The video surveillance industry has recently seen its technology advance to an astounding degree: the cloud has arrived. Cloud-based security cameras have brought surveillance to the modern age, offering users unparalleled ease and reliability.

Video surveillance is no longer a system with shortcomings that businesses must reluctantly accept. Gone are the days of lengthy set-up, frequent maintenance, and constant troubleshooting. This transformation is helping the cloud-based security industry grow even more, as businesses find themselves with enhancements beyond cameras just being wireless. It is expected that the industry will grow from its current 20% market access, to 50%, and then 100%, in three years, according to current statistics. Key reasons for this growth are due to five features tech experts value as they help ensure the best surveillance camera system for businesses.

1. Remote Access with Centralized Management

Remote access is the key to how companies can scale without complicating security for their multiple locations. Modern cloud-based surveillance makes this a reality. With centralized management, companies can view and manage video from any smart device, laptop, or tablet. Sharing a link to footage is also possible with centralized management, allowing anyone that is securely sent the link to view live-feeds and get alerts when incidents happen.

2. Data Encryption

As surveillance cameras have existed for some time, the technology has developed to outwit cyberattacks and minimize its vulnerabilities. The most at-risk data is when it is sitting on a hard drive, making it a tempting target for hackers. The goal of cloud-based surveillance companies is to secure data, whether it is transmitted through the system or network or at rest. Thankfully there are many data encryption strategies available to protect it such as end-to-end encryption, PKI encryption, AES encryption, and more. This is not available with traditional DVRs and NVRs, which make it easy for hackers to replace video feeds with false footage.

3. Bandwidth Reduction

It is not new information that video transmissions tend to place a heavy load on networks. Modern developments in surveillance technology have led to a substantial reduction of this strain with the practices of cameras operating in a steady state, multiplexing, and motion detection. “Cameras operating at a steady state” means that when footage is not being viewed, encrypted metadata and thumbnails are sent to the cloud, thereby reducing bandwidth. Multiplexing allows users to all view the same live stream without slowing down a camera’s uplink usage. Motion detection refers to data only stored when there is activity going on in the frame.

4. Easy Maintenance

Modern security cameras are built to provide hassle-free maintenance, without interfering in daily operations and minimizing downtime. Security patches and firmware updates work together to provide a balance of up-to-the-minute protection against new malwares and less frequent operating instruction updates. When cameras require downtime (which can’t be avoided), cloud-based systems provide notifications via SMS text, on the app or via email. And, if the situation arises where a camera has been tampered with, these cameras provide automated tamper detection instead of having to physically monitor the cameras yourself.

5. COVID-19 Compatible Technology

Because of the pandemic, and the need for people to safely resume as many normal activities as possible, today’s security cameras also provide contact tracing help and occupancy management. With this technology, businesses can track who was in contact with infected people with the assistance of temperature monitoring and face search and recognition. And when the occupancy limit has been exceeded, the surveillance system will send out an alert.  

Adapting to Uncertainty

With these five features tech experts can't get enough of, cloud-based surveillance systems have helped video surveillance become easier to operate and better at protecting businesses. Now businesses have a greater ability to secure their offices and ensure their employees remain as safe as possible, even with the continued uncertainty in the world. As we all continue to grapple with COVID-19 and anything else that gets thrown our way, it is likely this technology will take on a bigger role at securing our future.

‍