Short answer: choose an integrator that can show five things: experience with sites like yours, a site survey before any quote, real networking skills, a written security and handover standard, and clear support terms after go-live.

Cameras run on the network. One partner accountable for both avoids the gaps that appear when two suppliers blame each other.

Key takeaways: Treat CCTV as a network project. Get design calculations in writing, agree acceptance tests before installation, and make sure you own every password and document at handover.

In this guide

Why one integrator for CCTV and networking
What to check before you shortlist
What to check in the design and proposal
What to check at handover and after
Red flags
How to compare integrators
How Magnaite approaches this
Frequently asked questions

Why one integrator for CCTV and networking

Modern IP cameras depend on switches, power over Ethernet (PoE), bandwidth and storage. When one company installs cameras and another runs the network, dropped streams, recording gaps and slow remote viewing fall between them.

An integrator that designs both sizes the network for the video load and owns the fault when something fails. This is how Magnaite delivers CCTV installation and network installation together for multi-branch operators.

What to check before you shortlist

Relevant experience

Ask for projects similar to yours in size, number of branches and environment: dining areas, drive-thrus, warehouses, car parks or government buildings.

Request references and ask those clients about reliability, response times and unexpected costs. Multi-branch experience matters if you plan one standard across many sites.

A site survey before the quote

A credible integrator visits before pricing. The survey should record:

Cameras: positions, fields of view, lighting and glare
Cabling: routes, rack locations and power
Network: existing equipment and internet connections

A quote based only on a floor plan or a camera count is a guess. See how a survey fits into Magnaite's project process.

What to check in the design and proposal

Networking competence

The integrator should be able to explain and document:

PoE switching: managed switches and the total power budget
Segmentation: VLANs that keep cameras on their own restricted network
Addressing: IP plan and device naming
Cabling: structured cabling standards and test results
Power: UPS and surge protection for critical equipment
Capacity: bandwidth and storage for the agreed retention period
Resilience: backup internet and how failover is tested
Monitoring: remote visibility of switches, recorders and cameras

Cybersecurity and NCA alignment

Surveillance devices are a common entry point for attackers. Ask how default passwords are removed, how firmware is patched and who holds administrator accounts.

Remote access should run through a VPN or a managed cloud service, not open ports on the router. Organizations in Saudi Arabia should also ask how the design supports the National Cybersecurity Authority (NCA) controls that apply to them.

Open standards and lock-in

Ask whether cameras and video software support the relevant ONVIF profiles. Check whether you can add another camera brand later, export footage in a standard format, or move between cloud, on-premise and hybrid storage.

A proprietary platform can be the right choice. Just know what you depend on and what licences cost each year.

An itemized proposal

Cameras, lenses, mounts and licences
Recorders or cloud video subscriptions, with storage quantities
Switches, firewalls, racks and UPS units
Cabling, containment, access equipment and labour
Configuration, network changes and training
Warranty and the maintenance agreement
All recurring software and cloud fees

Ask for storage, retention, bandwidth and PoE calculations in writing. "Enterprise-grade storage" without quantities is not a specification.

What to check at handover and after

Acceptance testing

Agree what "complete" means before work starts. Tests should cover each camera by day and night, recording and playback, time sync, remote access, footage export, alerts and recovery after a power or internet failure.

For critical views, define the outcome, such as identifying a person at the entrance or reading a transaction at the cash counter.

Handover documents

As-built camera layout
Network diagram with VLAN and IP schedule
Equipment inventory with serial numbers and firmware versions
Administrator credentials in your organization's name
Configuration backups
Cable test results
Warranty records
User guides and a maintenance schedule

Support after go-live

Clarify response times for a failed camera, recorder or switch, whether remote monitoring is included, and who applies firmware and security patches.

Also ask about spare equipment and what happens when licences expire. For multi-branch businesses, get service levels in writing.

Red flags

A quote without a site survey
No storage or bandwidth calculations
Cameras on the office or guest network
Remote access through open router ports
Refusal to hand over administrator credentials
No references or documentation
Unclear recurring fees
Cybersecurity treated as an afterthought

How to compare integrators

Give three integrators the same written scope. Score each on:

Design quality
Relevant experience
Networking depth
Cybersecurity
Documentation
Support terms
Total five-year cost

The lowest installation price is rarely the lowest total cost.

How Magnaite approaches this

Magnaite is a Riyadh-based systems integrator, founded in 1989. We design, install and support CCTV, networking, cybersecurity, POS, access control and audio-visual systems for food and beverage chains, retail and government sites across Saudi Arabia.

Projects start with a free consultation, followed by a site survey where required and a documented assessment. Testing and support terms are agreed before handover.

Explore our CCTV and AI video analytics service, our networking service, or how we deliver projects step by step.

Frequently asked questions

Should CCTV and networking be done by the same company?

In most multi-site projects, yes. Cameras depend on the network for power, bandwidth and remote access, so one accountable integrator reduces gaps between suppliers and speeds up fault resolution.

What should a CCTV and network quote include?

Itemized equipment, licences, cabling, labour, configuration, training, warranty, maintenance terms and recurring fees, plus written storage, retention, bandwidth and PoE calculations.

Why should cameras be on a separate VLAN?

Segmenting cameras limits what an attacker can reach if a device is compromised, and keeps video traffic from slowing business systems such as POS.

What documents should I receive at handover?

An as-built camera layout, network diagram, IP and VLAN schedule, equipment inventory, administrator credentials, configuration backups, cable test results and warranty records.

Does Magnaite work outside Riyadh?

Yes. Magnaite is based in Riyadh, with deployments across Saudi Arabia including Jeddah and Dammam, and projects in the UAE.

How to Choose a Systems Integrator for CCTV and Networking in Saudi Arabia