IPconfigure New Release Claims 'Most Secure' VMS

Author: Brian Karas, Published on Mar 09, 2016

The latest release of IPConfigure's Orchid VMS server makes bold claims about being the "most secure" VMS.

In this brief update we take a look at what IPConfigure has added and how it will impact a typical user.

*** ****** ******* ** ***********'* ****** *** ****** ***** **** claims ***** ***** *** "**** ******" ***.

** **** ***** ****** ** **** * **** ** **** IPConfigure *** ***** *** *** ** **** ****** * ******* user.

[***************]

Overview ** *********** ****** ***

****** ** * ******* ***** *** ******** **** ** ******* ****** executable, ** ***** ** **** **** *****. ****** **** ****** ** "mobile *****" ** *******, *** ********* ********** ******** ** ********.  Orchid **** ** ******** ** ******* ************* (** ******* ** less). ************, *********** ****** ****** ****** ***** ** * *****-******, larger *******.

"Most ******" ******

***********'**.* **************** **** ******* *** ******, ***** ***** **** ***** ******* they **** ***** ****** "*** **** ****** *** ********* *** ******** *********."

What ** ****?

****** ******* ** *** ** **** ** ** * ***** streaming ********, *** **** ** ***** ******** **************/********** ********* (*** S ** ****).  **** ** ********** ******* ** *** ** cameras, *** ** *** **** ******** ******* *** **** *** other *********.  

SRTP ** *****

*** **** ****** *** ** ****** ******* ** ***** ************ systems *** **** ********* **** ***** (*** ********** ***** ** ********* ****/*** ****** *****).

**** ** ******* ** ***** ** **** ** *** ******* a ************** ****** ******* * *******, *** ** *** ***** benefit *** ****-********* ******* (**** ** ***** ** *****) ** generally ***** ***** ******* *** **** ******** **** *****, ****** it ** *** ***** *** *********** **** ***** ** ** practice *** ***** *********** ******** *** *****.

SRTP **** ** ** ****

**** ******* ** ** ******* ********* ***** ** **** ** best. ** **** ** ** ********, *********** **** **** **** Cisco ******* ***** *** * *** ********* ******* **** ** on ***** ************* ******. ******* ** **** **** ** ****** support, *********** ** *** ********** **** **** ****** ** ******.

Server ** ****** ****

***********'* "**** ******" ****** **** ***** ** *** ************ **************.  There ** ** ******* ** ******** ****** *** ******->****** **** stream, *** ************* *** ****** ***** **** ** ** ****** vector **** *** *** ** ****** ** ******* ******* ** replaced ****** ******* *** ****** ******** ************ ** **** ******* providing *** ************.

Secure ********* **** *********

**** **** ******** ****** ********* *** *********** ** ********** ** ******* encrypted ********* **** ***** ******* ** *******. **** ** *** available **** *****. *******, ********* ** ****** ******** ** ******* *********** and ** *** ******* **** ** ****** ****, ****** **** **** limited *************.

Certificate ******* *** ** *******

******* ** *** ****** ******** *** *****/**** ******** *********** **********, signing *** ************.  *** ********* *** ******* ***** ***** ** their ***, ** *********** *** ******* **** ** * ****-*** service *** $***/******. 

Impact ****** ** ** *******

************** ******** ** (***) ****** ******* ********* ** *** ******** sector, *** ***** ***** *** ****** ** **** ***** ********, it ***** ***** ** **** ******** *** ** *** ******** chart. ********* **** ****** ** ***** ******** ****** *** ** organizations **** **** ********* ******* / ******** *****, ******* ** Orchid's ************.  ** ** *** ********** ***** ******** ************ ** **** a ***** ****** ****** ******* *** ***** **** *********** *** some **** ***, ******** ********* *****. 

Comments (7)

Undisclosed #1

03/09/16 06:10pm

Setting up web server security for HTTPS/SRTP requires certificate generation, signing and installation. The installer can perform these steps on their own, or IPConfigure can provide this as a turn-key service for $500/server.

I'm not sure how that reconciles with this answer given here:

As a design decision, Orchid does not support self-signed certificates without a CA.

Thumbnail brk1

Brian Karas

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 03/09/16 07:20pm

I was trying to not get bogged down in minor details on this post.

I didn't mean to imply that you could self-sign your cert, just that you can create a cert/signing request on your own, get it signed, and install the cert all without having to pay IPConfigure $500.

Undisclosed #1

In reply to Brian Karas | 03/09/16 08:01pm

I was trying to not get bogged down in minor details on this post.

I appreciate that. No worries:)

The thing is that since this is aimed at small installations, the added cost of someone having to register and renew a yearly CA is non-trivial.

Verisign is at least a couple hundred a year.

What does an 8-user Orchid Core license cost?

Unless, I'm misunderstand Dr. Tompkins, to use the secure VMS, you need to

  1. Already have a trusted cert
  2. Buy one from them for $500
  3. Get one from someone else $$ ?

Though I may be misunderstanding. What is your interpretation?

Thumbnail f081faac 3ed5 408f 968d 50aa2bd71d96

R. Cortland Tompkins, PhD

IPConfigure, Inc. | In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 03/10/16 12:44am

UD1,

You can use Orchid out of the box in its unencrypted mode. If you want to enable encrypted mode and you elect to configure this yourself, you need to:

  1. Generate a private key on your Orchid server.
  2. Buy a TLS/SSL certificate. Certificates signed by a "big name" root CA and accepted in all modern browsers can be had for less than $50/yr.
  3. Put your private key and certificate files in a directory, edit a text file, restart Orchid.

As long as an integrator or end-user is even passingly technical, this is an easy and well-documented process.

Our $500 service offering is designed for those who are willing to pay for a completely turn-key configuration solution.

With respect to cost, Orchid is licensed on a per-camera basis ($69 MSRP); there is no restriction on the number of users.

Thumbnail f081faac 3ed5 408f 968d 50aa2bd71d96

R. Cortland Tompkins, PhD

IPConfigure, Inc. | In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 03/09/16 07:31pm

UD1,

Both of those points are consistent. In the first, I meant that an integrator/end-user could purchase a normal TLS certificate from the likes of Digicert, Thawte, Symantec, etc. and install that certificate themselves without paying the $500 for our turn-key certificate installation service.

In the second point, I meant that our SRTP client will reject all self-signed certificates unless you are acting as your own Certificate Authority and configure all of your clients to accept your own root CA.

Best,
Cort Tompkins
VP Engineering, IPConfigure

Tony Karian

IPVMU Certified | In reply to R. Cortland Tompkins, PhD | 03/11/16 05:45am

Legitimate TLS/SSL certificates recognized by all major browsers can now be had for free: https://letsencrypt.org/

John Honovich

IPVM | 03/23/16 12:30pm

Update: Genetec reports that their most recent 5.4 Security Center release supports SRTP from server to clients.

Login to read this IPVM report.
Why do I need to log in?
IPVM conducts unique testing and research funded by member's payments enabling us to offer the most independent, accurate and in-depth information.

Related Reports on VMS

VMS Export Shootout - Avigilon, Dahua, Exacq, Genetec, Hikvision, Milestone on Sep 13, 2018
When crimes, accidents or problems occur, exporting video from one's video surveillance system is critical to proving incidents. But who does it...
Dahua Low-Cost 4MP Camera Tested (N44CL52) on Sep 10, 2018
4MP use continues to increase, especially in low-cost models, according to integrators in our 2018 Resolution Usage Statistics. We bought Dahua's...
Directory Of 110+ Video Management Software (VMS) Suppliers on Aug 30, 2018
This directory provides a list of Video Management Software providers to help you see and research what options are available. Listing...
Inputs/Outputs For Video Surveillance Guide on Aug 24, 2018
While many cameras have Input/Output (I/O) ports, few are actually used and most designers do not even consider them. However, a good understanding...
Luxriot VMS Profile on Aug 23, 2018
Luxriot is more popular than Hikvision and Milestone products according to ASMAG which was probably even surprising to Luxriot. The company has...
Synology Surveillance Station VMS Tested on Aug 22, 2018
With so many low-cost NVRs and enterprise VMSes, is there any place in the market for NAS-based VMSes? Recently, IPVM bought a Synology NAS for...
SNMP / Network Monitoring For Surveillance 2018 on Aug 21, 2018
Surveillance systems typically rely on the the VMS to report issues, but this most often just means knowing a camera is "down" with no warning or...
Video Analytics Integration Guide on Aug 16, 2018
Video analytics is hot again (at least conceptually) but integrating video analytics with VMSes can be challenging. This is especially significant...
ISS VMS / Video Analytics Company Profile on Aug 16, 2018
Who is ISS? In the past few months, they had one of the craziest ISC West promo items in years. Then, they hired industry veteran and ex-Dahua...
Cut Milestone Licensing Costs 80% By Using Hikvision and Dahua NVRs (Tested) on Aug 13, 2018
Enterprise VMS licensing can be quite expensive, with $200 or more per channel common, meaning a 100 camera system can cost $20,000 in VMS...

Most Recent Industry Reports

BluePoint Aims To Bring Life-Safety Mind-Set To Police Pull Stations on Sep 20, 2018
Fire alarm pull stations are commonplace but police ones are not. A self-funded startup, BluePoint Alert Solutions is aiming to make police pull...
SIA Plays Dumb On OEMs And Hikua Ban on Sep 20, 2018
OEMs widely pretend to be 'manufacturers', deceiving their customers and putting them at risk for cybersecurity attacks and, soon, violation of US...
Axis Vs. Hikvision IR PTZ Shootout on Sep 20, 2018
Hikvision has their high-end dual-sensor DarkfighterX. Axis has their high-end concealed IR Q6125-LE. Which is better? We bought both and tested...
Avigilon Announces AI-Powered H5 Camera Development on Sep 19, 2018
Avigilon will be showcasing "next-generation AI" at next week's ASIS GSX. In an atypical move, the company is not actually releasing these...
Favorite Request-to-Exit (RTE) Manufacturers 2018 on Sep 19, 2018
Request To Exit devices like motion sensors and lock releasing push-buttons are a part of almost every access install, but who makes the equipment...
25% China Tariffs Finalized For 2019, 10% Start Now, Includes Select Video Surveillance on Sep 18, 2018
A surprise move: In July, when the most recent tariff round was first announced, the tariffs were only scheduled for 10%. However, now, the US...
Central Stations Face Off Against NFPA On Fire Monitoring on Sep 18, 2018
Central stations are facing off against the NFPA over what they call anti-competitive language in NFPA 72, the standard that covers fire alarms....
Hikvision USA Starts Layoffs on Sep 18, 2018
Hikvision USA has started layoffs, just weeks after the US government ban was passed into law. Inside this note, we examine: The important...
Chinese Government Praises Hikvision For Following Xi Jinping on Sep 17, 2018
The Chinese government council responsible for managing China's state-owned companies praised Hikvision’s obedience to China’s authoritarian leader...

The world's leading video surveillance information source, IPVM provides the best reporting, testing and training for 10,000+ members globally. Dedicated to independent and objective information, we uniquely refuse any and all advertisements, sponsorship and consulting from manufacturers.

About | FAQ | Contact