Remote Access (DDNS vs P2P vs VPN) Usage Statistics 2019

By: IPVM Team, Published on Oct 25, 2019

Remote access can make systems more usable but also more vulnerable. How are integrators delivring remote access in 2019? How many are using dangerous port forwarding?

We asked integrators:

What do you typically setup for customers for remote access to their video surveillance systems (e.g. DDNS, P2P, VPN, etc.)? Why?

This is the successor to Remote Access (DDNS vs P2P vs VPN) Usage Stats 2017 report.

See also IPVM's Remote Network Access for Video Surveillance Guide, which outlines the 5 primary methods for access and identifies pros and cons for each.

In this report, we examine statistics based on responses from 150+ integrators and examine the trends they reveal.

*** ********

*** ******** *** ******* top ******, ***** ** nearly **** ** *********:

***** *** ***** *** flat, *** *** ******* over *** **** * years ******* **** **** usage ***** ********* ** one *****:

*** ****** ****** ********** used *** ****** ** customer ****** ** **** than **% ** ********** responses.

VPN - ****** *** ********

**** ** *** ********** responses ********* ***** *** for ******** ****** ******. The **** ****** ******* for ***** **** **** network ********-******* (*.*. **********, privacy, ********** *******):

"***. ** ******* ********* our ******** ** ** ensure ****** ******** ******* as ******** ** ********. Once ***** ***** ********* for *** ***********."
"*** *** ******** *******. Cloud ** ******* ********* are ***** ********* ** convince **** *********."
"***'*. * ** *** a *** ** *** in **** *****. *** is **** ******, ********** with *** *****'* *** HikVision *** *** *** OEM's. ** ** * phone ******* **** ** not ** ****** ** one ***** *****. * found **** ** ***** communication ** *********** *****..."
"*** - *** ******* client **** ** *** accessing **** **** *** from ******* ******** **** own ** ******"
"** *** *** ** it ****** * ********** secure ****** ********** ** a ******** ****** *** the ********* *** ****** and ******* ****** ****** as ********."
"**** ******* ****** ****** their ***** *** ****** apps, *** ***. ** they **** ** ****** we ****** *** **** their *******"
"** ******* *** ** VPN. **** ****** *** to **."
"***** ***. ** ** one ** *** ******** and ****** **** ** remote ******. "
"***, ********* ****** *** security ******** (*** ** client ************)"
"***. **'* **** ****** with ******** ********* ** firewall ***********."
"***, **** *** ** keep *** ******* ***** Government ***!"
"***. ** ******* ** a ****** ******* ***********."
"********* *** *** ***** control ** *** *************"
"***. *** ******** ********"
"*** ******* **** ** what *** *********** ****"
"***. ******** *******"
"*** - ***** *** best *** ******** **** network."
"*** - **** ** use."
"***. ********."
"*** ******** ************"

***** - ******* ** Customer

************* *** ******* ** integrators ********* **** **** the ****** *** ****** connectivity *** ****** ** the ********'* ******/************. ****, privacy *** ******** ******** were *** ******* ******* that ********* ******** *** solution ****** *******. *** was **** ******** ***** as * ******** ******** solution:

"******* ** *** ********'* sense ** ********. ***** who ***'* **** ** anybody ****** ** **** just *** ******* ***. DDNS *** ***** *** are **** ******* ***** stability ** ********** ** the ******* ** ******* only ******* ** *** dedicated/static ****** ** *******. VPN *** ***** *** wants *******. "
"** *** **** *** depending ** ***** ******. DDNS ** *** ******* systems, ****** **** *** other ** ***** *******. Customers, ** **** *** up * *** ****. "
"***** ********, ***** ******** has ********* **** ******* (some ***, **** ** remote ******)"
"** *** ********* ***** depending ** *** ********. If ** ** ** with * ***** ********* then ** *** ***** DDNS *******. ** ** sell ** **** ********* system ** *** ***** very **** *** ****** DDNS *******. ****** ** often **** ** **** forwarding *** ***** ****** passwords"
"**** ** *** ********* are ******, ** *** has **** ********* **** is ****** *** ***** to ******"
"****** ****** ** ********* dependent ** ********'* ** based ** ***** ********** however ** ****** ********* it ******* ****/*** *** to ******** **** ***** with *** ******."
"***. ********* ******. *** exactly **** *** *** I ******* *** ******** reasons *** ** ******** a ****** ** ****** control."
"*** ** ******** ** large ************* **** ******** departments ** ** ***********."
"****, ** **** **** it **** *** ***, no **** *** ****** IPs *** *** ******* better ******* ** *** clients ** ******* **. VPN: *** ****** ******** clients "
"*** **** ********** ******** as **** ********* ******* security ******** ********* **** approach"
"** **** **** * lot ** ********** ********* and **** ******* ** their ** ********. ** they ** ***** *****'* allow ** **** ** cannot ** ********. "
"********* ** *** **** DDNS, ******** ******** ****** access ** ***** **** in *** ***** ** the ******* ** **********."
"** *** ********'* ** group ******** ***, **** that ** *********. **'** not **** **** ** install *** *** *** in * ********* ***********."
"** **** ***** ** enterprise ** ** *******. Small ** ****** ********** ddns ** ****. ********** we ******* ***** ** to *** **** ** Team ** ****** *** obvious *******.
"*** ********* **** **** security ********, ** ** not ***** *********** ******* their ******* ******* *** through ****** ****** ** SimpleWAN."
"*** **********, *** ********* remote ************ ** ***** on ********'* ** ************."
"**** ** *** ********* are ********** *** **** use ***** *** *** configuration *** ****** ******"
"*******. ********* ********* **** generally ******* * *** for ************"
"***, ******** *********"
"*** ** *** ******** and **** ** *** clients ** *********** ******* it"
"**** ***** ** ** customer ****** ***** ** their ******** ** ************"
"**** *** *** ********* on ******* ********** *** availability"
"*** *** ** ** policy"
"********** ********* *** ***** own ********* ***"
"**** ** ***, ** depends ** *** ********* level ** ******** *********."
"******* ** ****** **** ports ** *** ********* use ***** ***."
"** *** ***** **** the ********* ** ********** provide ******"
"***, ******** *******"

**** - ********/********* ** NVR

**** *** ***** ** 32% ** ******* **** integrators ******** ********** **** are ****** *** ********* to *** **** ****:

"** *** **** *** the *********** *** *** our *** (***** *******). Setting ** * ******** on ***** ***** **** a *** ** *** complex *** **** ** our ********* ** ******."
"****. ** ******* ** with *** ************'* ********* and **** ******* ** needed, *** ** ** not *** *** ******* port ******. ** **** something **** ********* ** help ******* ********, ***** our ********* *** **** advised ** ****** *** passwords *********."
"**** ** *** ***** manufacturers ******** ********* * don’t ***** *** ******* with **** ***** ** security ** ** ********'* networks. * *** ******* VMS *** ****** ******* in ******* ******"
"** *** *** *** in ***** ****. * good ********* ****** ***** be ******** ** **** free **** *******. *** really ************ **** ***** free **** **** ******* and *** **** ** go *** *** *** hands **** **** ** switch."
"* *** ** *** custom **** ****** ** keep ** ********* **** having ** ****** **** themselves"
"******* ****** **** ******* utilizing * *** ******. Easier *** *** ****** very ******."
"**** ** ***** **** most ** *** **** we *******."
"**** ** **** **** will *** ***** ****** IP ********* ** *********** accounts."
"**** **** **** ********** at ******. ******* ** is ****** **** ***** methods"
"**** ** *** ********. Ease ** ***."
"**** *** **** ********** with ** ************"

**** ** ********** **** secure **** *** ******* it ******** **** ********** for ****** ******. **** and/or **** ********** ******* one's ******* ** *** entire ****** ********, ******* that ****** *** ******* ** ******* *** access ***'* ****** (*.*., camera ** ********).

*** - ***** ******/****** Doubled

*** *** *** ***** common ******, *** ******* from **** ******* (**% increased ** **%), **** integrators ****** *** **** reason *** *** *** is **** ** *****:

"*** ******* **'* *** easiest ** *** ** and ** ****** **** the ****** **** ** and ****** ** **."
"*** ***** ** ***, such ** **********. **** to ***** *** *** often ********* *********, ******* nat, ***"
"****** **'* **** *** P2P ** '*****' ******* access ******** ** *** relevant ************. **** **** port ********** *** * potential ******** ******."
"* ******* *** ** a *** ******** ** that *** ******** *** connect **** * ****** location."
"***** ****** *** ** Cloud (** *******). ** port ********** ** *** required. ***** **** *** clients ** ***, *** more ****** **** **** forwarding."
"** *** *** *** Hik *******, *** ***** use **** ******* ** the *** **** *****. Dahua *** ** ****** better"
"*** - ** *** an **** ****** *** companion ***** *** **** really ****"
"*** ** **** ** what ** *** ** with *** *** *** QR ****."
"***-******* ******* ** ** easy *** ****"
"***** ****** ******. **'* secure *** ******** ****"
"****** *** ** **** is *** **** **** out *** ***** ******"
"*** **** ****** *** easy ** ******* *** setup, ** ****** ************* needed"
"***, **** *****"
"*** ******"
"*** - **** ****** provided ** ************"
"***. ******* ***** *** secure."

*******

*** ***, **** *********, vendor *****-******* ****** ****** will ******** ** ****. Using **** *** **** forwarding ** **** **** consuming *** **** ***** risky **** ***** ********** adds **** ************ *** remote ********** *** *******. As **** ** ******, P2P / ***** ** continue ** *** **** the ***** ** ****.

*******, ***** *** ***** of ******* ******* ****** of ***'* ********, **** using *** / *****, we ****** * *********** segment ** ***** **** continue ** ****** *** greater ******* ** ***** their *** ****.

*** ****, ***'****' ** *** ****, Cloud ***** ************ ** the ******.

Comments (11)

Undisclosed Manufacturer #1

10/25/19 04:31pm

**** **** **** **** nearly **% ** *** people ** **** *******, are *** ******** ** hacks, ********, ** ***** vulnerabilities ***** *** *** would **** ** ** compromised ** ***** *** a ******** ****** ** occur?

Sean Patton

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #1 | 10/25/19 05:30pm

*******, ***, *******, ***** a *** **** ******** the ****, ** **** not ****** ***** *** no ***************.

Undisclosed Integrator #2

In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #1 | 10/25/19 05:32pm

**. ** ***** **** there *** ****** ** this **** *** **** to *********** ********* *** VPNs **** *** *** penetrated *** ****** ***** due ** **********. *** all ************* *** ******* equal.

Sean Nelson

Nelly's Security
10/25/19 06:22pm

** ** *******, **** site ** *** ****** towards *** *** ** heavy *************** **** ******** articles. * ***** **** have ** ***** **** most *********** ******** *** large *** *****. * do **** * **** time ********* **** ******* the ******** ** * whole **** *** ******** of ********** *** ***** VPN. * ***** ** wrong ******.

** *** **** ** real *******, *** * shame **** *** ****** 2020 *** ** *** still ***** ****/**** ********** and *** *** ****** management.

** ****** ***** **** to *** ****/**** ********** on *** ****** **** can ** ******** *******. If ***** *** ************* still ********** ******** ** this ******** **** ******* port ********** *** ****** management, **** **** **** to *** **** *** program *** ******* * reliable *** ****** *** platform. *** ****** ****, cmon!

* *** *** *** people *** ***, **** I **** **** ****** is *** **** **** we **** ** *** it. *****, * **** P2P ******** ****** ** reliable ** **** ** trustworthy. ** ********* ****** have ** ** ******* the ******* ** ******* up * *** ** 2019 *** ******, *** should *** *** **** have ** ********** ******* with ***. ************* ****** make **** * **** easier ******* *** **** installer *** *** **** alike.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Sean Nelson | 10/25/19 11:48pm

**** **** ** *** biased ******* *** *** to ***** *************** **** previous ********

***...

**** **** ********* **** refects *** ******** ** a *****

****, * **** * hard **** ********* * third ** '***********' *** port ********** / **** in ****... *****'* ********* diversity ****** *** ********. People ****** ***** ***** Hikvision ** ******** *** going ** **** **** towards *** ******* *** to ***** ***, *** alone ********* ***.

* *** *** *** people *** ***, **** I **** **** ****** is *** **** **** we **** ** *** it.

* ***** **** ****. What *** *** ***** for ***, ********** **?

Sean Nelson

Nelly's Security
In reply to John Honovich | 10/26/19 12:10am

****** ****** ***** ***** Hikvision ** ******** *** going ** **** **** towards *** ******* *** to ***** ***, *** alone ********* ***.

** *******'* ** ********** a ***** ** ***** that *** **** ** setup * *** (*********** misspelling) ******* * ********** VMS *** *** **** a **** *** ******, especially **** *** ***** Chinese ***'* **. *** mere **** **** * VPN ***** **** ** considered ********* ** ********* is * **** ****** why ** ******** ** doing ** ** ****.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Sean Nelson | 10/26/19 12:13am

**** ** ****-******** ************ do *** ***** *** want *** ******* ** the ******** ***** ** letting *** ******* ****** their ********... **** ***** Chinese ****.

******* ******** - **** do *** *** *** remote ****** ** **** white ******** / *****'* products?

Sean Nelson

Nelly's Security
In reply to John Honovich | 10/26/19 12:41am

** *** **** ******** environment ***** ****** ********** of ***** ************ ******, then *** ************ ** the ******** **** *** should **** ** **** and ******** *** ****** platform *** **** ** view ********. *** ****.

********* ** ******

** * * ***** a *** *** **** manufacturer *** * *** cloud **** ********, ** that *********** ****** **** u **** ***** **** products *************? ** **, why * * ********** such *******?

** * ************ ***** a ******* **** ** so ****** ***** ****** but **** ******** ****** an **** *** **** solution, **** **** **** they *** *** ***** confident ** ***** ************* skills? *** ****, **** a ******** **** ****** involve ****** **** ******** do * ***.

Undisclosed Integrator #4

In reply to John Honovich | 11/06/19 02:47pm

**********. **'* ****** ** a ******** ******* **** of *** ********* ** allow *** ****** ****** to *** ******, *** nowadays *** ****** ****** 2fa **** *** ****** to *** **** * VPN.

******** "*****" ** ****** connect *** *** *** quickest **** ** **** any ************ **** ***** IT *****.

Undisclosed Integrator #3

10/25/19 08:50pm

**** ****** **** ******** use ** ******* ** the **** ** **** can ** ****** ** Immix ** ******** ** is ******? ** *** have ** **** ** a ******** **** ** the *** ** ***** Sureview **** * ********** company **** ***-***** ** I-View ** **** ** do **** **** ******* a ***?

Undisclosed Integrator #2

In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #3 | 10/25/19 09:05pm

*** ********** ******* ***** need ** ********* * connection ******* *** ***** Server *** *** **** device. *** **** ********** is *********** ******* ** the ********/**********/********** *******. ********* a *** ** ********* for ********, *** * know *******/******* ***** **** to *** **** **** port-forwarding ** *** *****/******.

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