Video Surveillance Takes to the Cloud

Video Surveillance Takes to the Cloud

  • By Laura Worell
  • Oct 20, 2021

It was not all that long ago when discussion of professional security services on the Cloud seemed all but preposterous due to bandwidth and security concerns. Fast-forward to 2021, and all that talk seems like it was decades ago, likened to a time when IP video was thought to be a futuristic speculation.

The evolution to Cloud services has largely been the work of technologist in other industries who have been nurturing the Cloud for software as a service (SaaS) applications. The success and widespread acceptance of highly popular and successful applications like Microsoft Office 365 and Salesforce.com helped pave the way for numerous Cloud applications. As a result, scores of software innovators now offer users access to powerful software applications that would otherwise not be affordable with little to no capital expenditures and minimized risk.

The continued demand for remote system access and management is also helping to drive the migration of some or all aspects of professional video surveillance to the Cloud. Moreover, with early barriers to the adoption of Cloud such as cost, bandwidth and resolution all but behind us, it is expected that Cloud security solutions will continue to become even more popular. However, it will take some time to break ingrained industry habits, which will change as more use cases are made public that substantiate the performance attributes and document return on investment (ROI).

Going remote with the Cloud
COVID-19 has also created new security and business operational challenges, which have spurred the demand for Cloud video surveillance solutions. Video surveillance is leading the Cloud movement by enabling a cost-effective way to easily download and share footage remotely. It also offers users the ability to control their systems remotely via a mobile app or a web portal. For example, users can change motion detection zones and sensitivity or use pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) functionality to adjust their cameras to better focus on events of interest, without having to be physically near their system.

When a potential security breach or threat is detected, users can also respond in real time to deter unwanted visitors with features such as two-way audio. These remote capabilities set Cloud video surveillance apart from traditional systems where sharing footage and controlling settings is often cumbersome and requires physical access to the recorder. 

Business owners and management are also increasingly seeking security solutions that can assist in improving daily operations. Cloud video surveillance and security solutions can instantly transform these systems from being reactive to proactive sources of business data and intelligence. For example, users can be alerted via email or push notification when specific objects such as people or vehicles are detected so they can respond to events in real-time.

Cloud providers such as Videoloft offer video analytics features, which can empower even basic cameras with the ability to detect a wide range of objects and thus allow customizable alerting and smart footage search. By connecting Cloud software to existing video surveillance cameras, users can instantly upgrade legacy systems with new capabilities while leveraging their existing capital expense in fixed system technology.

Scaling with the Cloud
While video surveillance and security in the Cloud delivers new remote access capabilities to legacy systems, it also provides virtually unlimited scalability. Users are free from the burden of maintaining the hardware used to store video and are not subject to the fixed storage capacity limitations of resident servers and/or recorders. Recorded footage can be archived in the Cloud for more than three years. 

Bandwidth management in the Cloud
High bandwidth consumption and limited resolution also is perceived as a key hurdle for professional surveillance and security applications in the Cloud. As video compression technology continues to improve, bandwidth requirements have been reduced. Cloud-based systems continuously monitor network conditions and adjust frame rate, bit rate and resolution, so that video can be sent to the Cloud, even in poor network conditions. Cloud-based video surveillance systems also commonly offer an option to store only video events that have been triggered by motion, meaning that bandwidth is used when the video is worth saving. 

Security in the Cloud
Cybersecurity concerns have hindered the growth of Cloud-based systems, but independent Cloud platform providers are arguably more secure than traditional systems. The independence of Cloud providers is important, as often their software runs on a bridging device rather than on the cameras or recorders, meaning that camera manufacturers have no access to the Cloud platform.

Cloud solutions can also overcome other cybersecurity issues. For example, enabling remote access on traditional systems frequently requires port forwarding, leaving the system vulnerable to infiltration. However, with Cloud solutions, no port forwarding is required and in most cases, video files are transmitted over encrypted TLS (HTTPS) channels.

Resolution in the Cloud
The final hurdle historically truncating the adoption of professional video Cloud services is resolution. Cost and bandwidth constraints often necessitated that the resolution of video sent to the Cloud was limited to 2MP. In most cases, this meant an onsite recorder was needed to save higher resolution video locally.

Moving to the Cloud
While cost, bandwidth, security and resolution are areas, which have all improved with vast improvements in recent years, there is still one very simple reason why Cloud is not being more widely adopted by security professionals – resistance to change! However, when it took the security industry literally a few decades to move from coax to IP, making a move to the Cloud may seem even more daunting. One large motivator is the financial benefits that the Cloud delivers to both users and resellers in the form of cost-savings and recurring revenue, respectively. Although perceptions will not change overnight, professional video surveillance and security is destined to take to the Cloud.

Featured

  • Cloud Security Alliance Brings AI-Assisted Auditing to Cloud Computing

    The Cloud Security Alliance (CSA), the world’s leading organization dedicated to defining standards, certifications, and best practices to help ensure a secure cloud computing environment, today introduced an innovative addition to its suite of Security, Trust, Assurance and Risk (STAR) Registry assessments with the launch of Valid-AI-ted, an AI-powered, automated validation system. The new tool provides an automated quality check of assurance information of STAR Level 1 self-assessments using state-of-the-art LLM technology. Read Now

  • Report: Nearly 1 in 5 Healthcare Leaders Say Cyberattacks Have Impacted Patient Care

    Omega Systems, a provider of managed IT and security services, today released new research that reveals the growing impact of cybersecurity challenges on leading healthcare organizations and patient safety. According to the 2025 Healthcare IT Landscape Report, 19% of healthcare leaders say a cyberattack has already disrupted patient care, and more than half (52%) believe a fatal cyber-related incident is inevitable within the next five years. Read Now

  • AI Is Now the Leading Cybersecurity Concern for Security, IT Leaders

    Arctic Wolf recently published findings from its State of Cybersecurity: 2025 Trends Report, offering insights from a global survey of more than 1,200 senior IT and cybersecurity decision-makers across 15 countries. Conducted by Sapio Research, the report captures the realities, risks, and readiness strategies shaping the modern security landscape. Read Now

  • Analysis of AI Tools Shows 85 Percent Have Been Breached

    AI tools are becoming essential to modern work, but their fast, unmonitored adoption is creating a new kind of security risk. Recent surveys reveal a clear trend – employees are rapidly adopting consumer-facing AI tools without employer approval, IT oversight, or any clear security policies. According to Cybernews Business Digital Index, nearly 90% of analyzed AI tools have been exposed to data breaches, putting businesses at severe risk. Read Now

  • Software Vulnerabilities Surged 61 Percent in 2024, According to New Report

    Action1, a provider of autonomous endpoint management (AEM) solutions, today released its 2025 Software Vulnerability Ratings Report, revealing a 61% year-over-year surge in discovered software vulnerabilities and a 96% spike in exploited vulnerabilities throughout 2024, amid an increasingly aggressive threat landscape. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • PE80 Series

    PE80 Series by SARGENT / ED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin

    ASSA ABLOY, a global leader in access solutions, has announced the launch of two next generation exit devices from long-standing leaders in the premium exit device market: the PE80 Series by SARGENT and the PED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin. These new exit devices boast industry-first features that are specifically designed to provide enhanced safety, security and convenience, setting new standards for exit solutions. The SARGENT PE80 and Corbin Russwin PED4000/PED5000 Series exit devices are engineered to meet the ever-evolving needs of modern buildings. Featuring the high strength, security and durability that ASSA ABLOY is known for, the new exit devices deliver several innovative, industry-first features in addition to elegant design finishes for every opening.

  • Mobile Safe Shield

    Mobile Safe Shield

    SafeWood Designs, Inc., a manufacturer of patented bullet resistant products, is excited to announce the launch of the Mobile Safe Shield. The Mobile Safe Shield is a moveable bullet resistant shield that provides protection in the event of an assailant and supplies cover in the event of an active shooter. With a heavy-duty steel frame, quality castor wheels, and bullet resistant core, the Mobile Safe Shield is a perfect addition to any guard station, security desks, courthouses, police stations, schools, office spaces and more. The Mobile Safe Shield is incredibly customizable. Bullet resistant materials are available in UL 752 Levels 1 through 8 and include glass, white board, tack board, veneer, and plastic laminate. Flexibility in bullet resistant materials allows for the Mobile Safe Shield to blend more with current interior décor for a seamless design aesthetic. Optional custom paint colors are also available for the steel frame.

  • AC Nio

    AC Nio

    Aiphone, a leading international manufacturer of intercom, access control, and emergency communication products, has introduced the AC Nio, its access control management software, an important addition to its new line of access control solutions.