Why is ensuring proper lighting crucial for CCTV footage?

Ensuring proper lighting is crucial for CCTV footage primarily because it significantly improves visibility and image quality. Adequate lighting allows cameras to capture clearer images, which is essential for identifying details such as faces, license plates, and other critical elements in the footage. Insufficient lighting can lead to grainy, unclear images that may hinder effective monitoring and analysis, ultimately compromising the security that CCTV systems aim to provide.

In contrast, options related to cost reduction, system complexity, or video storage duration do not directly address the core function of CCTV systems. While these factors may have their own importance in system design and operation, they do not influence the primary goal of capturing clear and actionable video data. Proper lighting directly impacts the effectiveness of a CCTV system in fulfilling its role in surveillance and security.