My husband is a sysadmin and is in a coma, so I can't ask him how our home systems work. We're moving, and I'm especially worried about losing camera footage from our family's last months together. I don't know what most of the equipment does or whether it's safe to unplug it.
What kind of professional should I look for, and what should I do before the move?
I'm sorry you're dealing with this. A local IT support company or managed service provider would be a reasonable place to start. Ask whether they can come on site, identify the equipment, preserve the camera recordings, and help move and reconnect the system.
Tell them the footage is the priority and ask for an estimate before they start. You can also ask for a simple written map of the setup and a walkthrough of anything you'll need to manage afterward.
One thing to check quickly is how long the camera system keeps recordings. Some systems automatically overwrite old footage when storage fills up, so leaving it running indefinitely could mean losing the oldest clips.
That doesn't mean pulling the plug at random is the best move. Ask the technician to identify where the recordings are stored and make a verified copy before changing or moving anything. If the move is soon, tell them about the overwrite concern when you call.
Look for any instructions or recovery information he may have left with important papers or in a safe. A shared password manager, if you have one, could also be a useful starting point.
Passwords, two-factor authentication and encryption may limit what a technician can access. Keep recovery codes and credentials private, and use them only with someone you trust and are comfortable authorizing.
Photos of the networking closet and the equipment model numbers could help a technician figure out what they're looking at before visiting. Take pictures of the cables and where they connect too. Keep the original setup intact for now.
If you share photos publicly, check them first for passwords, serial numbers, account details, or anything else you don't want exposed.
Be selective about who gets access. Ask what the technician plans to do, whether they need to take any equipment off site, and how they'll handle private footage. You can ask them to work with you present and agree on the scope and cost first.
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ballpoint_or_bust:
If your husband has a trusted sysadmin friend or coworker, they might know something about the setup or be able to help you assess a company.