What is UniFi Protect and who is it for?
UniFi Protect is Ubiquiti's business camera system: cameras record to a UniFi NVR or console on your premises, with AI detections on the device and no per-camera license. Ubiquiti says: "Run 4 or 4,000 cameras - licensing is still $0."
Per Ubiquiti's physical security page, recordings stay on your local console and remote access is encrypted, with no mandatory cloud storage or paid AI add-ons. That suits North Carolina manufacturers, distributors, furniture showrooms and offices that want good video without a per-camera subscription.
The honest trade-off: cloud camera platforms such as Verkada include hosted management and support in their subscription. With Protect, someone has to own the NVR, drives, updates and user access. That is the part PDC handles. See UniFi Protect vs Verkada.
Which UniFi Protect cameras should a business use?
The G6 Turret and G6 Bullet (4K, 30 m IR, IP66) cover most entrances, aisles and exteriors. Use the G6 Pro Bullet with 2.36x optical zoom for long views across yards, and AI-series cameras where detection quality is the priority.
| Camera | Resolution | Night vision | Power / rating | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G6 Turret | 8MP (4K) | 30 m IR | PoE; IP66, IK04 | Entrances, aisles, docks |
| G6 Bullet | 8MP (4K) | 30 m IR | PoE; IP66, IK04 | Exteriors, fence lines |
| G6 Pro Bullet | 8MP (4K), 2.36x zoom | 40 m, 60 m with Vision Enhancer | PoE+; IP66, IK04 | Yards, lots, gate lanes |
| AI Pro | 8MP (4K) | 25 m, 40 m with Vision Enhancer | PoE; IP65, IK04 | Priority detection areas |
How big an NVR does a UniFi Protect system need?
Size the recorder by camera count at your chosen resolution. Per Ubiquiti, the 4-bay UNVR records up to 18 4K cameras, the 7-bay NVR Pro up to 24, and the 16-bay Enterprise NVR up to 70; retention then depends on the drives you install.
| Recorder | Drive bays | HD / 2K / 4K cameras |
|---|---|---|
| UNVR | 4 | 60 / 30 / 18 |
| NVR Pro | 7 | 70 / 35 / 24 |
| Enterprise NVR | 16 | 210 / 140 / 70 |
| Enterprise NVR Core | 16, expandable to 48 | 500 / 400 / 300 |
Protect also offers an Enhanced Retention mode that lowers the quality of older footage to stretch storage, per Ubiquiti. Decide your retention goal (for example, 30 days) before buying drives, and ask your insurer or counsel whether you have a required minimum.
What should NC plants and warehouses plan for with UniFi cameras?
Plan for night performance, weather, power and network separation. Outdoor yards need IP66-rated cameras with enough IR range (30 m on the G6 line), long views need optical zoom, and every camera belongs on its own VLAN.
- Gates and truck lanes: license plate recognition is supported on G6 and AI models; placement angle matters more than resolution.
- Power: most G6 cameras run on standard PoE, but the G6 Pro Bullet needs PoE+. Include cameras in the switch PoE budget.
- Network: a dedicated camera VLAN keeps cameras off the office network and limits what a compromised device can reach.
- Privacy: talk with counsel before enabling audio recording or face recognition, and post notices where required.
Does PDC monitor our cameras?
No. PDC installs and administers UniFi Protect: setup, updates, user access, retention settings and help retrieving footage. PDC does not provide live video monitoring or alarm response.
Alerts from Protect go to the people you choose, typically owners, plant managers or security staff, through the UniFi app. If you need 24/7 live video monitoring or alarm dispatch, you need a licensed monitoring company, and we can make sure the system is set up so they can work with it.
For the rest of the physical security stack, see UniFi Access door control.
Key takeaway: PDC keeps your camera system working and secure. Watching the video is your team, or a monitoring company you contract with.
How do you keep a UniFi camera system secure?
Keep Protect on a current UniFi OS release, require MFA for every account, give each user only the cameras they need, and keep cameras on a separate VLAN. CISA's June 2026 listing of three exploited UniFi OS flaws shows that the NVR is a security device, not just a recorder.
See the CISA alert of June 23, 2026 and our CVE-2026-34908 response plan. PDC applies updates on a managed schedule and removes access for departing employees as part of administration.
Why use a local installer for UniFi Protect?
Cameras are mounted on ladders and lifts, in weather, and they fail at the worst time. A local installer handles the physical work, the network and the ongoing administration.
- Local and accountable: Preferred Data Corporation was founded in 1987 (39 years in business) and is based in High Point, with on-site service within 200 miles, which covers the Piedmont Triad, Charlotte, Raleigh and most of North Carolina.
- Member of the UniFi Partner Program, and a full MSP/MSSP: the same team handles managed IT, cybersecurity and structured cabling and network work, so nobody points fingers between the WiFi installer and the IT provider.
- Track record with clients: 100+ active clients and a 20+ year average client tenure, plus a BBB A+ rating and 24/7 monitoring for managed clients.
Which Protect Cameras models do we typically specify?
These are the current models our engineers reach for most often. The right one depends on your building, users and budget, so we confirm the final list after a site walk.
G6 Turret
Best for: General indoor and outdoor coverage: entrances, aisles, docks
- 8MP (4K) 1/1.8" sensor, 30 FPS
- 30 m (98 ft) IR night vision
- Face and license plate recognition; people, vehicle, animal detection
- PoE; IP66, IK04. US store price $199 (observed Sep 2026, subject to change)
G6 Bullet
Best for: Building exteriors, fence lines and parking
- 8MP (4K) 1/1.8" sensor, 30 FPS
- 30 m (98 ft) IR night vision
- PoE; IP66, IK04. US store price $199 (observed Sep 2026, subject to change)
G6 Pro Bullet
Best for: Long views across yards and lots, gate lanes
- 8MP (4K) 1/1.2" sensor, 2.36x optical zoom
- 40 m IR, up to 60 m with Vision Enhancer
- PoE+; IP66, IK04. US store price $479 (observed Sep 2026, subject to change)
AI Pro
Best for: Areas where detection quality matters most
- 8MP (4K) 1/1.8" sensor, 30 FPS
- 25 m IR, 40 m with Vision Enhancer
- Face, LPR and smart detections; PoE; IP65. US store price $499 (observed Sep 2026, subject to change)
Network Video Recorder
Best for: Small and mid-size systems
- (4) 2.5/3.5" drive bays, 1U
- Up to 60 HD / 30 2K / 18 4K cameras
- 10G SFP+ + GbE. US store price $299 (observed Sep 2026, subject to change)
NVR Pro
Best for: Larger single-site systems that need more storage
- (7) 2.5/3.5" drive bays, 2U
- Up to 70 HD / 35 2K / 24 4K cameras
- 10G SFP+ + GbE. US store price $499 (observed Sep 2026, subject to change)
Enterprise NVR
Best for: Campuses and large plants
- (16) 2.5/3.5" drive bays, 3U
- Up to 210 HD / 140 2K / 70 4K cameras
- (2) hot-swap 550W PSUs. US store price $1,999 (observed Sep 2026, subject to change)
What does Preferred Data deliver?
- Camera coverage plan by area (entrances, docks, yards, aisles, gates), including field of view and night performance.
- NVR and drive sizing for your camera count, resolution and retention goal.
- Cabling, mounting and weatherproofing, including PoE+ for cameras that need it.
- A dedicated camera VLAN with firewall rules, and remote viewing through the UniFi app without port forwarding.
- Protect administration: user accounts and roles, MFA, retention settings, detection zones and alert routing to your staff.
- Firmware and UniFi OS updates, drive health checks and help pulling footage when you need it.
Frequently asked questions
Does UniFi Protect charge per camera?
No. Ubiquiti states "Run 4 or 4,000 cameras - licensing is still $0," with recording and AI handled on your local NVR or console. You pay for cameras, recorders, drives and installation.
Can I view UniFi cameras from my phone?
Yes. Protect provides encrypted remote access through the UniFi app while recordings stay on your local console, per Ubiquiti. PDC sets this up without opening firewall ports.
How long will UniFi Protect keep recordings?
It depends on camera count, resolution, motion and drive size. Protect can lower the quality of older footage to extend retention; PDC sizes drives to a retention target you choose.
Do UniFi cameras read license plates?
G6 and AI-series models support license plate recognition per Ubiquiti. Results depend on angle, distance, lighting and vehicle speed, so gate cameras need careful placement.
Does PDC provide 24/7 camera monitoring?
No. PDC administers the system (setup, updates, users, retention) and does not watch live video or respond to alarms. For live monitoring, contract a licensed monitoring company.
Can you add UniFi cameras to our existing UniFi network?
Usually, if your console or NVR has capacity and your switches have PoE headroom. Call (336) 886-3282 and we will review your current setup.