To keep premises secure, a large number of organizations around the world rely on CCTV cameras. To manage feed coming from these cameras and to record them as evidence, these organizations use software that is commonly known as a Video Management System (VMS).
Traditionally, most VMS solutions were restricted to a few camera manufacturers and recorded footage was stored on local storage. However, modern VMS solutions have emerged in the market – ones that focus on directly managing video in the cloud. These are known as cloud-based video management systems and they offer numerous advantages as compared to traditional systems. In this blog, we discuss what these advantages are and why switching to such a solution may be a good idea.
Easy to Set Up
Unlike the long and complex process that you need to undergo when deploying a traditional system, cloud-based systems are easy to set up and some are available as SaaS. Most of these systems allow you to easily add cameras, configure storage and routers, etc.
Device Agnostic
Certain VMS only support cameras from select manufacturers only. For example, the VMS by Axis communications supports cameras manufactured by Axis only. At the end of the day, you are restricted to the list of supported devices. However, most cloud vendors are device agnostic and can pull up a feed from any cameras, and convert it into desired formats.
Convenience
When it comes to sharing recorded footage, traditional VMS are anything but convenient. You will need to search for that 1 footage amongst 100s. Once found, you will need to upload it on a network and send it to your recipients. The recipients too would need to download the video to be able to view it. If your footage is in GBs, then this process could take hours. On the other hand, cloud-based video management systems store and manage footage in the cloud and through streaming technologies, the process can be as easy as accessing a video on YouTube.
Scalability
Need to add storage or increase the number of cameras? In cloud-based systems, you can scale up instantly as opposed to traditional systems that would require you to go through the time-consuming purchasing process.
Better Cost Management
As stored CCTV footage within an average 30-day period can end up being in TBs, storing them can be a costly affair. The problem grows if videos are not automatically purged out of the system. In cloud-based systems, you can benefit from tiering capabilities in the cloud. Videos can be moved to low-cost archival storage to save costs. Moreover, the process of archiving and purging can be automated to make management easier.
Security and Data Privacy
Most traditional systems lack the capabilities that are required by various security and data privacy compliances. Centralized access management is one example. Restricting use is another. Most of these capabilities need to be developed on top of a traditional VMS, but this doesn’t make it fool proof. Cloud-based systems on the other hand ensure that your data is stored in an encrypted and secure manner. They offer features such as integration with IAM systems, access management, password protection, audit logs and more. They also utilize leading cloud providers such as AWS or Azure to store your data, which are certified in various major compliances such as HIPAA, CJIS, GDPR etc. For instance, Microsoft Azure covers over 90 compliances and employs more than 3,500 cybersecurity experts to safeguard your data.
Cloud Innovations
Traditional systems are not equipped with the latest innovations offered in the cloud such as AI. Cloud-based systems offer technologies such as facial recognition, license plate recognition, and more. This helps in quickly looking for that one footage amongst 100s and locating things of interest.
Examples of Cloud Based Video Management Systems
To benefit from the above-mentioned capabilities, you can opt for a cloud-based vendor. VIDIZMO and Genetec are two of the best options to research into. VIDIZMO allows you to store data in Azure or AWS cloud while benefiting from the above-mentioned capabilities. It offers an easy-to-use interface similar to YouTube, which makes it convenient for end-users. Similarly, Genetec too offers remote access to footage from the cloud and easy sharing of videos.
