In The Clouds
Six top security integrators talk about why their customers are moving to cloud video surveillance
- By Ken Francis
- May 06, 2024
Video data storage in the cloud was a novel
concept when Dean Drako founded Eagle Eye
Networks back in 2012. While cloud was being
used for almost all other business systems
at that time, the physical security industry
took a cautious and measured approach to cloud adoption.
Twelve years later, that has changed. Today, cloud is firmly
established in our industry, and the Security Industry Association
(SIA) has regularly recognized the cloud movement as a top trend
in its annual Security Megatrends report.
This year marks a turning point for cloud. In its 2024 Security
Megatrends report, SIA identifies cloud technology as a “foundational
trend.”
According to SIA researchers, foundational trends are “so much
part of the fabric of the world that they are viewed no longer as future-
looking megatrends, but instead as common concerns that all
business leaders must manage as they operate within our industry.”
Cloud adoption is no longer plodding. In fact, industry analyst
group Novaira Insights forecasts that the number of cloudconnected
cameras will grow at a brisk 80% CAGR in North
America through 2026.
Cloud is here to stay and the migration from on-prem to cloud
is picking up speed, but it’s also true that we have a long way to
go before cloud video surveillance systems outnumber traditional
on-prem systems.
We believe about 10 percent of video surveillance systems are
storing data in the cloud today. That leaves an enormous addressable
market for cloud video surveillance. That means that cloud
evangelists still have work to do, and this translates into a tremendous
opportunity for resellers to expand their business by helping
their customers make the move to cloud video surveillance.
Core Motivators for Move to Cloud
What is driving organizations to start storing their video surveillance
data in the cloud? The core motivators have remained the
same since the beginning and include, lower total cost of own-ership (TCO), better cybersecurity, ease-of-use for reseller and
end user, open systems that works with all camera models and
existing infrastructure, open APIs for easy integration with thirdparty
technologies, RMR and the subscription-selling business
model, AI compatibility, scalability and automatic updates.
A recent informal survey of our top resellers reinforces these motivators
and offers insights into how cloud is being received in the field.
The focus on AI compatibility has sharpened over the past
three years, according to Lon Bazelais, founder and president of
Grid Squared Systems based in New York City. He says that prior
to AI applications becoming more common, “The main reason
we opted for cloud storage was redundancy. Cloud storage offers
our clients a way to secure and protect the video data from
hardware theft, hardware failure, natural disasters or other disruptions.”
However, AI is coming more to the forefront for integrators
and customers alike. “More recently, another added feature of
cloud storage is that AI functions are more easily integrated
with systems that are cloud-based. Cloud environments offer
the framework for the powerful computing resources that AI requires.
This makes deployment of AI features possible to a larger
sector of our clients,” Bazelais said.
Lucas Ingala, founder and CEO of Watchman Security, based
in Kansas City said all the benefits mentioned above are crucial
to his customers, but said the deciding factor has not changed
since the early days of cloud video surveillance. Business owners
need to understand and see how cloud can really streamline and
improve operations and security. “Understanding the technology
and then putting it in place in their business is key,” Lucas said.
“Educating the client on the benefits is critical. Once they get it
and experience it, it is pretty simple after that.”
Compliance, Cybersecurity, Future-Proof Security Propel Cloud Adoption
Chris Gilbert, founder and president of Security Pros, based in
Sellersburg, IN, agreed with Ingala. When evaluating cloud video
surveillance, business owners “are looking for a total solution
including hardware, storage and service response when making
their decision,” Gilbert said.
Compliance is a major driver for Security Pros customers. Gilbert
said many of his customers have requirements for redundant
storage of video and for certain storage-retention periods, both of
which are simple with cloud. “Many of our clients are looking for
flexibility and compliance with their industry requirements. We have
seen several of our key clients move to cloud for integration flexibility
and the expansion capabilities it offers for their legacy platforms.”
Aaron Whitaker, president of Preventia Security based in Columbia,
TN, said his company leads with and promotes cloud for
two primary reasons.
“First, we believe our customers need a technology-forward
solution that will be adaptable to their changing needs. Our customers
can take advantage of new technology, integrations and
other solutions more easily because of a cloud platform,” Whitaker
said. “Second, we believe the ease-of-use and cybersecurity is
beneficial to both our customers and our company. We need to
offer the most secure platform and by working with a true cloud
platform, we can rest easy that our customers are secure from
cyber threats and we have less exposure.”
Cybersecurity is a priority for Syracuse, NY-based Chimera
Integrations and their customers as well. Chimera Integrations
vice president Justin Stearns said cloud storage is always part of
the deal for cybersecurity reasons. “No matter what, if a customer
buys Eagle Eye from Chimera they are getting 7 days @ 1fps
cloud backup. If they object to having even the minimum amount
of cloud storage, they don’t value security the same way we do
and are probably not the right client for us,” he said.
The number one reason people purchase cloud-managed and
cloud-hosted services is to future proof their investment, according
to Stearns. “To know that your investment will work on any
operating system, anywhere in the world and from any device
without having to open any ports outside of the standard two
(80, 443) is a big deal,” he said.
Education and Collaboration Still Key
Tony Alexander serves as business development manager - Digital
Transformation, for global security integration firm Convergint.
Alexander is onboard with SIA in terms of the status of cloud
video surveillance. “It’s much more of an industry norm at this
point, most organizations are either moving to cloud with their
security apps or in a holding pattern because they are getting the
plan together. There are very few major industries left that are
expecting to be “on-prem” for years to come,” he said.
Alexander said the top two motivators for customers to move to
video data storage in the cloud that he sees are first, the removal of
site hardware (and operations cost) while getting full redundancy,
and access to data for AI, data analytics, data/system integration.
“These tend to be IT, Workplace, and C-level interests and less so the
security manager/director (although they benefit as well),” he said.
In terms of general cloud adoption, Alexander says customers
are “looking for a better experience, which comes down to systems
being always on latest and greatest, and more automation.”
They are also interested in reducing total cost of operations by
automating manual processes through technology. For IT, cloud
reduces application and hardware management. For admins,
cloud automates processes, and for the security team, cloud delivers
better real-time and investigation data.
The Security Industry Association, industry analysts, cloud
video surveillance companies, and a growing number of security
resellers recognize the proliferation of cloud video data storage. As
top resellers attest, we may be 12 years into the cloud movement in
our industry, but continually educating ourselves about its unique
benefits, and working closely with customers to
address their specific security and business challenges
is what will keep us all at the forefront of
this technological wave.
This article originally appeared in the May / June 2024 issue of Security Today.