WD Red Pro offers you excellent performance and reliability. The WD Red Pro is best suited for use with an always-on RAID configured NAS system. It is equipped with a 3.5-inch form factor; the drive comes with an all-metal casing. The 7K spindle speed and extended thermal burn-in testing should make it one of the most preferred choices.

The specifications offered by the drive include

2. Ironwolf Pro

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The IronWolf Pro series comes with 6 TB to 12 TB storage options. It does offer you a 7200 rpm spindle speed performance. The drive features the RV sensors. The 214 MB per second sequential read and write speed performances would make it one of the preferred options for your needs. The drive is optimized for NAS and ensures that you have access to a perfect user experience.

A few worthy mentions of the specification reads

3. Toshiba N-300

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The Toshiba N 300 is yet another excellent drive is designed for use with NAS drives. The drive is available in three different capacities, viz. 4, 6, and 8 TB. It can support up to eight drives in RAID configuration. The integrated RV sensors are capable of handling a high degree of protection of data. You also have access to heat prevention technology to ensure proper coping with higher temperatures.

Some salient features offered by the drive would read.

4. Toshiba V-300

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Specifically launched for surveillance and video applications, the Toshiba V 300 is specifically focused on energy efficiency and quieter operation. The drive is available in capacities of up to 3 TB. The hard drive is designed as the entry-level consumer hard drives aimed at video applications. The Toshiba V300, along with the S300 range, is offered to those looking for the affordable 3.5-inch form factor.

Some of the specifications can be summed up as here below.

5. WD Purple

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If you are looking for the industry’s leading performance in surveillance applications, you will find the WD Purple from Wester Digital a top choice for all your requirements. You can be assured of always-on, high-performance surveillance requirements. Get an assured high-quality video playback with the Hard drive specifically designed for the purpose. The proprietary AllFrame 4K technology improves the level of ATA streaming by a huge degree. The drive is compatible with the massive storage needs of 4K surveillance video.

Some of the specifications would read.

6.MaxDigitalData CCTV DVR optimized HDD

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The company MaxDigitalData is a large OEM manufacturer of hard drives for other customers. This HDD is branded under their name and is one of the most reliable surveillance HDD in a budget. Here are its specifications below:

• 1TB or 2TB Capacity, 7200RPM  with 32MB internal Cache memory
• Form Factor: 3.5in Surveillance HDD
• Estimated Recording of 30 Days @ 30FPS, and 720P video
• Heavy-Duty, suitable for CCTV DVR, and Surveillance System
• Designed for 24/7, 365 Operation, Enhanced for Video Stream and Optimized for Surveillance DVR systems
• 2 Years Limited Warranty from Reseller

<2018 List>

1. Seagate SkyHawk Surveillance Hard Drive:

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It works pretty well regardless of what system is being used by you. You can use it on any DVR; you can pair it with windows or Mac; whatever you have, it will work just fine. The installation is straightforward and hardly takes even 10 minutes. They are available in different variations in size. If you plan to record 24×7 camera channels, you want to go with a 6 GB one or more. Since the hard disk can endure much of a workload, it works with DVR surveillance quite well. Here is a glance at the specs:

Buy it here:

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2. WD Purple Surveillance HDD:

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Western digital exclusively manufactures purple surveillance HDD series for modern security system standards. They are written intensive and low bit rate storage devices, making them extremely suitable for high stream count applications and most surveillance applications. Enhanced surveillance performance is delivered with the prioritized write operations. It fully supports TLER and ATA streaming. You have the least to worry about specs since it is made specifically for the surveillance system. Following is a quick overview:

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3. HGST UltraStar 7K6000:

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Being enterprise-level hard disk storage, it is compatible with a variety of applications, including the followings:

• Cloud and hyper-scale storage
• For supporting big data analytics on distributed file systems
• Video surveillance
• Content distribution
• DAS [direct attached storage]
• NAS [network attached storage]
• Raid arrays
• Massive scale-out data centers

The hard disk is based on 7^th gen five drive design. It is field-proven and quite reliable for your precious data. Following is a quick look at some relevant specifications:

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4. Seagate IronWolf:

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This hard disk drive uses active array technology for NAS optimization to endure more workload on 24 x 7 availability. It is because the security of your data is a top priority. Thus they are offering two years of the data recovery service plan. It comes with handy technologies implemented, such as standard rotational vibration and active array technology. This hard disk drive is designed to ensure multiple users’ workload and performs quite well in DVRs and surveillance applications. Have a quick look below:

5. Western Digital AV-GP:

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This one might seem a light piece, but it is perfectly compatible and capable of using PVR, DVR, IPTV systems, media centers, and surveillance applications. I thought like including this one since not everyone has huge requirements. So if you are looking for a surveillance hard disk and think the workload will be limited, you can go with it. It can hold 400,000 digital photos, 500,000 MP3 files, and 240 hours of HD recording. As an assurance of durability and reliability, they offer 3 years of warranty. Here is a quick look:

6. Seagate Barracuda Drives:

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This one is not exclusively built for surveillance purposes; however, it is an enterprise-level hard disk drive that you would definitely not regret using with your CCTV and DVR box. These are the kind of hard disks that can be used for multiple purposes. Many users report using them on their servers, where they are constantly being read and write, and they are doing quite well there. If they can take that much load, you definitely can give it a shot in your DVR. Here is a quick look at some high-level specs:

To Summerize

We hope you like our article on the best surveillance hard disk drive currently available on the market. Since surveillance Hard Disk Drives needs to be online continuously, long-term reliability should be the top priority. On top of that, a high availability strategy should also be in place.

For any questions or suggestions, do drop us a comment below in the comment section.

Modern computer technology is all about expansion. With frequent updates year after year, it has become a little challenging to adapt to the changes. It has indeed become a difficult task and a struggle in itself. There are several advancements when it comes to computers, controllers, high-speed interfaces, and storage systems. The storage requirements now run to several TBs and need to have a compact, acceptable form factor. However, how about the best SSDs for your needs in surveillance? Let us check out the best SSD Surveillance drives you can have a look at.

Is it advisable to go with SSD for Surveillance?

The SSDs or solid-state drives are of recent technological advancement. The SSD-drives are all set to replace the Hard drives. What makes it one of the best options is that it does not have any moving parts. It does not feature any motor or internal mechanical parts and thus will not make any noise.

The SSD uses the NAND chips, which are interconnected to store the data and are managed by the storage controller. These chips are embedded within the computer motherboard or even placed in an enclosure outside the computer for dedicated storage. These are referred to as internal SSD or external SSD, respectively.

One of the advantages of SSDs is that they do not have any movable parts and thus do not suffer any external physical damage. They come with exceptional performance characteristics in terms of speed. In sharp contrast, the HDD will take a while to complete the read or write operation no matter how fast.

The only issue that you may find a little embarrassing would be the price. However, the lack of noise is an excellent option that should make it a formidable choice by every standard. Of course, there are a few issues in SSDs, where you would be using each of the cells a finite number of times, and ultimately they will stop working. However, you need not worry – it would take considerably a long time for that to happen.

In essence, the SSDs are faster and reliable but come with a limited capacity and higher pricing. However, they should be one of the best options you can go with for the surveillance requirements.

Best SSDs for Surveillance in 2019

Having understood whether SSDs would be a good option for use with the surveillance requirements, let us check out a few good SSDs you can opt for. Of course, no SSDs may not be specifically designed for use with the Surveillance needs. However, we will check out the SSDs that would work efficiently in such an environment and work with the NAS requirements.

A surveillance SSD (or the hard drive) should be capable of handling a workload of up to 8 hours a day and six days a week. However, the workload will remain small enough. The lower workload for a continued period is what would make them efficient enough in their task. A typical SSD should be capable of performing the job in most cases.

Seagate Ironwolf 110

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The Seagate Ironwolf 110 is designed to offer you up to 4 TB of NAS storage and be one of the best options for your surveillance needs. The SSD is rated to provide you 2 TBW for every 1 GB capacity. This is up to two to four times better than a consumer drive.

The endurance limit indicated here is should be ideal for the NAS and surveillance requirements. You will find it offering you access to heavier workloads.

Some of the features offered by the SSD will include

• It comes with four capacities – 240 GB, 480 GB, 960 GB, 1.92 TB and 3.82 TB.
• It is one of the fastest solid-state drives.
• It is equipped with the AgileArray firmware.
• The SSD comes with support for 24×7 and multi-user environments.
• You also have access to DuraWrite technology that improves reliability and improved performance.
• The Drive Health Monitoring provides you access to prevention, intervention, and recovery.
• It provides you access to a two-year recovery plan.

Samsung 860 EVO

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Powered by the Samsung V NAND Technology, the Samsung 860 EVO SSD is optimized for high-end performance. The best-in-class read and write speeds should provide you with access to exceptional performance. Though ideal enough for use with mainstream computers, they should work efficiently with the surveillance systems.

The SSD from Samsung does provide you access to faster and reliable performance. The faster multitasking and heavier workloads would ensure that it can handle heavy workloads and efficient multitasking.

A few features worth the mention would include

• It does arrive at 8 times higher TBW than the previous generation of devices.
• The drive provides you access to a secure storage rendering sizes of 4Kvideos.
• It provides you access to higher speeds, improved Linux compatibility.
• Sequential Read/Write speeds up to 550MB/s and 520MB/s, respectively.
• The drive is available in five capacities like 250 GB, 500 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB, and 4 TB.

Samsung 860 PRO 512GB V-NAND Solid State Drive

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The Samsung 860 Pro drive comes with the latest V-NAND technology and a stronger algorithm-based controller. The SSD should be able to handle high-end PCs. It can also work efficiently with the workstations, NAS systems, and surveillance requirements.

It does provide you with consistent and sustained speeds. The best-in-class multitasking is yet another advantage that it offers you. It can store and render 4K videos and 3D data, much needed by surveillance applications.

Some of the features offered by the Samsung SSD can be summed up as

• Sequential read and write speeds of 560 MB per second and 530 MB per second, respectively.
• It provides you access to up to 10.7x higher TBW compared to the previous generations of devices.
• The drive provides you access to more fluid communication and smarter compatibility.
• The SSD provides you access to AES 256-bit hardware-based encryption.

WD Blue 3D NAND 1TB PC SSD

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WD Blue range of drives – whether in the HDD or SSD space is designed specifically for the surveillance requirements. The NVMe standard and protocol offered by the service would make it one of the most preferred options for faster and secure performance.

The drive is best suited for PC enthusiasts and creative professionals. The 3D NAND SATA SSD provides you access to the best-in-class reliability. You also have access to the downloadable software for your needs in monitoring the SSD.

A few of the features that it offers you can be listed out as

• Read and write speeds provided by the SSD are 560 MB per second and 530 MB per second.
• You will have access to the industry-leading 1.75M mean time failure rate.
• A five years manufacturer warranty.
• Cutting edge speed performance thanks to NVMe protocol.

OCZ Technology 240 GB Vertex 3 SSD

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The OCZ Vertex3 SolidState Drives have been designed for a world-class performance that unleashes the full potential  6Gbps SATA3 interface. In addition to the surveillance requirements, it also provides you access to a better performance in terms of gaming, multimedia, and overall computing experience.

The design provides you access to high-end durability. The drive also offers you a shock-resistant property of up to 1500 grams.

The SSD gives you access to quicker boot-ups, faster file transfers, and overall snappier performance. Some of the salient features that it offers you access to would include

• Lesser power consumption and a silent operation would make it a more excellent choice.
• The 2 million hours Mean Time Before Failure is one of the best life expectancies.
• The maximum read and write speeds would include 550 MB per second and 520 MB per second.
• It provides you with a drastic improvement over traditional hard drives.

WD BLACK SN750 SSD

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The SSD comes equipped with the NVMe SSD performance. It has been considered one of the fastest SSD options and should be the best you can opt for with the NVMe interface. The 64 layer 3D NAND protocol should offer a more secure and reliable performance.

The drive is available in capacities ranging from 250 GB to 2 TB. The exclusive 5-year warranty from the manufacturer is another option that should make it one of the preferred choices.

A few salient features offered by the solid-state drive can be summarised as

• It provides you the read speeds of up to 3470 MB per second.
• This will provide you access to improved load times.
• You can have access to exclusive software for monitoring the drive.
• The drive comes with improved gaming performance.

The Concluding Thoughts

Those were a few select Solid-state drives that can be handy enough for most of your needs in surveillance requirements. Of course, using an SSD for the surveillance requirements can be quite an expensive alternative. However, it does come with its own set of advantages. We assume the options outlined in this compilation should be helpful enough in practically every one of your requirements.

Check out the options we have shared in this compilation and share your thoughts and experiences with us.