VSaaS 101
Video Surveillance as a Service (VSaaS) is the common industry term for cloud video. But what does it mean? How does it all work?
Inside this guide, we explain the fundamentals step by step including:
- SaaS vs VSaaS
- Hosted vs Managed by Hybrid Video
- Upstream Bandwidth Impact
- Bridge / Appliance Role
- VSaaS VMS Capabilities
- Camera Lock-In vs Open Support
- 3rd Party Integrations
- Analytics In VSaaS
- Setup and Maintenance
- Cybersecurity
- Monitoring - Remote and On-Site
- VSaaS RMR
- Pros and cons of hosted, managed and hybrid
- NVRs and VMSes Becoming VSaaS
- Survey of common VSaaS providers
SaaS ** *****
**** (******** ** * *******) ** the ******** ** **-******** ** ********** software. ***** ********* ****** ** ****** 365.
**** *********** ********* ******, *** *** once **-***** *** *** ** ** your *** ********. **** ****** ***, you *** ************ *** *** ** in ** '*****' ******** (*.*., *** 'cloud').
***** (***** ************ ** * *******) is * **** **** ** ***** to ****** *** ******** *** ******** implied ** **** ******* ** ***** surveillance ** * *******.
***** ** *** * '************' ****, some ****** ** *** *** ** or *** *** ** **** * slightly ********* *******, *** ** ** the **** ****** **** **** ** the ******** ***** ** ******** ****.
Hosted **. ******* **. ****** *****
***** ***** ** *** ******* ******** term, ***** *** *** ***** ***** of *****: ****** *** ******* - which ******* ** ***** *** ***** is ******.
- ******* ***** ** **** *** ***** is ***** ****** **-**** ** ** traditionally *** **** *** ******* ** the *****.
- ****** ***** ** **** *** ***** is ****** ** *** *****, *** on-site, ** **** ** ******* ** the *****.
- ****** ***** ** **** *** ***** is ********* ****** **-**** *** ********* in *** *****.
Upstream ********* ******
******* ****** ***** ******** ***** ********* using ******** ***********, ***** ** ** increased *** ******** ** *********** **-******* recording. ************, **** *** **** *********** to *** *** ** ****** ***** for **** ******* ****** **** *** or *********** ***.
** ******** ********* *** ****/*.***/***** ***** use **** *********, **** ** ******** less ** ** *****. *******, ******** bandwidth ********* *** *** ********* (********** vs ********) *** *** **** ************* based ** *** ****** ** ****.
Bridge / ********* ****
****** ***** ** ********* **** * bridge ** ********* **-****. *** ****** provides *** *********** ********* ** * hybrid ******, * ****** ********** **** the **-**** ******* ** *** ***** servers, *** ***** ********* ******* ** case ** ******** ******* ** ********* bandwidth.
**** ******* **** ***** **-******* ***** analytics *** ***** **** *** ***** camera *******, ***** **** ****** ******* only ******* ******* **** * ****** manufacturer ** *********** *******.
Direct ** ***** *******
******-**-***** ******* *** *** **** ********* strategic ***** ********* *** ***** ************ industry. **** ***** ******-**-***** ******* ***** (1) ******* ******** **** *** ****** (no ********** *******), (*) ** ************* of *** ****** **-**** (**** ******** a ** ****), *** (*) *** auto ******** ** *** *****.
***** **** ** ******* ***** **-****** storage ** * **** *********, ** is ************ ** ******* **** ******-**-***** cameras. ****** ********* *** ******* **** an ****** *** ******* *******, **** cameras *** *** ******-**-*****.
******-**-***** ******* ******** *** ************, ***********, and ************* ** ** *******, ******** the ***** ** *********** *** *** burden ** ** ***********.
VSaaS *** ************
***** ***** ********* *** ************* ******* similar ************ ** *********** *****, **** cloud-first ***** **** ********** **** *** interfaces **** ******* **** ************* **********, minimal ******** **** ********, *** ******* 3rd ***** ****** *******.
******* *********** ***** *** ******** ** be ****-********* **-**** *******, **** ********* offer ****** ************* *** ***** ****** applications **** ******** ********. *******, ******** like *** ********** ********** *** ****** servers, ***** *** ******** ** ********** with ***** *****, *** ******* ** expensive **********-******* *****.
Camera ****-** ** **** *******
**** **** ****** *** ******* *****, a ******* ********* ** ****, ** you *** ****** **** ***** *** VSaaS's ****** ******** ** ***** * third-party ******. ******** ***** *** ******* may ***** ******** ** ***** ** deeper ***********, *******, *** ****** ***************. However, *** *****/**** *** ***** ****** another *******'* ** ******* ******* ****** drivers ** *****.
3rd ***** ************
**********, ***** *** **** ********** *** integrations, *** ***********, ** *** *********** limitations.
*** ******** ** **** ***** ** web ******** *** ********* ***** ******* of *********** **** *** ***** *******, offering **** **** *** ****-********** ********* for ************* ******* ********* *******.
*** ******** ** **** **** ***** surveillance ******* *** ***** ********* **-**** and *** *** ******** ******* ** integrating **** ******* ** *** *****. This *********** ************* ******* ******* ** many ***** ** *** **** *** technical ************ ** *** ******* ** pay ** **** *** ********** ******** and ********.
Analytics ** *****
******** ********* ** **** ** * hosted ***** ********* *** ***** ******* in *** *****. ***** ******** ********* should ** ****** ******** ** *********** the ******** *********** ** **-**** ********* or *******.
*******, ***** ********* **********, ************ ****** cloud ******* (******, ******), *** ** very *********. ****, **** ******* ** Hybrid *****, ******** ****** *** **** increase *** *** ***** *** ****** of ******* **** *** ** ********.
Setup *** ***********
***** *** *********** *** *** ** the **** ******** ***** ******** ** VSaaS, ***** ********* ***** ****-***-**** ************ for *******/******* *** ********* ******** *******.
**** **** *****, *** *******/******* **** phone **** ** **** ** **** have ** ******** **********. ********* **** in * ******** ********'* ******* ** as ****** ** ******** * ****** number/access **** ******* ** *** ******. Some ******* **** ***** * ** Code ******* ** ***** ****** *** to ********* ***** *** ********** *** process. **** *** ** ************* ******* and ****** **** ******* ** * traditional *** **** *** ***** ****** support, ********** *** **** *** *********** or ******** ********* ************.
******** ******* *** ************* ******* ** the ***** ******, *** ********* ** not ******* *** ****** **** * user ** **********. **** ************* ********** the ****** *********** *** ****** ******* compared ** **** *********** *****.
*************
************* ** ******** *** ******* ******* of *****, ** ********** **** ** comes ** ****** **********, ******* *** system ** ******** ********** ****** **** an ******** ********** *** **** *** require ******** ************* ** * *** client ** ******* ** *** *******.
*** **** ****** ******* ************* *** video ************ ** ******** ********* ***** on ** *** ** ***, ***** are ****** ******* *** ****'* ********/******. With ***** ******** *****-**** *******/******* **** establish * ****** ********** ******** ** the ***** *******, ** **** ***** or ******** ******** ************* ** ******.
************, *** ******** *** ******** *************** can ** ******* **** ******* *** remotely ** *** ***** ****** ******* action **** * **** ** **********.
On-Site ********** **********
***** ***** *** **** ****** ********** easier *** ***** **** ****** **** on-premise *******, **** ********* ********** *** on-site ********** ******* ***** *** **** to **** **** *** ***** ****** (over *** ********), *** ******** **** the ******. **** ** ******* ** cybersecurity **************. *** *******/******* *** ******** only ** ****** *********** **** *** cloud ******, *** * *** ******* from ** **-**** **.
**** ***** ***** ****** *** ******* if **** ***** * ***** ****** that ******** ******** ************ ** *********** directly ** ** ********** * ***** security ***********. *******, ***** *** ********** and ******* ***** ************ *** *************.
VSaaS ***
*********** *** ** *** *** **** for **-***** **** ******* ********* ******* opportunities. **** ************ ****** ******** *********** ********* ** get ***** ******* ** *******, *** ***** *** *** ******** for *** ****** ** ******** *******.
Managed - **** *** ****
******** ** ****** ** ****** *****, managed ***** ***** *********** ********* ** keeping *** ***** ******* **-**** ***** offering ****** ***** ********** *** ****** remote **********. **** ******* ***** ** not ******* **** ************* ******* ** storage ** *******.
*******, **** ******* ******* ** *** typically ***** ****** ********* ******* *** video ** *** ************ ********* ** the *****. ************, ****** ******** ********* are **** ******* ******* *** ******** video ******* **-**** *** ***** ** be ******** ******** *** ****** *******.
Hosted - **** *** ****
****** ***** ****** ****** ****** ********** and ***** **********. ************, ***** ******* capacity ** *** ******* ** ******** on-site *** *** ** ******** ** purchasing **** ***** ** *** *****. Software *** ******** ******* *** ******* by *** ***** ********, ****** *** user *** ********** **** *** *********.
*******, ****** ***** ******** *******/****** ********* subscriptions ** ******** **** *** ******** video ******, *** ********** ***** ******* can ** *********. ****, **** ********** and ***** ********* *** **** ** the ***** ******** ** ****. ********, Internet ****** *** **** ********, *** there ** * ********* ***** ** the ****** ** ******* **** *** be *********. **** ****** ***** **** lock ** *** **** ** *********** cameras.
Hybrid - **** *** ****
****** ***** ****** ******* ******** ******** as ******, ****** ****** **********, *** cloud ********** *** **** *** ********* on-site ******* **** *** **** ********** in **** ** ** ******** ****** and **** ****** **** **** *********** to *** *****. ****** ***** **** generally ******** **** *** ***** *******.
******* **** ****** ***** *** * bridge ** ******* ** ***** ********, there ** ********** ******** ******** ** many ******-**** ****** *******, ***** **** complexity. ************, **** ****** ***** ******* monthly/yearly ********* ************* ** ******** ****** to **** *** ******** *****.
NVRs *** ***** ******** *****
**** ******** **** ***** ********** ******* before **** *** ** ***** ********* or ********. *** **** ** ***** or ****** ********** *** *** ******** of * *****, ***** *** ************ been ******* ** ***-***** *** *** residential *******, **** ****** ******** *** limited ****** *******.
***** ************** ***** ************ ** ****** on-site *** *** / ****, *** step ********* *** ** *** ***** products ** *********** ****** ******* ** adding ** ***** *** ***** ** remote ********** '***** ****' "************".
***** *** ****** **** **** ***** as **** *** ******* *** ***** management **** ****** **** ***** **-**** bridges ** ****** *** ******* ********** and *** ******** ******** **** ** analytics.
*** ***** *** **** ** *****, but ** *** **** ****** *********** over *** **** **** ***** ******* offering ***** *****-**. ** **** ** like ** *** *** *** *** companies *** ****** ****** ****** ** one's ***. ** *** **** **** to ** ** ******* ***** ****** will ** **** ** ****** *** offering ***** ********.
Survey ** ****** ***** *********
***** *** ***** ****** ***** ******* *********, *****-*****, *** *****-****, *** *** P2P.
*****-*****
***** *** ****** ** *****-***** ********* that ******* ******* *** ********************, *****-************ *** ********, *** *********** ************ *****************,******** ****,******* **********, ************ ****-*** *******.
*** ********** ** ***** *** ****** heavily ** ******, ****** ********, *** integrator ******** *******, ************, *****-***** ******* have **** **** ******* ****** ********** channels. *******, ****, ********************, ***** ** ****** **** *****.
*** ***** ****
*** ************,******* *****,********, *** ****** **** ***** ****** remote ***** ****** ** ***** *********. These ********* ** *** ********* ******* cloud-based ********** *** *** * ****** proxy/routing ******* ** ******* ****** ******* to **-**** *******. ****** **** *****-***** hosted ** ****** *****, ***** *****-**** solutions ** *** ******* **** ******* subscriptions.
*** ***
***-**** *** ********* ********* *** ***** have ******* *** ****** ********** ********. However, **** **************** ***********, ************ ********** ***** **** ************ ***** *** ******* ***-******* *****. Moreover, ***-******* *********** ************* ***************.
** ***** ** *********** ** ******** how ***** ** *****\**** ** ******* of *** *****-** *******, ********** *** VSaaS ********* **** *** *********** *** lock *** **** *********.
** *** ***** ** ****** ******* from **** *********** ******* ** ***** negative ******* ** ***** ***** ********?
**** ********* ********* **** **** ** other ***** ** *** *****, **** happens ** ***** ** * ********** mandate ** ****** *** ********* ***** to ****?
*** ***** ********* ******* ***** ********* with ********* **** ********* ** ***********?
***, ** ** ******* *** ******** during *****-** *** ********. ******** ********* say ***** ** ****** ********* (** least **** ** *** ***********) ** can ******* ****** **** ******* *** even ********** *** ** *** ***** of *** ***.
******* *** ** ******** *********** *** packetloss **** *** *********** ** *******.
** ** ****, ******** **** *** video ********* **** **** ****** *****-** situation. **** *******/**** **** (*** ***** are) ********** ***.
*** *** ********** *** ********** ******* issues ** ***********? *** *** **** it's *** **** ******* ******** *******?
*** *****-** ******** ******** **** ***** is ** **** ****** ****** ****** to **** **** ****** ********** *********. We'll ********* ***** ******* ***** ** help ****** ****** ******* ****** **** can *** **** **-*******. ** **** customer's ********* **** ******* ** ***** is ********** ** ****** **********, **'** connect ***** ******* ***.
* ***** ***** ******* **** ** hand ** **** **** **** ** backup. * **** ***** *** ******* will **** * **** **** ** play ****.
******** *** ***** **** - "***** storage" ** *** ***** ***** ************. It's * ****, *** ********* * very ********* ****, *** **'* **** some ** *** ******* ********. * think **** **** ****** **** ******* thinking **** **** **** ** ***** their ***** ******* ** ******* ******* someone ******** ***** ***.
**'* ********** ** ****** **** ******* is ***** ***** ******* *** *** use ** ** **** **** ****** steals **** *** **********. ***** ** so **** **** ** ******* **** just *** ****** **** *** ****** there. *** *** ****** **** *** movies **** *** ****, *** *** watch **** **** ******** ** ****** any ******. *** *** ****** ********** users ** ***** **** *******, *** can *** *** ****** ********** (*.*. 4K ******) ** *** **** *** have '******** **********' (***** ***** **** one *** * ****** - ******* of ****** * *** *** ****** and *** *** **** *** *** a ****** ** ***** ***** * month *** *** **** **** ***** to **)
***** ***** ************ ** * *** like ****. ********* ***** *** ****** where *** ******* *****'* ****, *** it's * *** **** **** * video ******* *****. **** **** **** Enterprise *** *******, ***** ** **** to **** ***** ************ ****** **** just *** **** ** ** ****** it **** **. ***** ** *** ability ** *** ****** ** **** video **** ********, *** ************* ** settings *** ******** ** * ****** screen. ******** *** **** *** ***** your ***** **** **** * ****** of ****** ** ***** *********** *** those **** **** ** ***** ** compliance *******.
**** ****** **** ***** ***** ************ for *** **** ******* **** **** cloud *** *******, ***** ********** ******* and ***** ******** ************. *** ****** answer ** **** **** ***'* **** to ***** ***** *********** **** - either ****** *********** ** ******* *******. They **** *** ** *** *** the ******, *** **** *** ***** on ******* ***** ********.
** ****** **** **** ** **** calling ***** "***** *******" ******* **** on *** ******* *** **'* ******** not **** *** **** ********* ***.
****>
** **** **** ** ******* **** or ***. ** ** ****** ******
**** ****:
**** ** * **** **** *****. I'm ***** * ****** ** **** week - * ****** **** ***** might **** **** ****** ** ******* of *** *** ***** ****, *** that ***** ** * *****. * don't ***** ** ***** ** * bad **** ** ******* **** ***** a *** *****. *** ****** *** depth ** *** ******* ** ******* for * ***** ******** ** *******.
***** **** *****.
***** **** ***** ******** *** ***** article ** **** ** ***** ***** gives ** ******** ** **** ** look *** **** ******** * ********.
**: * **** *** ******
****'* *****-*****? * ***** ***** ***'* have **** ***** (** ****** ******...********* straight ** ***** ***** ****/******, ** even **** ******* *******) *** **** the ****** (*********, **, ***.) *** then *** ******* ***** (***, ***** access?).
****'* *****-*****?
#*, * ***** **** *** **** if *** *** **** ********, **** ordering ***** *****.
** ***** ** **** ** *****-'*********', I ***** **'* *** ******* ***** on ******** **************, ******* *** ***********.
***** **** *** *** ****** *** the **** *** **. **'** ** the ***** ***** ******** (*** ***-****) business (***** *****...** *********) *** **** to *** ******* ** ***** ******, like ** *** **** ******** *** opinions.
*** ***** ******** ** *** ********* words **** *** '*****' *** **********. Cloud ***** **** ** *********** ** VSaaS. *** ***** ***** ***** ****** to *** ***** ****** ** *** cloud, ** **** ** *****. *** terms **** ******* ******** ******* ** 'recording ** *** *****' ** **** 'stored *** ******** ** *** *****'. And ** ****** *****'* '***** **********'. Marketing ******* *** **** *** ***** mean ******** ** ******.
True ***** ** **** *****: No recording device onsite, just cameras. Axis AVHS, Stratocast, ControlByNet, Nest, Amazon, etc. - HOW I DEFINE: A camera can be shipped anywhere in the world and will work once connected to the Internet. Cameras can do on-board as a backup in case of Internet outage (some do, some don't).
Cloud *******: An appliance onsite - Eagle Eye, Avigilon Blue (I think), Honeywell MaxPro, etc. - HOW I DEFINE: For it to work there must be an appliance onsite, whether bought or 'leased'. The camera connects to the appliance and the appliance connects and uploads video to a central repository. From that repository customers can view video, make changes (that goes to the appliance onsite), etc.. NOTE: The concept has been around for 20 years when you could upload (ftp) video from a DVR to a remote folder/site. What was never around was the control and functionality that these companies have brought along to control the solution.
*** ******* ** **** ***** ********* is ******* **********, ******** ***** **********, etc..
Cloud **********: Any DVR, NVR, or Camera that is be accessed from the Internet to the local onsite device. As opposed to the other 2 solutions this usually requires configuration of the local network (port forwarding, etc.).
**** ** ******* **** ******* ***'* watched *** ******** *** ** *****.
Cloud **********:*** ***, ***, ** ****** **** is ** ******** **** *** ******** to *** ***** ****** ******. ** opposed ** *** ***** * ********* this ******* ******** ************* ** *** local ******* (**** **********, ***.).
**** **** ** *****, ************ ***** port **********. **** *** **** **** and ***** *** ****** ** ***** accessibility ******* *** **** **********, *.*.,***** ****** ***** ****** ******, ******** ******** ***** ****, ***.
** *** **** **** **** ** segmentation, *** ***** **** * **********: 'true *****' ** *** ****, '***** storage', '***** *******' (*.*., *****) *** 'cloud **********'.
****'* ******* - * *** **** thinking ** **** *** ******. ********* the ****** ******** ********* **** ** figured ***. *** ** **** **** they *** *** **** *****-******* *** cloud-accessible, **** **** (*****, ********) ***'* require *** ******* *****. * ***** it's ****** '*** ** *** ***' cloud **********/******* ****** ***.
* ***** ****** *** ****** ** "SaaS", *** "*****" (***** *****). ** did * **** ************ ************* ** Word ** *****?
***** **** ** **** *** ******** in *** ****** ***** ** ***** storage ***** ******** ** **** *** wireless ****** ******** **** **.
* **** ** ********. ***** ** too ***** ** * **** *** critical ********** *** *** **** ********** hurdles ** ** ***** *** **** is ***** *** *** **** **. A ****** **** ****** *** ****** a ***** ****** ******* *** ******** notifications ********. ***** ** *** ****** when ******* ******.
**** ** ***** ** ************ ******** applications, **** ****** ********** ***** *** storage *** ******* ******* *** *******. You **** **** ******* ** ****, hardware, *** ******** *** ** ******* or ** *** ***** ** ** internet **********. ****** ****** **** **** to ********** ****** **** ******** ** attack *** ***** ******. ****** ****** of ******* ****** *** ***** ********** is *** ******, *** *****.
* ** ***** **** *********** ******* will ** ********* ****, *** *** industry **** ****** ** ******** ** P2P ******* (*******).
***** ** ****, *** **** * days ** **** *** **** *** on *** ** **** ** **-***** camera.....problem ******. ** ***'* **** **** the ***** *** ** **** ** anyone **** *** **** **** ** or ** ******* ** *** ********. Ask ****, ** ******. ***** ** the ****** *** **** ********. *** big ***** **** ** *******......********* *** 200 ******* ** * ******* ******, remote ******* *** ** *****. ******* is ********* **********.
**,**** **** *** ***, *** ***** is ***** ** **** ****** *********? Even ** ** ** ********** **** source?
#*, **** ********, *** *****, ***** it's * '*******' ********* ** **********, it's ***** ****** ** ******* ************ (even ** *** ***** ** ***** being ****** **-**** *** *** ******* is ***** ******* ** ** ******). I ***'* **** ****** ******** **** source **** *** *** ******* *** there ***** **, * ***** ** missing **.
** **** *********, *** '*******' ****** of *** **** ******* *** ****** for ****-****** *******, ** **********.
**** ***** ****, **** ******** ******** ******* *** *** *****, ** **** ****** *** ****** like************ ******* ***** ***********, *** ** * "*******" *****, but * ****** *** *****/*** ******.
*** **** **** ******* ****-****** ** it's * **** *******....*** **** ***** in ***********. ** ***** * ******** to **** *** *** ******** ** desire, *** ***'* **** *** ****** code. **** *** *** ******** ** customer ** ** ******* ** ***********, licensing *** *** ******* ****** ******* customer ******* ** ** ** **** using **** *****. *** ** ***'* heavily ****** ** ****.
**** ********** - * **** *** Eagle *** ********
**** ** **** ******* **** * think ********** ****** ****. * **** I'm ****** - *** * *** things ****** **** *** **** ** the *****, ** * ******* ** different ****. **** **** ** ********* tell **, **** ****** **** *** centralized ********** ************ **** ** (*** other ***** *******) *****. **** ********* makes *** ****** ************ *** ********** maintenance **** **** - ***** ********* end **** ************.