Ubiquiti Cloud Video Tested

The cloud continues to expand in video surveillance.

Ubiquiti's newest release offers a free upgrade adding cloud capabilities.

In this test, we examine how it worked, showing a video demonstration, and what this signals for the future of video surveillance.

Video Demonstration

This 2 minute video shows the entire cloud setup / connection process of both Uniquiti's NVR and IP camera:

Strengths

The system is 'cloud first', going to a publicly available website that detects and integrates local devices, eliminating traditional setup while enabling instant cloud access to the system.

Weaknesses

This is limited to Ubiquiti's own devices, which are quite limited in number (restricted camera range, etc.) and interoperability (e.g., no third party devices).

Additionally, while users may connect multiple NVRs to a single account, but only one NVR may be accessed at a time, limiting how well it can be used for larger scale systems.

Version 3.20 Required

Cloud access is included in UniFi NVR 3.2.0, available as a free download, both for their UniFi NVR and COTS machines.

Comparison Axis

The closest comparable, both in terms of ease of setup and closed support is Axis Camera Companion V3.

Outlook Professional Market

Given Ubiquiti and Axis Companion's closed nature, we do not expect such offerings to have a huge direct impact.

However, these are two signs of how cloud enabled video, once mainly a home offering (e.g., Dropcam), is increasingly moving into the professional / commercial space.

On the other hand, the most commonly used VMSes for IPVM integrators (alphabetically Avigilon, Exacq, Genetec and Milestone) have made only limited steps to offer cloud access (with Genetec certainly the most but still restricted for traditional users). 

We expect in the next 2 years to see a big shift, with some of these VMSes making cloud remote access a first class part of their core offerings.