Abstract: A security system and method for operating same. The method includes; providing a surveillance system including a plurality of application specific integrated circuits that communicate with one another over a main system bus, wherein each of the plurality of application specific integrated circuits perform one or more predetermined functions within the surveillance system; establishing a decentralized communications network amongst the plurality of application specific integrated circuits within the surveillance system; determining that one or more of the application specific integrated circuits is not performing one or more of its predetermined functions; and utilizing one or more of the functioning application specific integrated circuits to perform the function of the non-functioning application specific integrated circuit. A surveillance system is also disclosed.