Which component is crucial for video footage viewing in a CCTV system?

The component that is crucial for viewing video footage in a CCTV system is the monitor. Monitors allow the user to visually access and interpret the video captured by the CCTV cameras. They display live feeds as well as recorded playback, making it essential for surveillance and monitoring tasks.

While recording equipment is vital for storing the footage captured by the cameras, it is the monitor that enables immediate observation and interaction with that footage. Cabling, though important for transmitting video signals from cameras to recording devices and monitors, does not provide a means to view the video itself. Similarly, a power source is necessary to operate the entire system but does not facilitate the actual viewing of the footage. Therefore, the monitor is the key component that fulfills the need for visual access to CCTV video feeds.