The new extension to the XProtect video management software (VMS) changes how organisations handle digital video evidence by offering a more efficient workflow, easier sharing capabilities, and storage flexibility.

Breaking free from constraints

Public safety agencies and security departments have long been challenged by escalating costs when deploying digital evidence management systems. Many organisations are using systems that don’t allow much flexibility due to proprietary platforms that restrict integrations, storage options, and create workflow complexities.

Milestone’s new Xprotect Evidence Manager addresses these challenges. Fully integrated with Xprotect, this new extension provides an open, scalable solution that enhances evidence workflows and lowers the total cost of ownership.

“Xprotect Evidence Manager advances our commitment to the open-platform philosophy that defines Milestone,” said Tim Palmquist, Vice President, Americas, Milestone Systems. “By extending this approach to evidence management, we're giving organisations the freedom to choose how they implement, share, and store digital evidence, on their terms.”

Redefining the evidence workflow

The extension enhances digital evidence management through three key innovations:

Workflow efficiency: Save time by streamlining the case management workflow. Collaborate with external parties and gather any kind of digital evidence from multiple sources in a combined evidence case.

License-free sharing: Share evidence securely with stakeholders—without additional software or licenses—whether they're legal teams, investigators, or external partners. Users can send a secure, password-protected link to recipients, rather than DVDs, USBs, or physical media.

Storage freedom: Archive evidence wherever it makes most sense: on-premises, in the cloud, or across hybrid environments, supporting IT flexibility and budget control.

By adopting this open-platform approach to evidence management, organisations may see a significant cost reduction compared to proprietary alternatives, with potential savings coming from both initial purchase costs and long-term efficiencies gained through storage flexibility, license-free sharing, and reduced dependency on single-vendor ecosystems.

Extending beyond public safety

While developed with public safety applications in mind, Xprotect Evidence Manager extends beyond police departments. Any organisation that manages incidents requiring evidence handling can benefit from this approach, including airports, casinos, university campuses, and corporate facilities.

The extension fully integrates with Xprotect VMS, along with analytics platforms like Milestone’s Briefcam, which enables users to review hours of video evidence in minutes.

"By challenging entrenched market dynamics and introducing genuine freedom of choice, we're disrupting how the industry approaches digital evidence," said Tim Palmquist. "This transformation represents a shift toward greater openness and user control. By emphasising freedom and choice, we're helping redefine how organisations think about managing digital evidence over its entire lifecycle."

Xprotect Evidence Manager will initially launch in the United States, with international availability planned for 2026.