Security has become the focal point of the modern day household and business owner. Because of greater tension in the world, increased liabilities, and the need to protect one's self from issues outside and within, we need to document, and record activities ordinarily taken for granted.

Typically in the past, those who wished to pursue securtiy recording, and activity observations used archaic methods such as Video Cassette Recorders, saving evidence and general records to VHS tape. Methods were developed whereby recordings could be lengthened by slowing the tape down and creating a "time-lapse" effect. Other functions were added such as using "multiplexers" splitting frames per second, or splitting the image with quads. This created a reduced quality recording, and made it difficult to identify persons or objects at times. Its use was frustrating and ineffective.

Today's DVR systems incorporate features not dreamed of 10 years ago, including motion detection, high resolution digital video recordings, network monitoring and network archiving. Prices have also changed drastically to the buyer's advantage, and storage capacities have increased to make these systems all the more practical.