The process of designing a surveillance system can be a complicated task, full of traps and pitfalls that can leave an integrator frustrated with both performance and overall functionality of the surveillance system. While engineers typically design the VMS platform in a simplified network infrastructure, real-life deployments are anything but simple. Based on the scale, expected growth, and level of availability systems integrators are facing decisions surrounding network segmentation. Creating Virtual Local Area Networks, or VLANs is not a new concept to the industry. For years integrators have been trying to decide when to segment surveillance networks, thus walking a fine line between increased complexity and improved system performance. In this article, we will dispel the myths and discuss a systematic approach to network segmentation.