The cluster of failures after storm season is overwhelmingly caused not by direct strikes but by induced surge travelling in along network and power cabling.

1. Power-side protection: fit a class-2 surge protective device on the main distribution board in the equipment room, and local surge protectors at outdoor positions.
2. Signal-side protection: network cable is the most common ingress path for induced surge. Install signal surge protectors at both ends of long outdoor runs and route cable in metal conduit or trunking wherever possible.
3. Solid earthing: a protector can only divert energy if it is properly earthed. Target under 4 ohms of earth resistance, and bond poles, enclosures and camera housings to the same equipotential system.
4. Cable routing: avoid long aerial spans outdoors, and keep runs off rooftops or poles that stand above their surroundings.

Note that lightning protection is probabilistic — absolute immunity is not achievable. Done properly to a three-stage scheme, however, it cuts the failure rate sharply and reduces collateral damage such as a switch and recorder burning out together.