UniFi Protect Sydney | Business CCTV & Cameras | 4iT

Key facts

• UniFi Protect cameras record to a local UniFi console or network video recorder, so footage stays on-site rather than in a paid cloud.
• There is no per-camera licence or mandatory subscription to run Protect, unlike many business CCTV systems.
• AI detection can distinguish people, vehicles, packages, and animals, which cuts down false alerts.
• Cameras are powered over Ethernet from a UniFi switch, so each one needs a single cable.
• In NSW, workplace camera surveillance has legal requirements, including at least 14 days written notice to employees and clearly visible cameras and signage.

What is UniFi Protect and how does it record?

UniFi Protect is a business camera system that records to a UniFi console or network video recorder on your premises. Footage is stored locally on drives you own, not streamed to a third-party cloud you pay for monthly. The cameras connect over the network and draw power from the switch, and the whole system is managed from the same UniFi platform as your Wi-Fi and switching, so there is one place to view live feeds, review recordings, and manage who has access.

Does UniFi Protect need a monthly subscription?

No. This is one of the real advantages of Protect for an SME. Many business CCTV systems charge an ongoing fee per camera for cloud storage and features, and that cost grows every time you add a camera. UniFi Protect records to local storage with no per-camera licence, so once the hardware is in, the recurring cost is support and management rather than a subscription that scales with your camera count. You still budget for the cameras, the recorder, and enough storage for the retention period you need, which we size up front.

What do I need to do legally before installing workplace CCTV in NSW?

This is where businesses most often get caught out, so it is worth being precise. Under the Workplace Surveillance Act 2005 (NSW), if you are carrying out camera surveillance of employees you must give them written notice at least 14 days before the surveillance starts, the cameras must be clearly visible, and there must be signs at each entrance to the area under surveillance notifying people that they may be recorded. You cannot put cameras in bathrooms or change rooms, and any footage you keep is personal information you must store and handle in line with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth). Covert surveillance of employees is only permitted with a magistrate’s authority. We design Protect installs with these requirements built in, and we will flag the notice and signage obligations rather than leaving you to discover them later. None of this is legal advice, and we are happy to work alongside your own adviser, but a system installed without the notice and signage can land you in trouble and make the footage useless as evidence.

How does 4iT install and manage Protect?

We plan camera placement around what you actually need to see, the lighting, and the legal constraints, then install and cable the cameras, set up the recorder and storage, and configure detection and access. From there it is managed alongside the rest of your network, with footage retention and system health watched as part of the service. Physical security and cyber security work best together, which is why Protect sits comfortably next to a cyber security review of the wider environment.