A great Hikvision CCTV system is more than a few cameras — it is a handful of parts working together: cameras, an NVR, storage and cabling, plus a couple of smart extras. Here is exactly what goes into a complete Hikvision setup, how the pieces fit, and how to build the right kit for your home or business — all genuine Australian stock from an authorised Hikvision reseller.
What's in a complete Hikvision CCTV system
Every full system is built from these core components:
Hikvision AcuSense & ColorVu Cameras
- Capture the footage — full-colour at night with ColorVu
- Smart person & vehicle alerts with AcuSense
- Pick turret, dome or bullet for each location
Hikvision DS-7608NXI 8-Channel PoE NVR
- Records every camera around the clock
- Built-in PoE ports power the cameras over one cable
- Holds your hard drive and runs the Hik-Connect app
Hikvision Cat6 Network Cable
- Connects each camera to the NVR
- Carries data and PoE power in one run
- Reliable wired backbone for your system
Hikvision DS-UPS1000-AU UPS
- Keeps your system recording during power cuts
- Protects the NVR and drives from outages
- Sized options for homes and business
You may also add a monitor for a live wall display, mounting brackets and junction boxes, and surveillance-grade storage if your NVR is supplied empty. Browse Hikvision accessories for cabling, power and mounts.
How the parts work together
It is simpler than it looks. Each camera connects back to the NVR with a single network cable that carries both video and power (PoE). The NVR records everything to its hard drive around the clock, and you watch live or recorded footage from anywhere using the free Hik-Connect app on your phone. Add a UPS and the system keeps recording even during a power cut.
A typical home system
For most Australian homes, a complete kit looks like this:
- 4–6 cameras — a mix of ColorVu at entries for full-colour night footage and AcuSense at driveways for accurate alerts
- An 8-channel PoE NVR with room to grow — see our NVR channels & storage guide
- A surveillance-grade hard drive sized to your retention
- Cat6 cabling from each camera to the NVR
Not sure which cameras? Start with our best Hikvision cameras for home security guide, and if you are weighing technologies, read ColorVu vs AcuSense.
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Authorised Hikvision reseller: genuine Australian stock, full warranty, competitive prices and price match available.
Scaling up for business
Larger sites follow the same recipe, just bigger: more cameras, a 16 or 32-channel NVR, additional storage, a PoE switch where camera numbers exceed the NVR ports, and a UPS for resilience. DeepinView AI cameras and a DeepinMind NVR add number-plate and facial analytics for security-critical sites.
Why buy your system from one supplier
Buying every part from a single authorised reseller means it is all guaranteed compatible, genuine Australian stock, covered by Australian warranty, and backed by one team you can call. We can spec a complete kit to your floor plan so nothing is missing on install day.
Ready to buy?
Shop genuine Hikvision at ARC IP Networks
Authorised Hikvision reseller
Hikvision at ARC IP Networks
AcuSense, ColorVu and DeepinView cameras, NVRs and complete systems. Genuine Australian stock with the full manufacturer's warranty, competitive prices and price match available.
Frequently asked questions
A complete system needs four core parts: cameras, a network video recorder (NVR), a surveillance-grade hard drive for storage, and network cabling to connect everything. Optional extras include a UPS for backup power and a monitor. A PoE NVR powers and connects the cameras over a single cable each.
Some Hikvision NVRs are sold with a hard drive already installed, while others are supplied empty so you can choose your own capacity. If your NVR does not include one, simply add a surveillance-grade drive built for 24/7 recording.
Not usually. A Hikvision PoE NVR has built-in PoE ports that power and connect your cameras directly. You only need a separate PoE switch if you have more cameras than the NVR has ports, or cameras far from the recorder.
Smaller four to six camera systems are DIY-friendly if you are comfortable running cable. For larger systems, rooftop or multi-storey runs, or AI features like number-plate recognition, a professional installer is recommended — and we can help with both.
Most homes are well covered with four to six cameras at the key entry and access points. Businesses scale up from there. See our guide to the best Hikvision cameras for home security to plan your coverage.
Related Hikvision guides
- Best Hikvision Cameras for Home Security
- Best Hikvision NVR: Channels & Storage
- How Many Security Cameras Do I Need?
- NVR vs DVR: Which Recorder Do You Need?
Let us build your Hikvision kit
ARC IP Networks is an authorised Hikvision reseller — tell us your site and we will spec a complete, compatible system: genuine Australian stock, Australian warranty and fast nationwide shipping.
Shop Hikvision →Get a system quoteCompare the options
Browse the ranges that go with this guide at ARC IP Networks:
- Security camera systems: complete systems from 2 to 16 cameras with a PoE NVR
- Read next: Home security camera system buying guide: 2, 4, 6 or 8 cameras?
Who we are
About ARC IP Networks
ARC IP Networks is an Australian supplier of security cameras and CCTV systems, based in Blackburn, Melbourne, Victoria. We work with homeowners, installers, integrators and businesses across Australia, supplying Hikvision, Ubiquiti UniFi Protect, Dahua and Jovision CCTV.
We are an authorised reseller for every brand we sell, and the national distributor of Jovision in Australia, so you get genuine Australian stock with the full manufacturer's warranty, never grey imports, at competitive prices. Our team can help you choose the right equipment, and trade customers get trade accounts and project pricing on larger jobs.
- Genuine Australian stock with the full manufacturer's warranty
- Competitive prices, price match available
- Trade accounts for installers, integrators and MSPs
- Australia-wide delivery; showroom in Blackburn, Mon–Fri 9–5 (demos by appointment)
Need help choosing?
Tell the ARC IP Networks team what you are trying to achieve and we will recommend the right equipment and quote it as one order.