Plan & Learn
Security Camera Planning Tools & Buyer Guides
Whether you're an IT manager, a facilities director, or the person who was just asked to “get some cameras,” these free tools and guides help you understand your options before you talk to anyone. Your answers carry from one tool to the next and into your quote request.
Plan a System in Four Steps
Each step takes a few minutes. Skip any step — our team fills in the rest with you.
Free Planning Tools
Site Layout Planner
Place cameras on your floor plan and see what each one covers.
Open →Storage & Network Calculator
Size recorder storage and network speed for your cameras.
Open →Cost Estimator
Get a rough installed budget in seconds.
Open →Virtual Site Visits
Walk us through your property on a video call.
Open →Buyer Guides
Plain-English answers to the questions buyers ask us most.
How Buying a Camera System Works
What happens from first call to finished install.
Read →NDAA-Compliant Cameras
Section 889, the FCC Covered List, and Hikvision/Dahua transitions.
Read →Security Grants for Nonprofits
FEMA NSGP, Ohio Security Grant, and foundation funding.
Read →CCTV vs. IP Cameras
Which camera technology fits your business.
Read →Security Camera FAQ
Straight answers to common questions.
Read →Security Camera Glossary
Plain-English definitions of camera terms.
Read →How-To Videos
Short videos for everyday system tasks.
Read →Product Downloads
Manuals, software, and documentation.
Read →Articles
Security camera news, how-tos, and lessons from real installs.
Visit the blog →Prefer to Have an Expert Do the Planning?
Tell us about your property and goals. A Camera Security Now specialist will design the system with you — no obligation.