Page 41 - Security Today, September/October 2023

In the coming months and years, look for more companies us- ing the cloud on an “as-a-service” basis, creating customized se- curity network infrastructures enabling flexibility, efficiency, lower unit cost and scalability – all while being simple enough for users to manage themselves. They will embrace the ability to easily scale bandwidth up or down, or for certain time periods. For example, if their business is seasonal, they can plan for busier times of the year. The edge is still a primary topic on everyone’s mind, as orga- nizations continually seek to streamline their operations. The edge may refer to points of presence (PoPs) close to network endpoints, or connectivity that brings recording and storage closer to the data source or device. Security at the edge is much more effective and the fact that it is decentralized gives organizations more options for managing their own unique security requirements. Perfect for standalone or remote systems, edge-based recording only uses a network for playback and review, conserving bandwidth and al- lowing more stable and reliable recording of high-quality, high-resolu- tion content through on-board flash media. The addition of intelligent analytics further enhances the long-term value of stored content. ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS It is important to ask about where the data is stored – on who’s cloud, and where the cloud data centers are located. Who has access to the data and how is it securely stored and replicated. Other ques- tions should be: • How does a typical end-user access the system? Is it all web browser based, or are there mobile apps and a thick client? • What about integrations with diverse types and brands of cam- eras? Do camera-based analytics trigger recording and searching? ↘ Can I move to PTZ cameras, de-warp fisheye cameras? How do multi-senor cameras integrate? Can I easily adjust camera settings remotely? ↘ • Finally, how does pricing work in terms of storage, resolutions, multi-sensor cameras and advanced features? A good cloud system should have its own data centers and not ↘ be running on “general purpose” existing clouds. They should have Video streams directly from camera to cloud Eliminates need for on-premise recording devices Captures 24/7 video—not clips data centers in the customer’s country to ensure compliance with any data protection laws, as well as best performance. The data should be replicated to multiple data centers and segregated from each other customer for privacy. Data should be encrypted in transit and at rest, and no one – not even the cloud provider should have access to the video, except for the customer and possibly the integra- tor, if granted access. A robust web-interface and modern mobile app is essential. Cli- ent software may be desired, but often not needed in many customer scenarios. Camera settings should be easy to configure remotely through the cloud system without the need to roll a truck to be on- site, such as adjusting zoom & focus, WDR, etc. Companies today need fresh solutions fast and they simply need them to work. Increasingly, many are finding those types of solutions in the cloud. Aaron Saks is the senior technical marketing and training manager at Hanwha Vision America. ↘ Reduces truck rolls and IT infrastructure costs ↘ Supports unlimited cameras, sites and users POWERED BY 877.917.9059 | ALIBISECURITY.COM CALL FOR A DEMO TODAY! Cloud VS CAMERA-TO-CLOUD VIDEO SURVEILLANCE SIMPLE. SCALABLE. SECURE. WWW.SECURITYTODAY.COM MENTION THIS AD AND GET A SPECIAL DEMO OFFER