Budget-Friendly Camera Upgrade — Hikvision to UniFi Protect Migration in Santa Rosa

The Challenge

A business owner in Santa Rosa had an existing security camera system running on a Hikvision NVR (Network Video Recorder). When the NVR died, they were faced with a tough decision — replace the entire system (cameras and all), or find a smarter path forward.

The budget simply wasn't there to rip out every camera and start from scratch. They needed a cost-effective solution that would get their security system back online without breaking the bank.

Our Solution

Rather than a full system replacement, we designed a hybrid approach that preserved the customer's existing camera investment while upgrading to a modern, cloud-managed platform.

UniFi Protect NVR — The New Brain

We deployed a UniFi Protect NVR to replace the failed Hikvision unit. UniFi Protect supports RTSP camera adoption, which means it can connect to third-party cameras that use standard streaming protocols — including the customer's existing Hikvision cameras.

Existing Hikvision Cameras — Kept & Connected

All of the existing Hikvision cameras were adopted into the new UniFi Protect system. This saved the customer the significant cost of replacing every camera on the property. The existing cameras continue to provide reliable video feeds, now managed through UniFi Protect's modern interface with remote access from any device.

New UniFi Camera — Smart Detection at the Front Door

To take full advantage of UniFi Protect's advanced AI features, we added one new UniFi camera at the main entrance. Native UniFi cameras unlock the full suite of smart event detection — including person, vehicle, and package detection, smart motion zones, and instant push notifications with rich thumbnails. This gives the customer best-in-class detection where it matters most: the front door.

The Result

The customer got a fully functional, modern security system at a fraction of the cost of a full replacement. Their existing Hikvision cameras are still working, now managed through UniFi Protect's app with remote viewing and recording. And the new UniFi camera at the main entrance provides the smart AI detection features that only native UniFi cameras can offer.

This is the kind of creative, budget-conscious solution we love delivering at Clear Telecommunications. Not every project requires ripping everything out and starting over — sometimes the smartest solution is a strategic upgrade that works with what you already have.

Products Used

• UniFi Protect NVR — replaced the failed Hikvision NVR

• Existing Hikvision cameras — adopted via RTSP into UniFi Protect

• New UniFi camera (main entrance) — full AI event detection, smart zones, and push alerts

Location

Santa Rosa, CA (Sonoma County)

Have existing cameras but need a better system? We can help. Contact Clear Telecommunications at (707) 823-3830 or visit our Contact page to schedule a free consultation.