Total cost of ownership (TCO) is defined as a financial estimate intended to help buyers and owners determine the direct and indirect costs of a product or service. In the technology arena, TCO typically includes the cost of computer hardware and software, operation expenses, and long-term expenses such as replacement and scalability.

TCO is a useful concept, but in many cases, it cannot be expressed as a single number. There are simply too many variables and subjective judgments involved in the decision-making for it to be expressed numerically. Suffice it to say that a system’s initial price tag is only one of many elements that comprise a system’s cost.

This Technology Report will enumerate a variety of factors to be considered when determining the total cost of ownership (TCO) of a video system, incorporating commentary from Exacq, part of Johnson Controls Security Products.

What's inside?

• What Are the Elements of TCO for NVRs and VMSs?
• Some Elements of TCO Are More Difficult to Quantify
• Approaching System Costs: Capex or Opex?