SIRA VideoGuard and eGuard: what it is and why your CCTV needs one

What VideoGuard is

VideoGuard, also referred to as eGuard, is a hardware bridge between a premises' CCTV system and the central monitoring network operated by Dubai's Security Industry Regulatory Agency (SIRA). SIRA requires commercial premises to make this connection.

Installing cameras and a recorder is therefore only part of the job. The monitoring connection must also be supplied, configured and processed. A working VideoGuard connection is a prerequisite for passing the final security audit and obtaining the No Objection Certificate (NOC) needed for building completion and trade licence renewal.

What it does

The device reports information to SIRA in real time. Its functions cover three areas:

• System health. It reports the state of the CCTV system and flags offline components or tampering. A camera being installed does not, by itself, establish that it remains available.
• Recording and storage. It reports storage integrity and flags storage failures. A system that displays a live picture but cannot retain recordings still has a problem.
• Feeds and connectivity. It reports camera feeds and network status through the monitoring connection. The connection is part of the system that must work at inspection, not a separate task to leave until afterwards.

VideoGuard does not remove the need for a correctly specified recorder, storage or maintenance. Those components must work alongside the monitoring device.

The certificates

The process involves three certificates:

• VideoGuard connectivity certificate: the certificate for the connection to SIRA's monitoring network.
• VideoGuard signal verification certificate: the certificate covering verification of the VideoGuard signal.
• Security plan certificate: the certificate for the site's security plan.

These certificates support the final security audit and the NOC that building completion and trade licence renewal depend on. Treat them as delivery requirements alongside the cameras and recording equipment. The documentation, connection and inspection need to be included in the programme, rather than discovered when the premises is ready to open.

Signal verification includes checking that connection and video-signal events are reported as expected. The verification record is part of the site's documentation, rather than just confirmation that a device has been installed.

An installation certificate relates to a particular site and scope. It is not a replacement for checking the integrator's current licence; certificate dates and company licence dates are separate checks.

After handover

The security plan certificate must be updated when modifications to the premises affect the security system. Review proposed layout or coverage changes before work starts, so the drawings and any further approval requirements can be addressed.

Approved plans and certificates belong in controlled site records. They can identify equipment, camera coverage and other security details, so they should be shared only with authorised people rather than placed on a public website.

Device tiers

VideoGuard units come in 4, 8 and 14-port tiers. The unit must be sized to the premises and specified with the rest of the CCTV system.

Those port counts should not be confused with the thresholds for requiring a video management system. Choosing a VideoGuard device and deciding whether the installation needs a dedicated VMS are separate parts of the design.

When a VMS is required

SIRA mandates a dedicated video management system (VMS) for installations with 64 or more cameras or four or more recording devices. Below those thresholds, sites can use SIRA-approved network video recorders (NVRs) with encryption and tamper protection.

Where a VMS or certified recorder is required, it must:

• Appear on SIRA's certified devices list.
• Record and stream at Full HD or better.
• Provide 20% storage headroom.
• Keep tamper-resistant audit logs of access, configuration changes and exports.
• Interface with the VideoGuard unit.

Camera count is therefore not the only design question. Recorder count, storage provision, audit records and the monitoring interface must also be considered before equipment is selected.

How Kew handles it

Kew prepares and submits the documentation, supplies and configures the VideoGuard device, processes its connection and arranges inspections. We specify the recorder or VMS tier for the site and handle the certificates as part of the installation, rather than leaving the client to coordinate them afterwards.

For Kew's installation process and SIRA licence details, see CCTV and SIRA. For the wider rules and approval process, read SIRA regulations for CCTV installation in Dubai.