The intelligent future of security

Neil Killick, VP International Sales, OpenEye highlights the benefits of cloud-managed video solutions and how they improve security and operations

Cloud-managed video surveillance uses cloud-based technology to manage and access video footage captured by security devices, an approach to video surveillance which leverages the scalability, flexibility and accessibility of cloud computing to provide an efficient and secure solution for organisations and individuals.

With cloud video, systems become active investments that address current needs while offering the flexibility to achieve goals.

Not only does a cloud-managed video solution fortify business security, but it can also help save money by identifying operational weaknesses for more effective organisational management.

Below, I’ll cover the powerful benefits offered by a cloud-managed video solution which help improve security and operations.

Business intelligence

With cloud-managed video, businesses can gain new insight into operations with advanced video analytics, diverse integrations, proactive alerts and intelligent search options.

This enables you to improve customer service, identify areas that employees need additional training and take your organisation to the next level.

Analytics

AI-powered video analytics, from motion detection to person and vehicle classification to licence plate recognition, provide the actionable intelligence a business needs to make informed decisions.

With the option to capture analytic events at the edge or on the recorder with server-side analytics, users have access to a powerful approach to data processing and decision-making.

With AI video analytics in place, businesses can obtain and process more data points, providing a clearer picture of operations.

Open platform

A cloud-managed video solution that’s built on an open platform allows businesses to connect disparate security and intelligence systems in a single pane of glass.

Access control, alarm panels, point-of-sale and more can be enhanced via a video surveillance system. By connecting devices, businesses receive video verification of events from integrated devices, helping to strengthen security while uncovering insights.

Proactive alerts

Alerts enable businesses to know when an incident happens, whether that’s a suspicious intruder entering unauthorised areas or a recorder that’s not functioning.

Push notifications, as well as email and client notifications, are delivered automatically to users wherever they are on whatever device, providing a clearer picture of the system and enabling faster responses to a variety of situations.

Fast find, save and share

If an incident occurs, organisations will want to find the associated video, save it and share it, either with insurance companies, law enforcement or other internal/external parties quickly and securely.

By using intelligent search options, organisations can quickly find the events they need.

This enables them to surface relevant video both for investigations and for business intelligence, allowing them to quickly find key information on processes while saving hours of time.

Sharing video via the cloud is secure, with advanced controls and visibility into views and downloads to safeguard content.

Operational efficiencies

A cloud video solution helps improve workflow by streamlining system maintenance through powerful centralised management, automatic software updates and health monitoring.

These features reduce the burden on IT, operations and security teams by ensuring they can proactively respond to hardware and software issues while also having insights into user, device and location activity.

Centralised management

Cloud video security helps simplify the management of surveillance users, devices and locations. This is accomplished through convenient remote access, health monitoring, centralised user management, roaming profiles and more, helping improve processes and overall workplace efficiency.

Continuous and remote software updates

With a cloud-managed video solution, users can expect regular updates and improvement. In the case of recorders, for example, users can initiate updates with the click of a button or have available updates automated.

Being able to update software remotely prevents service technicians from having to do so on-site and without the use of removable media, which can be a security risk.

Users achieve greater peace of mind knowing systems are up to date with the newest features.

Health monitoring

Automated health monitoring helps ensure your security system is working properly for greater peace of mind, achieved through complete visibility into the health of recorders and cameras.

The system can show if a recorder’s hard drive is close to capacity or if a processor isn’t working. Push notifications will let a user know immediately whether a camera or recorder has gone offline, so the problem can be fixed before that video is needed.

Organisations can leverage other reporting tools to know that cameras are seeing what they are supposed to be seeing.

If their sight is blocked by dirt or debris, out of position or not functioning, maintenance can be sent to investigate.

Cybersecure in the cloud

A cloud surveillance solution helps safely store video data while providing the tools and features needed to deploy the system.

Not only this, but an easy-to-use solution takes recursive or redundant tasks and offers options to either automate them or empower users to complete them, reducing the need for constant IT intervention to lighten workload while still ensuring the system is secure.

User management

A cloud-managed video solution offers remote management of users, with the ability to set permissions for individuals and user groups.

If an employee exits the company, their account can be easily deactivated, with all changes pushed instantly across devices.

Administrators can further limit user access to specific groups by client or IP address to ensure video is only accessed as intended; businesses can manage individual permissions within their organisation to enhance operations and strengthen network security.

Multifactor authentication (MFA)

A cloud-managed video solution offers MFA as a cybersecurity best practice. If a user accesses the system through a remote client, they will have to verify their identity.

This is usually accomplished via an additional verification method sent to their email/phone. Businesses can leverage third-party identity management integrations to further streamline IT operations and improve security of the system.

Connected is protected

With an open, cloud video solution, businesses will have various security and business systems connected in one place, limiting the need to jump to multiple systems to find answers, export data or combine reports.

This improves efficiency, ensuring any gaps in your organisation’s security coverage are identified and can be remedied.

OpenEye’s solutions

OpenEye Web Services (OWS) delivers a cloud security solution that provides remote access and cloud management while addressing business security needs thanks to its flexible, scalable architecture.

OWS supports any combination of servers and embedded appliances, as well as network and cloud-connected cameras and gives you the option to record locally or to the cloud based on events that matter most.

Retrofit existing deployments, including third-party and analog cameras as well as third-party business systems, providing a low-friction migration path to the cloud and ensuring users get value out of their security.

From the OWS cloud, users can connect to devices to view live video, search events and manage the system from wherever they are; add any number of recorders and cloud cameras to a logical location.

With no limit on the total locations and devices associated with an OWS account, you can scale as needed, all while providing a streamlined management platform.

OpenEye’s cloud-managed recorders can support up to 96 cameras and offer a range of options to accommodate system load and performance requirements.

Cloud “edge” cameras provide an all-in-one recording solution with their own dedicated storage and analytic processing built into the camera.

Thanks to the open ecosystem, OWS works with existing cameras as well as third-party devices and business systems.

Beyond the freedom of choice, OpenEye limits the upfront investment in infrastructure and the downtime associated.

With more integrations added each year, OpenEye provides peace of mind in your security investment.