Surveillance Systems Remote Access Usage Statistics

By Brian Karas, Published Oct 11, 2017, 07:27am EDT

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.

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

********* **** ~*** *********** show more **** */**** ** customer ************ ******* **** some **** ** ****** access (*.*.: ***, ***, port-forwarding, ****, ***):

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

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

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

******** ******* *** ****** access were ***** **********, **** integrators ******* **** ********* want, ** ** **** cases ******, ****** ****** to ***** ************ *******:

  • "***% **** *** *** 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 was ******** **** ******:

  • "**% *** *******. *** 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

VPN is the best option, but most of the installers (especially in a residential sector) don't really understand the network part of their job. I hope some basic education will become mandatory soon, like CCNA course, etc.

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