Video surveillance is one of the most popular forms of security for businesses that need to monitor who is on their premises and when. Enabling business site managers to oversee multiple areas of their premises at once, CCTV footage is one of the most versatile and useful forms of access control available.
As demands increase for more robust CCTV systems, many existing video surveillance systems are becoming obsolete, unable to keep up with the needs of its users. Luckily, modern advancements in cloud solutions mean VSS / CCTV cameras no longer need to be limited by their hardware capabilities, allowing businesses to further utilise their video surveillance without completely replacing their existing systems.
How can cloud-based data storage improve security systems?
Unlike traditional video data storage systems, cloud-based solutions allow administrators to access, monitor and edit information all from one centralised system, using any internet-enabled device. Where hardware solutions offer limited storage and rely on accessing data at the place where the server is kept, cloud-based services can be scaled to suit your current needs and offer a wide range of additional benefits to streamline and simplify your business’s access control needs.
Why migrate CCTV to the cloud:
Remote access to footage
In many traditional VSS data systems, the video data is stored on the device’s hard drive, either physically on the device itself or wired to an on-premises server. This setup makes managing footage challenging, as it requires staff to be present on-site whenever monitoring or retrieving footage is necessary. Cloud-based data storage eliminates this issue.
By consolidating the monitoring, management, and editing of footage into a single online dashboard, a cloud system allows users to access footage from multiple locations anywhere in the world using an internet-enabled device. Furthermore, cloud migration enhances security by eliminating single points of failure. In traditional systems, if the server fails, it can be impossible to retrieve video data, with cloud storage, data is replicated across multiple servers, ensuring continuous availability and reliability. Additionally, real-time monitoring and management are facilitated without the need for multiple security personnel on the premises, reducing staffing needs and costs.
Video storage
As mentioned, traditional video surveillance management systems often store footage directly on their device or transfer it to an on-site server. This method, which limits video storage to a physical hard drive rather than utilising a cloud-based solution, can result in restricted data capacity. Users may find themselves needing to manually delete older footage to make room for newer recordings.
While hard drive storage has been a common solution, it has become outdated and often struggles to meet the high data storage demands of modern access control systems. On the other hand, cloud-based storage offers significantly larger data transfer and storage capacities, eliminating the need to constantly delete old footage. Cloud-based systems also can be configured with a range of helpful features, such as limited timeframes for storage, and automatically deleting out-of-date footage. This allows footage to be automatically deleted after a specified period—whether days, months, or years—reducing unnecessary storage and any additional costs that may come with it.
Additionally, these systems can be configured to only store video anomalies, ensuring only relevant video data is saved, further minimising wasted data storage. By focusing on critical events, users can further optimise their storage and ensure that they retain only the most important video data, streamlining security monitoring and reducing wasted time combing through footage for certain events.
Legal benefits
One of the most important aspects of access control data collection and storage is ensuring your business is adhering to the necessary regulations and privacy laws. As we’ve explained, physical data storage is vulnerable to potential hardware failures and theft, and often doesn’t include the necessary data encryption measures to protect the video footage should it be stolen. By relying on manual management of your video footage, there are many opportunities for mistakes, where data is not deleted or protected correctly, potentially resulting in costly fines for improper data handling.
Cloud providers typically implement strong security measures, including encryption and regular security audits, to reduce the risk of data loss. Using online storage can help organisations comply with relevant GDPR and manage personal data more effectively, thereby minimising the chances of data loss due to unauthorised access.
Artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities
In recent years, the integration of AI in security systems has seen significant growth. Utilising a cloud-based approach, AI can implement various functions into your security systems, including facial recognition, timestamping, and alarm systems, all while minimising the need for constant human monitoring.
A prompt response is essential in the event of theft, break-ins, or hazards like fire to protect your business assets and ensure the safety of everyone on the premises. By incorporating AI into your CCTV data system, you can not only reduce losses and damages but also streamline the management of video data. AI can automatically analyse and categorise footage, ensuring that critical video evidence is quickly sent to a designated group of relevant people, such as site managers or the police. This capability saves valuable time in responding to urgent situations and helps prevent recorded footage from being lost during an incident.
Integrate cloud CCTV systems with existing security solutions
Integrating your cloud CCTV systems with other security solutions can significantly enhance the overall effectiveness of your security. Utilising cloud CCTV allows for seamless integration with other security systems such as gates and barriers, providing a unified platform for managing all aspects of security. This integration enables security personnel to access and monitor video surveillance systems alongside other security data, such as access logs and alarm notifications, from a single interface. The use of smart mobile apps and remote online tools further enhances remote access, allowing security teams to respond quickly to incidents without needing to be on-premises.
Additionally, integrating video analytics functionality with your video management system can offer deeper insights into your data and enhance incident detection. By utilising artificial intelligence for CCTV / VSS and incorporating it with other access control systems, businesses can achieve more sophisticated monitoring capabilities, such as facial recognition and behavioural analysis, to swiftly identify and manage potential threats before they escalate.
Scale your cloud storage to meet your needs
One of the most significant advantages of adopting a cloud CCTV system is the flexibility it offers in terms of storage capacity. Unlike traditional storage solutions which are often limited by physical hardware constraints, cloud storage can be easily scaled to accommodate your specific requirements. This scalability is particularly beneficial for businesses managing multiple sites or those experiencing growth, as it allows them to expand their storage capabilities without the need for additional hardware, which would incur additional costs.
With cloud storage, you can adjust your storage plan to match the volume of video data your CCTV systems generate, ensuring that you only pay for the storage you actually use at that moment. This cost-effective approach eliminates the need for excessive hardware purchases and maintenance, resulting in cost savings. Additionally, cloud storage solutions offer high video data storage capacities, allowing you to store large volumes of surveillance camera data without worrying about running out of space.
Moreover, cloud providers offer advanced video analytics capabilities that help you manage and organise your stored video data more efficiently. By leveraging these tools, you can prioritise relevant video data and optimise your storage usage, ensuring that your CCTV system remains effective and efficient without needing to swap out or upgrade hardware.
Save costs with cloud storage
When transitioning to cloud-based data storage, there are inevitable initial set-up costs, including potential service subscriptions and costs for future data volume expansion if needed. However, these upfront costs are outweighed by the significant long-term savings that cloud CCTV systems provide. Unlike physical data storage which requires holding and managing video data on-premises, cloud systems offer simpler scalability, without the need for constant hardware upgrades to continue the use of the system. This is particularly beneficial for businesses with multiple sites or plans for growth, with flexible options available, ensuring you only pay for how much data you need and the resources you are currently using.
Moreover, cloud-based systems have reduced maintenance costs, enhancing their cost-effectiveness. Traditional CCTV systems often require regular maintenance and investment in physical servers, which can be costly. In contrast, cloud CCTV data solutions are managed by the provider, reducing the burden and cost of in-house IT teams whilst maintaining optimal performance.
Overall, despite initial costs, the scalability, reduced maintenance, and lower storage expenses make cloud CCTV / VSS a highly cost-effective option for enhancing security infrastructure.
Learn more about Cloud-Based Access Control CCTV Software: Eagle Eye Networks.
If your business is considering a cloud-based CCTV system, contact us today to see how OLS can aid with your migration.
