Because cloud-based technology uses the cloud as storage and compute, its capacity and location is unrestricted. This makes it impressively scalable and adaptable, to fit multiple installation types and evolve as an organisation’s needs change. It can respond to upturns and downturns in the market and can prove more cost-effective than on-premise solutions because organisations only pay for the resources they use.

Easily increase capacity

There are additional benefits for installation and time-to-market with new services and applications. If a security team want to expand their analytics, for example, the computing power for this can be provisioned within minutes. This takes the pressure off capacity planning and allows for more experimentation with new technologies and functions, as you aren’t committing to long-term computing resources. Likewise, security teams can easily install and set up cameras without worrying about having to add additional servers and other infrastructure/architecture.

Simple maintenance

In terms of maintenance, cloud storage videos are easier to maintain with the highest security. With many VSaaS solutions, updates can be remotely sent to the system, at a predetermined time to avoid downtime during operating hours. With no onsite visits required to update the system and devices, those updates can occur more regularly, further reducing the likelihood of unexpected downtime or vulnerabilities.

Data can also be backed up to the cloud, in multiple places, to provide a high degree of data redundancy. If the worst does occur to a control centre or specific location, operations will continue and data can be restored from another source.

A cost-effective option

A final point must be made on cost efficiencies, particularly given the current economic uncertainty. VSaaS costs, like all “as a service” models, are ongoing and regular to help with budget setting and cash flow. Although some solutions require a small upfront cost, such as installing a control unit to collect and transfer data, this is not as high as the capital outlay for a server room.

Cost efficiencies are additionally made in several areas including consumption (only using what you need at the time), maintenance and downtime, and the lower upfront capital costs required. Moreover, as public cloud services are run by large global companies such as the Google Cloud Platform and Amazon Web Services, you can achieve greater performance, continuity and reliability compared to a single data centre set-up.

On-premise and hybrid options

Of course, on-premise solutions will continue to be suitable for many applications, especially in high regulated industries. On-premise has an edge over the cloud when it comes to control and oversight, as you own your equipment and store data on-site. Costs are largely upfront, which for some organisations can be better for planning. Upgrades and maintenance to servers are handled directly by your organisation.

Hybrid approaches are also becoming more common, with cloud and on-premise solutions overlapping — giving organisations a way to protect the investment made in on-premise video management technology while allowing for optimum load distribution, functionality, and futureproofing.

What’s best for your organisation will ultimately depend on your end goals, requirements, and your unique positioning in terms of balancing cybersecurity, the total cost of ownership, flexibility needs, and more. What’s suitable for one organisation won’t necessarily suit yours, so it’s important to understand the range of solutions available, to make the most informed decision.

Recognising the evolving needs of our customers and installers, Milestone has developed a range of on-premise and cloud-based VMS solutions including the market-leading XProtect, XProtect on AWS, and Milestone Kite.

Introducing Milestone Kite

Milestone Kite, powered by Arcules, is a simple, secure, automatically updating, scalable, and cost-effective cloud solution. It is the ideal choice for single or distributed multisite organisations that need an easy way to centrally manage all their sites in one unified system. Milestone Kite is ideal for businesses and enterprises with high value, less complexity, and multiple diverse geographic locations such as banks, retail chains, schools, and residential buildings. Simple installation and low maintenance makes Milestone Kite the ideal solution for single or distributed multisite organisations.

Milestone is actively working to bring cloud computing to video surveillance in a seamless and simple way for its customers, installers, and end users. Cloud-based VMS offers a host of benefits from greater scalability and cost efficiencies to seamless installation and maintenance. Plus, of course, the cost efficiencies of only using the computing resources that your organisation needs. For those considering a revamp of their video surveillance in the near future, it is well worth checking out the cloud.

Discover more here: Kite (milestonesys.com)