UniFi Protect: 8 things to plan before installing cameras

A local platform that is still a complete network project

UniFi Protect centralizes recording, live viewing and notifications without a mandatory per-camera subscription. The result still depends on the controller, storage, cabling and network connecting the system.

1. Select the console and size storage

CloudKey+, Dream Machine Pro/SE and Network Video Recorder platforms address different needs. Camera count, resolution, bitrate, detection settings and retention period determine the required capacity.

2. Define the retention period

Decide whether you need a few days, several weeks or longer retention. Continuous recording consumes considerably more storage than detection-based recording, but it reduces event-related blind spots.

3. Plan cabling and the PoE budget

• Prefer permanent network cabling to each camera.
• Check the switch's total PoE budget, not only its port count.
• Leave capacity for PTZ cameras, floodlights or powered doorbells.

4. Position cameras for the intended outcome

A camera intended to identify a face should not be positioned like an overview camera. Height, backlighting, distance, angle and night illumination should be tested on site before final installation.

5. Segment and secure the network

A dedicated camera VLAN reduces lateral movement and simplifies policy. Restrict outbound communication, protect UniFi accounts with multifactor authentication, and keep consoles, applications and cameras current.

6. Tune detections and notifications

Create inclusion and exclusion zones, then tune sensitivity for traffic, trees, animals and lighting. Notifications that are too noisy are usually ignored over time.

7. Protect privacy

Frame only the required areas, mask private zones and avoid unnecessarily recording neighbouring properties or public space. Inform occupants and define who may view or export recordings.

8. Plan for outages and test

Protect the console, storage and PoE switch with an uninterruptible power supply. Test notifications, remote access, video export and recovery after a power failure before considering the system complete.