Next-Gen Security Hubs: NVR, Storage & AI - We Value Your Expertise! Survey

1.How many security cameras do you currently have installed and actively monitoring your home?

Please read the following context for advanced home security hubs:

A home security hub is the central brain of your security system — connecting your cameras, sensors, and motion detectors into one unified app. Unlike standalone cameras that operate independently, a hub centralizes alerts, recording, and automation across your entire home, storing footage either locally or in the cloud via subscription. These devices typically prioritize consumer convenience (e.g. connect cameras over WiFi, view streams when away from home) and AI features to create general awareness on what is going on in your home. This is different from a NVR or NAS device.

2.Do you currently own or have you ever owned a dedicated home security hub priced at $199 or more? Include the cost to purchase external storage into this amount.

Yes, I currently own a premium home security hub ($200+ in price)

No, I currently own a hub under $199

No, I have cameras but no hub

No, but I am considering purchasing one

No, but I actively researched one and chose not to buy

Other

Please read the following context on NVR devices:

A NVR (Network Video Recorder) is a device that connects to your home network and records video from your security cameras — like a hub does — but with much larger local storage (hundreds of hours or more) and no monthly cloud subscription required. Some NVRs work only with wired cameras (cameras connected by an Ethernet cable that also powers the camera — known as PoE). Others work with WiFi cameras. NVRs typically connect to a monitor or TV via HDMI and include software for reviewing, searching, and exporting footage.

Please read the following context for NAS devices:

A NAS (Network Attached Storage) is a device that connects to your home Wi-Fi or Ethernet and acts as your personal private cloud. You can store photos, videos, documents, and backups on it. Advanced NAS devices also run software — for media streaming, for apps, personal cloud storage, or even NVR software for camera recording. NAS devices typically have multiple drive bays and support RAID (redundant storage so your files are not lost if one drive fails).

3.Do you currently own or have you ever owned a NVR or NAS device? Select all that apply.

Yes, I currently own a NVR device

Yes, I currently own a NAS device

No, but I am considering purchasing a NVR device

No, but I am considering purchasing a NAS device

No, but I actively researched one and chose not to buy

No, I do not currently own either device

Other

4.Do you prefer for a home security HUB and a NVR to be the same device, or different devices?

Same device, strongly prefer — consolidating and coordinating cameras, AI, and video retrieval is appealing no matter the cost

Same device, mild preference — convenient to consolidate if performance is not compromised

Either is fine — I would evaluate based on price, performance, and reliability

Different device, mild preference — I do not want a failure in my NVR to take down my security

Different device, strong preference — NVR and hubs are fundamentally different products

5.Do you prefer for a home security HUB and a NAS to be the same device, or different devices?

Same device, strongly prefer — consolidating cameras, AI, and general file storage is appealing no matter the cost

Same device, mild preference — convenient to consolidate if performance is not compromised

Either is fine — I would evaluate based on price, performance, and reliability

Different device, mild preference — I do not want a failure in my NAS to take down my security

Different device, strong preference — NAS and hubs are fundamentally different products

6.For home security hubs, is having the ability to retrieve and edit (e.g., clip) recorded video streams locally on your device (external display or web link to video stream) a requirement?

Yes, it is a requirement

Maybe, but other solutions can solve the same problem (e.g., remote retrieval via app)

No, it is not required

7.For NVR and NAS devices, is having the ability to retrieve and edit (e.g., clip) recorded video data locally on your device (external display or web link to video stream) a requirement?

Yes, it is a requirement

Maybe, but other solutions can solve the same problem (e.g., remote retrieval via app)

No, it is not required

8.How about having the ability to view video streams locally on NVR or NAS device (via web interface)?

Yes, it is a requirement

Maybe, but other solutions can solve the same problem (e.g., remote view via app)

No, it is not required

NVR + NAS INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS

10.How important is PoE (Power over Ethernet) camera support — where cameras are powered through the ethernet cable and deliver data in a single cord, rather than requiring a separate power adapter — for your home security setup?

Critical — I only use or plan to use wired PoE cameras; a hub without PoE capability is a dealbreaker

Very important — I prefer wired PoE cameras but would accept a mix of wired and WiFi

Somewhat important — I use WiFi cameras now but would switch to PoE if a hub supported it

Not important — I exclusively use WiFi cameras and have no plans to change

I do not know the difference between PoE and WiFi cameras in terms of NVR compatibility

11.Would you prefer to have PoE support directly within a home security hub, or a standalone NVR device?

Directly within a home security hub

In a standalone NVR device

Either is fine as long as I can support my desired amount of cameras

12.Which of the following NAS capabilities would you find valuable in an advanced security hub — meaning the hub could do these things in addition to managing your cameras and recordings? Select your top 2.

Automatic backup destination for my computers and phones

Personal or self-hosted cloud storage — access my files from any device, anywhere

Media server — stream my own video and music library (Plex, DLNA, Jellyfin, or similar)

Download station — manage file downloads directly on the hub

Run third-party, open-source software (e.g., Frigate NVR, ZoneMinder)

Docker container hosting — run additional software apps on the same device

Expandable storage options -- including HDD, SSD, NVMe SSDs for full storage configurability

Data redundancy via RAID -- I need my storage to back backups in case of data loss

13.Based on your usage, which of these configurations more closely addresses your needs?

All-in-one; Home security hub + NVR + NAS (highest price point)

Security hub + NVR, focus on video storage and monitoring

Security hub + NAS, file storage and backup is more important to me

NVR + NAS, security hub separate

All different devices — NAS and hubs/NVR are fundamentally different products

14.What is your primary concern about combining NVR (camera recording) and NAS (general file storage) functionality into a single advanced hub?

Single point of failure — if the hub fails, I lose both my security recordings and my personal files

Performance degradation — NAS and NVR workloads will compete for the same processor and memory

Security concerns — a device holding both sensitive camera footage and personal files is a higher-value target

Storage architecture mismatch — NAS needs RAID redundancy but NVR does not require it in the same way

No concern — I think combining these is a good idea and my concerns are manageable

Next-Gen Security Hubs: NVR, Storage & AI - We Value Your Expertise!

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