Surveillance Systems Remote Access Usage Statistics

Author: Brian Karas, Published on Oct 11, 2017

Remote access is a major benefit and risk for video surveillance.

It is a benefit because it allows users to manage security or review operations at home or on the road.

It is a risk because it potentially opens up security systems to public attack, especially when companies have serious cybersecurity vulnerabilities (e.g., the recent widespread Dahua hacks).

Video surveillance used to literally be 'closed' circuit TV (CCTV). However, new IPVM integrator statistics show that overwhelmingly systems are providing remote access.

We analyze integrator responses on this topic and provide details on where remote access is nearly a given, and where it is practically non-existent. We also examine manufacturer responsibilities around remote connectivity enablement in their products.

****** ****** ** * major ******* *** **** for ***** ************.

** ** * ******* because ** ****** ***** to ****** ******** ** review ********** ** **** or ** *** ****.

** ** * **** because ** *********** ***** up ******** ******* ** public ******, ********** **** companies **** ******* ************* vulnerabilities (*.*., ********* ********** ***** *****).

***** ************ **** ** literally ** '******' ******* TV (****). *******, *** IPVM ********** ********** **** that ************** ******* *** providing ****** ******.

** ******* ********** ********* on **** ***** *** provide ******* ** ***** remote ****** ** ****** a *****, *** ***** it ** *********** ***-********. We **** ******* ************ responsibilities ****** ****** ************ enablement ** ***** ********.

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

Most ******* **** ****** ******

********* **** ~*** *********** show **** **** */**** of ******** ************ ******* have **** **** ** remote ****** (*.*.: ***, VPN, ****-**********, ****, ***):

* ********* ** ********* by ********* ******** ****** that **** **% ** integrators ****** ****** *** up ****** ******:

*********** ********* *** **** and **** / **** forwarding **** * ******* minority ***** ***, ** our******* ***** ****** *****:

Remote ****** ****** ** *********

******** ******* *** ****** access **** ***** **********, with *********** ******* **** customers ****, ** ** many ***** ******, ****** access ** ***** ************ systems:

  • "***% **** *** *** for ** ***** *****"
  • "***%. **'* ****** ** the *** ** ***** wish ****."
  • "**% ******* ****** *** our ******* **** ** remote *******"
  • "******** **% **** ****** access. ****** **** ** know **** ******* **** they ****’* *****."
  • "**%, ********* **** ** be **** ** *** what ** ***** ** when **** *** *** there."
  • "**%. **** *** **** to ** **** ** see ***** ******* **** their ****** *******"
  • "** % ******** ***** to ** **** ** have ** *** ** their ***** ** **** there ****** *******."
  • ****** **** ***% ** them, ****** ******* ******** has * ********** ** tablet *** ** **** want ** **** ** eye ** ******, *** also **** ** *** clients *** ***** *** they ****'* ****** ** the **** ** **** want ** ** **** to **** **** ********** is ***** *** ***** etc **** **** ****, to **** **** **** driving *** ***** ** check **** ****."
  • "****** *** ** ****. People *** ** *** move. **** ** ***** other ******** ******** *** available ******** ** **** expect *** ******* ** be *** ****."

***** ******** ****** **** remote ****** *** ******* by *********, *** ** policies *** ******* ****** prevented ** **** ***** used **** *****:

  • "**** ***** ** ******* have ****** ******* *********. Since ** ********* ***'* have ****** ** *** end ****'* ********, **'* often ** ** *** IT **** ** *** user ** ********* *** firewall. **** **** ****** into *** ********* ** whether **** *** ********* enough ** ** **."
  • "******** **% ** ******. Most ** *** ********* want ** **** ****** access *******, *** *** approval *** ********* ** dependent ** ***** ** department."
  • "**% ***** ******** ** 100% - *** ** some ***** *** ********* IT ********** ****** ******. they **** ** ***** things *** ** *** alerts *** ***** ****** out. *** * *** of ********* ** ***** customers ** ***** *** their *****."

Service/Maintenance ****

******** ****** ****** ** that *********** *** ******** service ******* *** ********* was **** * ****** driver:

  • "**% *** *** ********* ease ** *** *** us ** ****** ****** for *******/**********."
  • "***** **% **** ****** access. ****** *** ******** staff ** ******* *** site, ****** ** ** for ****** ******* *** management."
  • "**% ** **** **** and ****** ************** ****** hard **** *** *** customers *** ***** **** a ***** **** *** remote *******."
  • "**% **** ****** **** the ********* ********** ***. 50 / ** ********* remote ****** *** ** to ******* / ****** the *******."
  • "***% ******** ** *** up *** ****** ****** / *******. ** *** for ***** *** ******* purposes, *** *** ****** management, ********** *** *************. All *** *** ******* are ** *******/*********** ********** and ** ********* *** the ********* *********."

Uncommon ****** ****** - *******, **********, **********

*********** ******* **** ****** access *** ******** *** their ********* ********* ********** organizations **** *******, ********** offices, *** ********** ********** that *** ******** ********** the *** ** ****** access:

  • "**** **** * ******* of *** *********. **** of **** *** ********** providers *** ** *** want ** **** ** the ******* **********."
  • "**%. **** ** *** customers *** **********, ** remote ****** *******. ** the ********** ********, ***** 1 ** * ****** remote ****** ** *****. Why ** **** **** it - ** ***** managers *** ********** ********* the ******* ** ****/****** issues ***** *** ** site."
  • "*% *** *** ******* of ****** ******* ** WAN *** ******** ******* operation ******* *** **-**% utilize *** ****** ********* for *************** ********."
  • "*%. **** ** *** customers *** *********** ************ and **** **** ****** guidelines *** ******** ************ cameras *** ****."
  • "%** ** **** *******. Most ** ********* *** in ********** ***** *** does *** ***** ** direct ******** ******. ***** customers **** ****** **** forwarding."
  • "** ******* ** ****** segment, ** ******* *** government ******** *** ** security ******* ** ******* are ****** ******** *** internet."
  • "** **** **** **%. The **** *** ********* related *****, **** ***'* want ****** ******."
  • "**** **** *%. *** great ******** ** *** customers *** ***** ******** infrastructure ********** *** ** not ****** ****** ******** access."
  • "**% **** ** *** customers **** **** ******* security ********* *** ** not ***** ******** ****** to ***** *******. ***** are ****** ********** *** Healthcare *******. **** ** our ********** ******* ** utilize ****** ****** *** mobile *********."
  • "*** ** *** ********* except ********* ********** *******/******* remote ******* ** ****."
  • "**%. *** ************ **** of *** ********* *** financial *** ** ** allow ****** ******."
  • "***** **% *** ******** access, **** ** *** customers *** ********** *** that *****'* **** **** in ***** ********** *****"
  • "*** ** *** ********* except ********* ********** *******/******* remote ******* ** ****."
  • "**** **** *%. *** great ******** ** *** customers *** ***** ******** infrastructure ********** *** ** not ****** ****** ******** access."
  • "** ******* ** ****** segment, ** ******* *** government ******** *** ** security ******* ** ******* are ****** ******** *** internet."
  • "** **** **** **%. The **** *** ********** related *****, **** ***'* want ****** ******."

Numbers *******

*** *********** **** ********* opinions ** ******, *** consensus *** **** ****** access *** ******** **** common:

  • "**% *** *******. *** offerings ******* ****** ********** services"
  • "**% *** *******. ******** more ********* ** *** customers ** **** ********."
  • "*** **** ** *** moment *** ** **** see **** **** ** our ********* ******* *** cost ******* ****** ******* video ********** ********."

Manufacturers **** ***** *** ****** ******

***** ********** **** **** manufacturers **** ***** *** remote ****** *** **** greater ************** *** ******** their ******** ******** ** as ****** ****** ** possible. ****** ****** ** clearly *** * ***** or ******** *********** **** manufacturers *** ******* ** an **** ****.

Need *** ****** *************

*** **** ****** *********** ******* ******,******* ******** ****** *******, ***"**** ** ************"**** **** ************ ****** manufacturers ****** ****** ***** products **** ** ******** accessible **** *********. **** that ** ****, ************* have * ************** ** either **** *********** ********** secure ****** ****** ********** (e.g.: *** ********, *****-***** authentication,* ****** **************, ***.), ** ** provide ******** ******** **** the ******* *** *** suited ** ***** ******** accessible **** *** ********.

************* ****** **** ********* a ******* *** *********** communicating ***** ********** *************** to *********** *** ***-*****, including ** ******** *********** of *** *************, ***** exploits, *** ******** *****.

Comments (1)

Dennis Ruban

10/16/17 04:10pm

*** ** *** **** ******, *** **** ** *** ********** (especially ** * *********** ******) ***'* ****** ********** *** ******* part ** ***** ***. * **** **** ***** ********* **** become ********* ****, **** **** ******, ***.

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