Remote Access (Cloud, DDNS, P2P, Port Forwarding, VPN) Usage Statistics 2023
Remote access for video surveillance is increasingly critical, but doing so can risk usability or security problems so what options are being most commonly used now?
In this note, we examine statistics from ~160 integrator responses and the trends they reveal.
Survey ********
*** ******** *** **** **** ******* was:
*** ****** ****** ** ***** ************ systems, **** ** *** ********* *** for ********* (*.*., **** **********, ****, P2P, ***, *****, ***.)? ***?
** ***** "*****" ** **** ****'* question, *** *** ****** ********* * broad ***** ***** ** ****. *** previous **** ******** ** ****** ****** usage, ***:
- ****** ****** (**** **********, ****, ***, VPN) ***** ********** ****
- ****** ****** (**** ** *** ** VPN) ***** ********** ****
- ****** ****** (**** ** *** ** VPN) ***** ********** ****
Port-Forwarding *** *** *******, ***** ******** ******
**** ********** *** *** ***** **** significantly, **** **** *** ***** ****** manufacturer ***** ****** (****** ******* *** or * ************-******** ***** ********).
***** *********** *** ** ************ *** ****** **** **********, *********** & ****-**** ***, *** *** ** 2021, ** ****, *** ***** ***** to ** *** ****** *** **** integrators.
Key ********
** ****, ***** *** *** **** made ~**% ** *** ****** *****, respectively, ***** *** *** ****/**** ********** each **** ** ~**%:
*** ********** ********* **** ****/**** ********** usage ******** *** **** ***** *** categories (** ~** ********** ******) ***** 2021. ***** *** **********, *** *** Cloud ***** *** *** **** *********.
****: ***** ** ***** ***** ** a *** ******** ** **** ****'* survey, ** **** *** **** ********** responses **** ******** *****.
Key ******
** ******* *** ********* ****** ** this ******:
- *****
- ***
- **** **********/****
- ***
- *****-******* ** ********
- ** ***
*****
**** *********** **** **** ****** *** or ****** *** ***** *** ****** access *** ** *** **** ** use *** ********. **** ********* **** their ********* ******* ***** *** **** they **** ******* ** ****** ***** in ***** *****:
- "*** *** **** * *****, ** have ****** **** ***** *** ****** access. ** *** ***** *** ******** reasons *** **** ** ***** *** dependency ** **** **********, ********* **** reset ******* **** **********, *** ** really ******** *** *** ********* *** also *** **. ** *** ***** hand."
- "***** *** ****** ****** ******** **** of *** *** ****** ******* *** clients **** **** ** ** ****** their *******, *** ** **** ** we *** ****** *** **** *** Corporate *******, **** ***** ********** *** ZOHO ****** ********** ********. **** **** share ********* **** ********* *******, ** end ** ** * *** **********."
- "** *****. ** **** ****** *** more ****** **** **** **********. ****, we ** ****** **** *** ******** service ***** ** ********* ***** **** detail ** ******* *** **** ***'* access ***** ******* **** ***** ***** anymore ***** * ******* ***** ***** the ****** ***. *** *** ********* are ******* ** * ****** ***."
- "*********, ** *** * *****-******* ****** where ** ** ** ****** ********* to **** *******. ** *** **** because ** ** ****** *** **** not ***** ****** ** "****" **** the *********' ******** *** ** **** port."
- "*** *** ***** *** ** *** register **** *** ***** ********** ******. We *** **** ***, *** ****** has * ******* ******** **** ******* the ******** *** **. ***** ****** app ** **** ** **** ********."
- "** ********* *** * ***** ********, but ** *** ******** ******* ** on-prem ********, ** ****** ***** ** group ** **** ******* ** *** a *** ** ***** ******** **** feel *********** ****."
- "** **** ******* **** ****** *******, Genetec, *** *********, ***** *** **** their *** ******/***** ***********."
- "** ****** *** *** ***** ****** for ** ********. ** **** ************ use ** ********** (***) *** **** Companion."
- "****** ***** ******** **** ******* **** or ******** ****.*** ** **’* ** ***, *** those *** **** *** ** *******."
- "*** ********* *** *********** ******** ******* secure *** ******* *** *** ****** a **** ***** ********* ** * secure *** *****. ** ******** ***** are ******."
- "** ****** ** *** * ****** designed *** ***** ** ***** *****, but *** **-******** *******, *** ******** is ***, *** ****** ******, ** requires * ***."
- "** **** **** *** ** *** above. ** *** *********, ** *** all **** ********** *** ***. ** still **** * ***, *** *** newer **** *** ****** ***** ** VMS."
- "** **** ***** ** ***** **** Cloud ** *** ****** ***** ** avoid ***** ******** *******. ** ***** have **** *** ********* *** ***** some **** **********."
- "***** ******* ** *** ** ** company *** ***'* **** ***** *** anything. ** *** ****** ******** ****, we ***** *** ******* **."
- "****** *****. ******* **** ********** ********** needs ** ** ***** **** ********* replace ******/*******."
- "** *** ***** *** *** **** part *** **** *** ****** *** customer ********* ********* ** **********."
- "********* ** *** *** ** ****. Definitely, *** ***** ** ******* ***** for ******** *** **********."
- "***** **%. *** *%. ** * large ******** ** ** *******, ** use ** ***** ****** ***********."
- "*********** ******* ** ***** ********. ****** systems *** ****** **** ** ****** networks."
- "*** ********* ********'* ***** ********, ** use **% *****, **% ***."
- "***** *******, ***, ****** ******* **** app. ** **** **********."
- "*****. *****, ******* *** ** **** generally *** *** ** **** ***."
- "***** ********** *** *********** ******* **** Cloud ********."
- "*****, * **** ************ ** **** and ******* *** ********."
- "***** ************* ******* ****** **** ** charge."
- "***** ** **** ***** *** *** on **** ** *** *******."
- "***** *********** **** *** *******. **********."
- "*****, ******, *** ***-****** **************."
- "***** *** ******* *** ****** **** VMS."
- "*****. ******* ** ****** *** ********."
- "** *** *** ***** *** *** and *******."
- "***** (***** ***, ******, *****.***)."
- "** ***** *** ** ******** ********."
- "*****. ****** *** **** ******."
- "***** ******** ********."
- "*****. ******* ********."
- "***** **** ********."
- "*****. **** ** ***."
- "*****."**
* *** *********** ************ ********* **** they *************, * ***** ****** ****** ********, for ******* *********:
- "********** *** *** ***** *********. ** load ********** ** ***** ******** ** provide *** ******* ** ** ***** machine * ******** ********. ** **-***** tech ******* **** *** ****** ****** every ********, **** *** ********* ** police *********** ** ********* ********* **** the ******** ****** *** ** ******* access."
- "** *** ******* ** **********. ***** work ****** **** *** ** *** the ********."
- "*** ***** ********** *******, ** ******* use **********."
- "**********."
*** *********** ********* ******************, * ****-****** ****** ******* ******** application, *** ****** ***** ******.
***
*** ****** **** ****** ****** ****** technology *********** *** ** ***. **** integrators **** **** ***** ********* ****** VPN ******* ** ** *** ** the **** ****** *******:
- "** *** * **** ****** ****** Trust *** *** ******** ** *** customers. ** **** ** ******* *****. It ****** **** ** *** ******* appliance. *** ********* *** ** *** have ******** ******, ** **** **** a ********* ** ** *** ****** that ** *** **** ***** **** can ****** **** ***."
- "** ****** ********* ******* ****** ******, it ***** ** ** *** * VPN *** ******** *******."
- "********* *** *** ** *** ******** methods *** ** ***** ** *** customer *** ***** ****** ** **** it **** ***. **'* ********** ** most *** ** ***** *** **** not ******* ********** ******** *** ***** IT ***** ** *****."
- "** ****** *** **** ******* ********* are ********* **** **** ***** ******* business ******* ***** ** ****** ******* the ******* ** ** ********* *** access, **** *** ***** ** *** same ****."
- "**'** *** *** **** ******* **** VPN *** **** ***** *********** *** remote ******. ***** *** ****** ******* of ******** ********* ************ ******* ***** on *** **********."
- "** *** ******** ********* ** ****** the ******** ***** ** *** *******. They *** **-**** ********** ** ******* against ******* *** ****** * **** VPN **********."
- "******* ** *** ******* ** *** customer. ** **** ******* * ***, we **** ** ****. **** ***, then ** * ****-***** **** **********."
- "** ****** **** ******* * ****** VPN *** ****** *********** ********* ** the *********' ************."
- "*** ******** ******** *** ****** ********. Normally *** ******, *** *** ******** a ********* ****** **** *******."
- "* ********* *** *************' ***************. **** companies ****** * *** ****** *******."
- "*** ** ****** *****. ******* ****** [to *** *] *** ** ***** network *** *** ****** ******."
- "*** **** ******* ******** ** * VPN ********** ** *** ******'* ****** (if *** ******** ******)."
- "****** ***. ********* ** ****** *** network, *** ********* *** *** *********' VPN."
- "*** *** ******** *** ******* **** require ** **** ***** ** *****."
- "*** ** *** **** ****** [******], and ********* ******* [** **]."
- "*** **** * ********* ******** ** the **** ****** ********."
- "****** ***** ** *** ************. ****** VPN."
- "********* *** *** ********'* *** ********."
- "*** ** ********* ** *********."
- "*** - **** ******* **********."
- "*** - **** *******."
- "*** **** * ********."
- "***, *** **** ******."
- "***."**
**** *********** ************ ********* **** **** use **** *** ****** ********** ** enterprise *****:
- "*** ***, *******, *** ****-******** *************, we *** ****. ** *** **** when ** **** ** ***** * unified *** ****** ****** *** *** customers ** ** * ******* ************ with ****** *******, *** ** **** to *** ***** ***** *** **/** connections ** ****** *** ***** ***** surveillance ******."
- "** ****** *** *** ****** ** get ** *** ******* ** ** have ***** ** ** *** **** reliable *** ***** ***** *** ** most ** *** ********* *** ************** and *** **** *******."
- "*** *****. **'* ********** ********* ** the ******, *** ********, *** **** we **** *********. *** ********** ******** is *** ********* *** **** *** security."
- "*** ** *** **-** ***** ** can *** ** ******* * ****** computer ******* ** ** ** *** running. ** **** *****, ** ** use ***-**-** ** * ****** ******** on-site."
- "** ****** *** ***, ***** ** driven ** *** *********(****** ****)."
- "**** ********* *** **** ******* **** can **** **** *******."
**** **********/****
**** *********** ****** ******** ******** ***** port **********:
- "** ** ** **** ** *** remote ****** *** ******* *********** *********, we **** ************ *** **** ** P2P, ****** ***** *** **** **** secure **** ***** *******."
- "**** ********** ** * **** ****** since **'* ** **** ** ****."
- "**** ***’* **** ***** *********."
******* *********** ******* *** *** ***** clients ***'* ****/***'* ****** **** **********:
- "**'* ****** ***** ** ****. ** groups *** *** ** ***** ** port **********, *** ******* **** *** systems **** ***** ***** ** **** options **** ***** ****** ** ** easier ** ******* ******* ****** ** much ******** *********."
- "**** ********** *** ****** ** ** a ***** ****** *** **, *** some ******* *** ******* ** ********** ports ** ***."
- "**** ********** ******* **** ******* ** IT ***** ****** ******."
*** *********** **** **** ** ****** use **** **********:
************, ** *** **** ********** **** DDNS, *** **** ** **** ********* now **** *******/*** ******** **** *** require **.
** *****'* **** **** ********** *** almost ** *****.
*** ********* **** ***** ********* *** parties ** ******* ***** **** ***** DDNS ** ****** ********:
"**** ******* *** *************' ***** *******. Allows ******* *********** ******* ******* *****."
"** ** ** ****, ** *** a ****** ******, ** ** ***'* have ** ******* * *** ***** service."
*** ********** **** **** **** *** moving **** **** **** ** *** cloud:
** *** ****, ** ******** ******* port **********. **** ************* ******* ******* their *** **** ********, ** ******* using ***** ** ** ********** *** hassles ** **** **********. ** *** now ******* ** ******* ** * cloud-based ***** *** *** ** *** own ****/*******/***** ***** ** *** *** the ************'* **** ******** ***** *** be ***** ** ***** *** ***** security ******* ** *** ********* *** maintenance ** ***** ***** ** ******* our *******.
*** ***** *** ** *** **** or **** **********, **** **** **** they *** ** ******* ********* **** it, *** ************* ******* **, ** it ** *** ******* ******:
- "** *** * ****** *** *** for ****, ** **** ******* ** our ******* ****** ******. ** ******* pair ** **** * ***, *** most ********* ***'* ********** *** ******** of * *** *** *** ** just *** **** **********."
- "**** ** ***, ** *** **** forwarding. *** * ***, ** **** set ** ****. ** ** ***** more ***** *************, ** **** ********* towards *** **** ****** ********."
- "******* ** *** ***'* ************ ****** app. **** ** *** **** **** and **** **********. *** ****** *****."
- "*********, ** ***** *** **** ** it ** ********** **** ** *********, is ******, *** ********* ****** **** reliably."
- "** ****** **** ********** ** **** we *** *** ** * ****** port **** ** *** ********* **** by ****** *** ** **** ****** to ** ******** *** ** ********** players."
- "**** ********** ** ****** *****, **** clients ****** ******** ** ******* * VPN."
- "******* ** *** ***. ********** *** (Avigilon, ***.) **** **** **********."
- "**** *********. **** ** **** *** customers *** *** ********* ****."
- "**** **** **** ********** - ****** commercial ********."
- "**** ********** ******* ** ***** **** with *** *******."
- "**** ******* ** *** ****** ****** for *********."
- "[*] ******* ******** ** *** **** forwarding."
- "**** [** ***] *******."
- "**** **********." **
- "****."
******* **** **** **** **** *** port **********/**** ** ******** ****** ******, such ** *** ********* *******:
- "**** *** ***** ******* **** ***** and ***."
- "**** **********/**** *** *** ****."
- "**** ********** **** - ***."
***
*** *** **** *** ***** ****** choice ***** *********** ** ******** *****. For ***** *** **** **** **** use ***, **** *** ** ******* of ******** ******** ** *** **** of *****. ******* *********** ********* **** it ** ***** **** **** **********:
- "*** ** **** ****** *** *** the *** *******. ***** ******* *** to *** **** ********** + ****. Never *** *** ******* ** *** extra ***** ******** *** * ******** to *** **. * **** **** prefer *** **** **** ********** ******* sometimes *** ******** *****'* *** ******* for *****."
- "** **** **** **** **** **********, but *** ** *** *** *** everything. **** ****** *** *****'* **** to ** ***** ** *** ****** changes ***** ******** ********."
- "*** - **** ****** **** **** forwarding *** ********* ** *** ************ for ****** ******* ***** ****."
- "** ****** ** *** ***, *** for **** ******* [*****] ****'* *** complicated, ** ** ** ***."
- "*** ** *** ******* ***, **** a ****** ********, *** *** ***** any ***************."
- "** ******* **** ** ****, ***** I ***** ** ***."
- "** *** *** ****** *********** *** to *** **** ** *** *** lack ** **** *** **** *** port **********."
- "**** *** ** *** *** ** use *** ****. ****** ******, * think, ** *** ** ****."
- "***. **** ** *** **. ***** had *** ******** ******."
- "*** ****** * ****** ***** *******."
- "*** - ****** **** *********** ********."
- "***. **'* *** **** ** ***."
- "**% ***. **% ***."
- "***. **************."
- "***. **'* ******."
- "*********** ***."
- "*** ****."
- "***."
Mixed - ******* ** ********
**** *********** **** **** *** ****** they *** *** ****** ************ *** driven ** *** ********'* ******/************. **** and ******** ******** **** *** ******* reasons ****** **** ********-******. **** ********* the ***** ** *** ** ***** top ******* *** ** ***** **** security:
- "** ******* ** *** ********. *** of *** ******* *** ** *******. Some ********* **** ** ** ** RMR ***** *******. ****** ***'* *** a ******* *******. **** ************* ***** free *** ********. **** ********** *** VPN *** ******** ********* ** *** customer."
- "**** ********** ** **** ******, ******** we **** **** *****-***** ******** *** clients *** **** *** ** ***** own *** *******. ** **** ***************, but ****** ***** ****** *** *** a ***** **** ** *** **** want (** ****) ** **** ****** set **."
- "********* ** *** *** *** *** product, ** *** ****, ***, ** port **********. *******, **** ** ******* by *** ** **********, *** ** work **** ***** ***** ** *** up ****** ******. **** ****** ** to *** ** ** ***** *** device *** **** ** ***** **** training *** ** ********** ** ****** additional ****** ****** ******* **** *** be ******** ** *** ******."
- "**** ** ****** ******** ********* **** the ********'* **********, ******** ********, *** available ********. *******, **** ** * special *** ** **** *********' ** demands *** ** *********, ***** *** then ******** ** ********** ***'* *** addresses. *********, ** ** **** ** the ***** ************ ** * ***** in."
- "***% ** ** *** ******** **. We ******* ********** *** **** ** remote ***** ****** ****** ******* ** configuring *** *** *********** ******. ** will *** ** *** ******** ***** on *** ****** **** ** ******. Most *** ***** **** ********** ** VPN ** *** ******* *** *******."
- "***** **** ********* *** ********* **** forwarding **** ***. ** * ******** security *********, * ***** *** * VPN **** *-****** ************ *** **** allow ******** ******. *******, ** ******* that **** *** ********'* *************. **** smaller **** ***'* **** ** *** extra ** **** **** *************."
- "********* ** *** ********, ******** **** a ****-**-**** *** ******* *** ******** and ******, ***** ***** *** ******, using * ****** ******** ** **** customer, ***** **********, ** ***** *************. No ***********."
- "*** **** ****** *** ***, *****, or ***. ** **** *** **** forwarding **** ********* *** ********** **** with *** ********. *********, ** ** whatever *** ******** ** **** *********** with."
- "****** *** ******* ** ****** *** P2P ***/** ***** ******. **** ***** it **** ****** ** ****** ** we ***'* **** ** ******* ** for **** **********. ****, *** ********* much ****** ** *** ******** *******."
- "*** *** ***** *********. **** *** internet ****** ****** *****-***** **********, *** customers **** **** **** *** ****** manage ***** **** ******* ********** ********."
- "** *** * *** ** ***** connection. *** **** ********** ***** **** home *** ****** *********** ****** ****** to *** ******* *** *******."
- "******* ** **** ********** ******** *** what **** *** *********** ****. **** of *** ********* **** * *** VPN *** **, *** ** ****** differs ****** *** *****."
- "***/***** - **** *******, *** *** CUSTOMER'S ** ********** *** ********* ****** THE ***** ** ***."
- "*** ************* ** ****** ****** *** a *** **********, **** **********, ** DDNS ******* ** *** *** *** mobile ***********."
- "*** *** *****. **** ** *** up, *** ****-********, ***** ******** ********, no **** **********."
- "***** *** *** *** ********* **** with *** ****** **** ********—**** * few *** **** *** ***** ****."
- "**** **********, ***, *** *****. **** is ********* ******* ** **** ** provided ** *** ******** ************."
- "* *** ** **** **********, ***, and *****. ** *** ******** *** client **** ** ** ** *** is *********."
- "***, ***** *** ***. ***** *** P2P *** ****** [*******]. *** **** greater ******** ** ********."
- "*** *** **** **********. **** ********* do *** **** *** ******* **** for ***** *******."
- "***, ***, ** *** *********. *******, it ** ***** ** **** *** customer *** ** ***** ** **."
- "***, *****, ** / **** ** very **** *****. ** *** ** make ** ** **** ** ********. PF / **** ** *******."
- "* ***** ***** ******** ** **-******* DMZ **** **** ********** *** ****."
- "***** *** *** ***** ** ******. Remote **** **** **** - ******** network."
- "**** *** *** ****** ** ******* we **** * ********* ********** ** not."
- "*** *** *****. ***** *** **** easiest *** ****** **** ** ** it."
- "***, ***, *** *****, ***** ** customer ************."
- "*** ** *****. ** ***** **** up ***** ** * ********."
- "* ******* **** ********** & ***."
- "**** ************ *****. **********."
- "****, **********, *****."
- "**** ********** *** ** *** *****."
- "***/**** - ******."
- "***, ***, *****."
- "*** ** ****."
- "*** ** *****."**
- "*** & *****."
- "*** ** *****."
*** ********** **** * ******** *********** of *** ** ****** ********* ****** access ********** *** ********* ***** ** customers:
** ** ********** ********* ** *** type ** ****** **** ** ***** deployed *** **** ****** ****** ****** and ***** *** ******** *** ** place. *** **** *** **** ****** option ***** ** ** ******* * Zero ***** ******* ****** (****) ********. ZTNA ********* "******* ***** ********** ****** at *** *********** ***** ******* ******* on ** ********* *** **** *******, and ********** ********** ***** ************, ********** user *** *** ********, ** ****** the ********** ***’* *********** **** ****." (Keary ****) *******, ** ******* **** option, *** ******** ***** ** ******* have * **** ******** ** *****. If *** ***** ************ ****** *** an ********** ******* ****** ****** ******** implemented **** ******’* **** *** (********), which ******** *** ********* *** *** hole ********, ***** *** **** ****** and ********* ******* ** ************* ** the ********'* ******/*********.
*** ****** ***** ** *** **** option, ** ** ** ********* *** secure. * **** **** ** ********* that *** ************* ******** *** *** is *** ** ** ***** ******* access ** *** ******** ****** **** vs. ********** ********** ****** ** *** network *********. **** ********* **** ******* the ********’* ** **** ** ******* this.
**** ********** ** *** **** ****** as ** ** *** ***** ****** as ** ****** *** ****** **** a ******** ****** ******* *** ****** solely ** *** ******'* ********. * make **** ** **** *** ******** sign * ******* ** ********* ****** if **** ****** **** ******.
Customers *** ***** ****** ******
***** *********** ********* **** **** ** their ****** **** **** *** *** remote ****** ** ***:
- "***** *** *** **** ** ** the **** *******. **** ** *** customers ** *** ***** ****** ****** unless ** ** *** ***** ** Zoom."
- "**** ** *** ********* ***'* ***** remote ****** ** ********. *** ***** that **, ** *** ******* ******* a ***."
- "* ***** % ** ********* **** still ******** ****** ** ***** *** kind ** ****** ******."
** ***** ** **** ****** * certain (***********) ****** %,***** ******** ***** be ****** **** *********, ** * significant ******* ****** ***'* *** *** value *** * **** ****.
*************, ** ***** ** *** *** port ********** **** ** *** ******, down *** ***** **%, ** * prime ****** *********** *** *** *** cloud, ***** **** ********** ***** *** clearly ******* **** ***** ****** ****** and ***** **** **** **** *** and *****, *** ******* ******** ***** devices ** *** ****** ********.
**** *****'* *** **% ***** ****. How **** ** **** **** ***** with ****, ** ** ***** ******* become **** *********** **** **** *** them ** ** ****** ** *** alternative ** ******** ***** *** ****?
******** ************ ******* **** **-**** *****, Ubiquiti, ******, *** ******* **** ** management **** ***** ** *** ****** capabilities. **** ****** *** ***** **** all ********, ******** ******* ****** **** ecosystems *** ****** ********* **** ******* the ****** ******* *********'*.
*********** *******, ******. *** ************ *********** I **** ** **** ********* **** care ***** **** ****** ****** *** using * ***** ** ******-*******-***** ******, and *** ********* *** **** **** is * *** ******** ****'* ********* at ***. ** ** "*****" ** only ************* **** ***** *******, *** gaining ** *** ********.
***** **** *******, *** ** ***** is **** ****** * ******* (***********) market %,***** ******** ***** ** ****** than *********, ** * *********** ******* simply ***'* *** *** ***** *** a **** ****.