Verkada, Silicon Valley VSaaS Startup, Targets Enterprise

Published Oct 19, 2017 13:02 PM

Verkada says they are building an enterprise-class VSaaS offering, calling it "The new platform for video security". This is a departure from the consumer/SMB focus of many recent startups and companies like Nest, Canary, Ring, etc.

Enterprise customers have generally been slow to adapt leading-edge trends, particularly in VSaaS. Can Verkada's platform sway them? 

Executives of the company provided details on their system and market approach, which we analyze in this report and provide our outlook on Verkada.

Verkada **********

*******'* ********** **** *** *********** **** ***, ******, *** of ****** *****/******. ***** *** **** has ********** ********* ** ********, *** in *** **** ** ********* ******** Architect ***** *** [**** ** ****** available], ******* ***, **** **** ***** direct ********** ** *** ******** ********. In ******** ** *** ********** ****, Meraki's **-******* **** ********* [**** ** ****** available] is ** ******** ** *** ******* and ****** ** ********* ********, ******** involved ** *** ********* ****** *** competing ******** **********'* ***** ******.

*** ******* *** ****** ** ****, and *** ****** * ***** ** $4M, *** ******* ***** *******, **** *** * **-******** *** **** all ***-*** ********* *********** ******* *****, ************* ** *** ******* ** the ******* ** ****. ********* *** company ******* ~** ******, ********* ** engineering *****.

*** ******* ***** ******** ***** ** Q3 ****, *** ******** ******** ** September ****. **** ****** ******* **** customers **** ********* ** ****** *********, and **** ******* ******* ******** **** been ******** ** ***.

End-To-End / ****** ********

******* **** **** **** ********* ** end-to-end ***** ******** **** ******** * browser-only ********* *** ****-******** *******. **** position *** ****** ******* ***** ***-**-*** solutions **** ******** ** ****/*****, *** claim *** ******* *** ******** ** be *********** **** ********, ****, ****** or ******* ******.

**** *** ******* *** ***** ******** are ******** **** ** **** **** each *****. *** ******* **** **** took **** ******** ** **** **** full ******* **** ******** *** ************ of *** ******, ** ***-***-***** *******, even ***** **** ****-***** ***'*, *** not ******* *** *********** **** *******. Additionally, **** ******** ******* ******* ******* over *** ******** *** ********* ** the ******** ** *** *******, ***** is * **** **** ** *******'* pitch.

Camera ********

********* **** * ****** ****** *** available, ** ****** [**** ** ****** *********] *** ******* [link ** ****** *********] *******, **** *** domes, **** * ** **** ********.

**** * ****-***** ***********, *******'* ******* are ******* ** *** ** ******* tier ******** **** ***** *************. **** have ********* ********* ******, ** ************, onboard *******, *** ****/**** ******* *** the ******* ******. ***** ****-*******, **** as * ****** *******, *** ******* for ****** *******.

*** ******* ******* * *******, * 3MP ****** *** * **** ******, which *** ******** ** *** ***** storage. *** ******* ***** *** ******** specifics ** *** ****** ** *******, but ****** **** ********* ** **** of ********** *********, ***** ** **** at **** ** *******, *** ****** to *** ** ******.

*** ******* *** ******** ***** ** other ******* ** ** ************* *** detecting *********. *** ****** *** ******** an ***** ** ** ** ********* by ******** ******** (****** ********** ** hit **, ****** *** *****, ***.).

****** *** ******* *** ***** ** standard ******* *** **********, **** *** not ******** ** **** **** ***** VMSes, *** ** ************ ***** ****** be ********.

Automatic ***** **********

*** ***** *********** *** *** ****** are ******* *************, ***** ** ********* Verkada ******** *** *** *******. *** company ****** **** ***** *** **** possible ***** ** *** **********, *** prevents *********** **** ****** ** ****** out ***** ***/***** ********, ** ************ between ***** ****** **** ***** ************ throughout *** ***, ************ **** ******* that **** ******** *****.

VSaaS ********

*** ******** ******* ** *******'* ****** is ***** *** ******* ********* ************** themselves. *** ****** ** ******* *****, and *** ******* **** ** ****** work **** *** '******' *******, *** does *** ******* *******. ** **** works ** *** *** ***** ******* versions.

*** ******** ****** **** * ***-***** layout ** *******, *** ****** ********* to *****-**** ** ******** ********* ******* where **** ****** ** *******:

 

**** *** *** ****, * **** can ***** **** * ****** **** to *** **** ***** **** **** camera:

******** ******* *** ** ****** ****, and *** ********* ****** ***** ** create ***-******* ** ******* ****** (*.*.: all ******* **** *** **** "******* door"), *** ***** *** **** ** configurable *** ******** ******* ** ****-*****, the ********** ***** ***** *** ****-*******, and ********* ***** ** ** ******* for ******* **** * ***** ******* cell ********** ** * ******* *****, a ******* ****** ** **** *****.

***** *** ** ************ ** *** data, ***, ** *** ***** ********* like ****** *******. *** ******* **** they **** ** ****** ************* ** include ************ ** *** ******, *** it *** *** ****** ******** ** the ***** *******.

******-***** ****** *** ** **********, *** they *** *** **** ** ** ********* on * ******** ** *** ******* release, ****** **** **/* ****.

Video ****** *** *******

******* ** **** *****, ******* *** a ****** ****** *******, ******** ***** to ****** ***** ** ******** ** * grid (*** **** **** ** *** image *****), *** ****** *** ****** in ***** ***** **** **** **** period.

****** ***** *** **** ** ***** as * **** ** ****** ******, which *** ** ******** ** ******** the ****** ****** *** ***** ** video. **** ******** *** **** ***** quickly **** * ***** **** ****** when ** ***** ********, *** ******* the **** ** ******** ****** ****** time ********** **** ****-**** ** ***** interfaces **** *** ** ********** ** mobile/tablet **********. *** ****** **** *** let ***** ***** ******** ******* **************, which *** **** ************** **** ******* multiple ******* **** **** *********.

** *** ***** *****, ****** ***** segments ******** ** ****, **** *** 9AM *** *****.  *** **** ******* ** ******* video from **:****, ***** ** *** ****** being ******* ****** **** ****:

*******'* ***** ******* ******* ** ******** more ***********, ***** *** ***** ****** to *** ****** *******, ******* * **** via *** ** *****. ****-******** ****** durations *** ** ***, ***** *** link *** ****** ***** ******* ** that ****:

**** *** ****, ***** *** ******* directly ** * **** **** ** the ******, ***** **** *** **** access ***** ******** **** * ******* of ****** *********, ** ****** *********:

*** ******* **** **** ******* ******* was ***** ** **** ************* ************** or ********** ** **** ****** **** efficient, ********* **** *** ** ********* to ********* **** ****** ********* ** retail/quick-serve ****** **** ******** ********* *** distributed *****.

Cloud *******

***** ** ********* ****** ** *** cameras, *** ******** ***** *** ** backed ** ** *** *****. **** primarily ****** *** ***** ********* ** tampering ******, *** ****** ******* **** a **** ***** ** *******. ***** storage ** ********* ** ***** ** size *** ********, *** *** ** **** to ******** **** ******* ** *** video **** *** *******, ******** ********** upstream ********* ****** ** ** **.

Cyber ******** ********

********** ****** ***** ******** *** * key ****** *************, *** * ***** they *** ** ************* ********** **** some ************. ***** ****** ****** *** device ** *********, **** *** ********** keys ****** ** *******'* *****. *** software **** ******** * ****** **************,****, *** ******* *** ***** **** ************** methods ** **** **** ********** ****** the ****** ****** ** ********* **** a ********* ** *********. *** ************** between ******* *** ******* ** **** over *****, *** ** ***** *** opened ** *********, *********** ******* ******* and ******* *** ******** ******* *******'* servers.

Automatic ******** *******

****** ********, *** *** ***** ********, gets ********* ******* ****** *** ** Verkada. ***** *** ******** **** ******** updates ** ******* **** *****, ** the ****** ***** **** ********* ***** briefly. 

Subscription ******** *** *********

*** ***** ******** ** ************ *****, and ***** **** **** ** ****** subscription ** ***** ** ****** **** or ****** ***** (***** ** *****). Software ************* ** *** ***** ******** are ******* ** *,* *** * year *****. ****** **** ***** ** term (******* *****), ***** *** ****** *** to ***** ***** ************ *** ******** an ****** ** ****** ***** ***** for *********, *** **** **** ** way ** ****** *** ******* *** live *******, ****** *****, ** *** them **** ** ********* ********.

Enterprise *****

******* ** ********* ****** ********* **** their ********, ******** **** **** ******* on *********** ** *** ******, *** features **** * ****** ************** ***** on ** ****** ** **** ******. They ******* ***** ****** ** ******** from ********* **** ********, **** ** Hanwha, *** *** ******** *** **** to *** ****** ****** ******* *** users ******* ****** ** *****.

Free ***** - ********** *****

******* ** ***** ***** ***** ******* ** ******** **** interest, ***** *** ******* **** ******* cameras, * ******** ************, *** ***** reasonable ************ *****. ****** **** **** programs ***** * ************ ***** ***** a ****** **** ****** ***** * sales ****, ******* **** **** ******** cameras ** * ****, *** **** ** so **** **** * ***** **** to ******* *** ***********. **** ******* helps ****** *** **** **** ******* has * ******* ***** **********, ********* inside *****, **** ** **** ***.

24/7 *******

******* ** ********* ** *********** *** end-users **** ****** ************* **/*.

*******

******* **** ***** ****** ** ****** to ** *********** **** ******* **** Avigilon, ** **** ******* ** * VMS **** *****. *** ******* ******** the ********* ******* ** **** *******:

***** *** ****** **** ** ****** than **** ******** ********** *******, ***** is ** ********** ****** ** ******* hardware ********, ** ***** ********* *** integrated **** *** *******.

******** *** ********* *** **** *** upfront, ******* ** **** ***** *****, and ****** **** ***** ********* ***** do ******* ** ****** ******* *** the **** ** *** *******.

** *** * **** ******* **** provided ** ***** *******, ******** *** the ********** ** $***/**., ** $**/**., for ***** **** *** ************ ** active. **** ***** *** ******** ********** premium ****** ******** ** *** ******* ******* from ******** ** ***** **** ******** over *** **** **** ******. ******* when ******** ******* ***, *** ******** ******* ** *********** when ******* ** ****** *** *** 30 **** ** ******* ******* ****** standard.

Integrator ***** *******

******* ** ***** * ******** ******* approach, ********** ******** *********** *** ******** discounts ** ~**-**%, *** ******** **** project ************ ** **** **** ***** system ***********. *** ******* **** **** they **** ** ******* ********* ******** designed ** ******** ***-**** ******** *** leads *** ********** ********.

Verkada *******

***** **** ******* *** **** ******** launched, *** ** ***** ** ****** development, ** ****** ***** ******* *** company. *******, **** *** **** ******, and ***** **** ******* **** *** engineering, *** ******, **** ** ** their **** ***** *****, ***** *** be ** ********* ***********. ****** * usable ******* *** ****** ********* ** an ***** ***** ****** **** ** easy *** **** ** ***** ********** funds ** ****** ***** ** ******** their *********, *** **** ** *******'* future **** **** ** ***** ********* and ******* ** ***** *** ******* of *** ******** ******.

************'* ***** ********** ******* ** ******* ** ***** of *********** *** ******, ****** *** *** very ****** ******* *** *** *** much ** * ****** ******.

***** ***** *******'* ******* **********, ** **** **** **** one ** *** **** ********** ********* in *** ***** *****. **** *******, Eagle *** *** ************* **** ***** **** ******* ******* **** *****, *** *** **** using **** ******* ** ************ ****** and ******* ***** ********. ***** ***** Eye *** ******* ********* ** ********, integrating **** *** ***** *******, *** two ********* **** ** ******* ******* pitch, **** *** ******* *********** ***** where ***** ** ****** (**-**** **** Verkada, ***** **** ***** ***).

 

Comments (24)
Avatar
Nick Giannakis
Oct 19, 2017

I like the concept of a decentralized system with local edge storage however I suspect the ‘closed-proprietary’ design will be a very tough sell to the enterprise market.

(4)
Avatar
Brandon Knutson
Oct 19, 2017
IPVMU Certified

One feature not commonly found on other cameras is an accelerometer for detecting tampering. The camera can generate an alarm if it is disturbed by physical movement (person attempting to hit it, remove the cover, etc.).

I really like this idea! Are any mainstream manufactures using an accelerometer for tampering detection?

UM
Undisclosed Manufacturer #5
May 16, 2018

A better way of doing this is with analytics.

Avatar
Brandon Knutson
May 16, 2018
IPVMU Certified

If analytics are a better way of detecting tampering, then they need improvement, in my experience.

UM
Undisclosed Manufacturer #5
May 29, 2018

There are some manufacturers out there that have already perfected this, analytics-wise.

(1)
Avatar
Sean Patton
May 29, 2018

"Perfected" as to say "they can't get any better"? Or, they work 100% of the time?

UM
Undisclosed Manufacturer #6
May 16, 2018

Mobotix has this built into every device.

(1)
Avatar
Paul Grefenstette
May 16, 2018

but you have to use Mobotix software to review any video and its awful 

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UM
Undisclosed Manufacturer #6
May 16, 2018

Thats not actually true. This question was posed about detecting tampering, this can be used in Milestone/Genetec, etc for alarm/event receiving.

Avatar
Paul Grefenstette
May 16, 2018

why would someone spend 2x as much on a mobotix camera than axis/sony etc to not use their free software -- this is what they market as the advantage of their camera no vms no expensive storage server just record direct to nas?  I guarantee most that have a vms running with mobotix is because they tried to use their software and had to move to a real vms because the end user was tired of the lag and crashing of their free software

 

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UM
Undisclosed Manufacturer #6
May 17, 2018

2x the money. You obviously don’t know their prices. $500 MSRP is far off from 2x the price of Axis/Sony. Compare apples to apples and in fact MOBOTIX is quite reasonably priced. 

Avatar
Paul Grefenstette
May 17, 2018

The M16 Day/Night that is the standard for outdoor applications is still $1,300 correct?

 

U
Undisclosed #1
Oct 19, 2017

What size/type SD cards are recommended for these cameras?

How long have these recommended SD cards been burned-in to test for continuous write functionality?

Avatar
Brian Karas
Oct 19, 2017
IPVM

It does not use SD cards. The storage is basically an SSD built in to the camera. Storage is currently only available in one fixed size, and is added as part of the manufacturing process, so there is nothing to be installed in the field relative to storage.

(2)
UI
Undisclosed Integrator #2
Oct 20, 2017

I don't see whole lot of competitive differentiation compared to Meraki or Eagle Eye.  Having very limited camera solution will be an issue as well as differnt application requires different types of cameras.  This is one of the major issue with the new start-ups that has no video security background.  Limited product offering really limits their full potential.

Avatar
Brian Karas
Oct 20, 2017
IPVM

I agree that the limited camera options will be a constraining factor. They need to broaden that a bit in order to have a solution that can hit 90+% of the addressable market for new installs, instead of the much smaller portion they hit by just having domes (though at least they picked a very popular form-factor and didn't start with a box camera or something).

 

Avatar
Paul Grefenstette
Oct 21, 2017

Brian,

Any idea who they are oeming (is that even a word lol) these cameras from?

Avatar
Brian Karas
Oct 21, 2017
IPVM

They stated the cameras are not OEM, but are of their own hardware design. They use a standard imager and "leading SoC", according to Verkada.  Verkada would not disclose details on specific components but Ambarella would be a likely SoC choice.

Actual fabrication/manufacturing is handled by an outside company, which is not uncommon.

 

UM
Undisclosed Manufacturer #3
Oct 22, 2017

I'm with a VSaaS company, but I'll try to remove my bias for this comment.  I think they have some interesting features, and I like the look and feel of their UI.  The concept of storing the video on the camera helps deal with bandwidth requirements, but may make for some challenges when customers have network issues (and trust me - there are ALWAYS network issues.)

Overall their technology seems viable, but my concern would be on the markets they're targeting, the proprietary solution and their lack of experience in the physical security space.  They will see some success for sure, but I think that they will be limited to early adopters who have specific situations where Verkada fits.

For my own selfish reasons I hope that they are successful in the enterprise space.  It will help all VSaaS companies as more customers adopt cloud. 

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UI
Undisclosed Integrator #2
Oct 23, 2017

I agree.  If they become successful in the enterprise market it will solidify the Vsaas future.  The limiting factor I see is their camera offering and the lack of video security experience.  To get to the broader application, they really need to open up their application and integrate with other manufacturers.

To get the large scale, fork lift approach isn't going to work and they do not have enough product offerings to fork lift the existing installations.

(1)
UI
Undisclosed Integrator #4
Oct 25, 2017

"The software portion of Verkada's system is where the company primarily differentiates themselves. The system is browser based, and the company says it should work with any 'modern' browser, and does not require plugins. It also works on iOS and later Android versions."

"Video is primarily stored on the cameras, but selected video can be backed up in the cloud."

Doesn't the 2nd comment pretty much make them similar to some DVR companies except stored on the camera...with FTP access to the cloud if needed?  

1st comment - isn't every VSaaS system browser based with similar features?

Lastly, isn't Eagle Eye on onsite appliance also with FTP to the cloud for storage?  Money yes, but different technology I don't know. 

Aren't they all doing the same thing, recording locally and sending up to the cloud for login?  

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Avatar
Paul Grefenstette
May 16, 2018

I like Verkada they are good guys to work with and we have done several project for them in Chicago.  The cameras are good quality 3mp dome - I agree and have told them they need to get IR bullets for outside applications but the setup and config is very easy and it has a space in this market - it's not going to be for everyone out there but it's a solid cloud solution and the thing I like about them as I do about Avigilon is the service and support is solid not just the hardware.  

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JH
John Honovich
May 16, 2018
IPVM

Paul, good feedback! What accounts or opportunities do you think Verkada fits best in at this stage in their development?

Avatar
Paul Grefenstette
May 16, 2018

retail, corporate offices are the 2 that are an easy fit -- they have wins in education but for me i see the client that needs a handful of cameras at multiple locations with the majority of the shots being indoor as an easy fit -- I also bet video analytics will be coming soon to their offering and if they can nail a few solid ones tailored to retail (people count, activity hot zones, etc) they could have a good win here