Cloud Security Systems - The Future of Physical Security

With its remote accessibility features, cloud CCTV packages are designed to enable operators to proactively protect their business against crime, so that they may respond quickly, rather than just reviewing the footage after the event has already taken place.

Systems from manufacturers like Verkada and AVA are powered with real-time activity alerts, sent straight to the operator's phone. These can be programmed for specific AI-based rules like geofence perimeter monitoring or movement detection out of hours, or even facial recognition alerts for repeat offenders.

With no DVR or NVR on-site, cloud CCTV also actively prohibits the vast majority of internal crimes as well. Historically, with storage held on-premise, employees have been able to damage on-premise harddrives to remove any evidence of their crimes. With a cloud-based system, this is no longer possible as everything is backed up in the remote server.

For businesses that require multiple log-ins and access to their CCTV system (large scale security and HR teams), operators will be able to monitor audit trailing of changes made in the footage archive. Essentially, if any member of staff tries to tamper with or share surveillance footage, this is automatically recorded on the system. 

You can even connect these systems to management systems like Okta or Azure AD to automatically add and remove users to your system as they come and go from your organisation.

By storing recorded data in the cloud, operators gain quick, easy access to their CCTV footage from anywhere with an internet connection. Usually offered as part of a SaaS package, all CCTV footage is stored securely, without risks of data being overwritten or corrupted. It also means that if your internet is down or power is off at your property you can still access the archived footage in the cloud, giving you an insight as to what happened before the power outage.

With more sophisticated platforms, users are therefore able to search across their entire archive for specific events or persons of interest with quick, easy and detailed Smart Search features such as date, number plate or even specific clothing colours. Everything your cameras have ever recorded is right there at your fingertips for use as evidence in criminal trials, insurance claims or else.

As a modern IP-based video surveillance solution, cloud CCTV can be enhanced to send notifications for specific triggers on your premises, with intelligent programming to gather data and track every movement made in and around your building.

Typically, these analytics include ANPR recognition, facial recognition for persons of interest and movement detection for out-of-hours alerts or unauthorised staff activity in prohibited areas like a server room. 

Video analytics are by no means exclusive to cloud CCTV, but with cloud, you access the latest and greatest AI innovations and algorithm improvements as they happen, without expensive hardware upgrades or replacements. These are simply installed remotely as part of your SaaS subscription. Whereas, at the current rate of innovation, by the time you install a standalone NVR/DVR system, it’s already become outdated.

Aside from the clear security benefits, cloud security can also be used to optimise operations, management and business performance across your premises. 

Using video analytics, operators and marketing teams can gain situational insights into key performance areas of their business; count vehicles and people on site, view visual heat maps to understand hot spots and dwell times, or manage occupancy for shift scheduling. 

Cloud CCTV users also benefit from specific use-case scenarios where video analytics and proactive alerts can play a role. For example, in warehouses or construction sites, operators can trigger an immediate notification for anyone on site not wearing a Hi-Viz vest or hard hat, offering greater visibility over your operations and accountability should something go wrong.

A major advantage to cloud-based CCTV systems is that they’re infinitely scalable and perfect for multi-site application as users aren’t limited by the hardware on site recording. Generally NVR’s come in 4, 8 or 16 channels so you’re often purchasing more than you need up front or limited by the components you choose to install at the time 

Operators are able to monitor every single property under their umbrella from one single interface, rather than having a complex VPN system set up for each site. For growing businesses, this is a major bonus. As you expand your portfolio with new locations, adding CCTV becomes a simple plug-and-play process where you can just bolt on additional cameras, storage and resources to your system as you need.

Leveraging the power of cloud control, high-standard cloud CCTV systems update automatically and remotely with 24/7 firmware updates to ensure your cameras are running at peak performance and protected against the latest threats.

From a troubleshooting perspective, problems with a cloud based CCTV system can be dealt with in a way that we’re entirely used to. Like on most SaaS platforms, there’s embedded chat as a support service, meaning users can simply request a ticket for remote maintenance or troubleshooting. Most issues can be resolved remotely, removing the need for costly on-site technician support.

With pro-active notifications and live health monitoring, users will also be able to be alerted to any faults that may result in security downtime, like a camera outage or programming error.

Cloud-based alarm systems offer complete visibility over your business premises, with dynamic colour-coded dashboards showing the status of the alarm, whether in one location or multiple. This feature is ideal for travelling business owners who entrust staff to lock up the premises each evening, allowing the operator to actively check their alarms are set on-the-go, or from any worldwide location with an internet connection.

The alarm interface can also be used to monitor fire escapes and delivery bays during the working hours, sending real-time alerts and notifications if they’re left open or compromised.

Using the control interface on a smartphone or other internet-connected device, property managers will gain full-view access to their alarms, enabling them to deactivate and reactivate as they need. 

This feature is particularly useful for instances with out-of-hours cleaners, late-night deliveries or staff working late, as the operator can arm/disarm as approved visitors come and go - preventing unnecessary alarm activations without needing to be physically on-site. Paired with a cloud-based access control system, you’ll be able to monitor the occupancy of the building and re-set the alarm once there is no one left inside.

Powered with AI-based threat detection, custom alarm conditions and video verification, cloud-based alarms dramatically reduce the chance of false alarms on your premises. If a suspicious breach is detected, the alarm will alert the Site Admin, and connect them to the integrated camera to verify the threat on a connected device. This limits the chance of wind or wildlife causing a false-positive, reducing the risk of wasting police time or needlessly disturbing surrounding residents. 

With custom alarm conditions, admins can also set and define specific triggers for each alarm area. All received CCTV images are analysed by proprietary machine learning algorithms. An alarm is only activated when the artificial intelligence determines that the trigger is an actual intruder or threat, as per the set alarm conditions.

High quality cloud alarms come with highly-secure, password-gated user interfaces. These can only be controlled by pre-authorised individuals, making it near impossible for fob misplacement, theft or cloning,

Within the cloud interface, operators will be able to easily assign specific alarm permissions to their workforce - from Site viewers, Live-Only viewers to No Access users. Rather than assigning each necessary user a keycard or control fob, operators can grant remote or mobile control over their alarms to their trusted site managers, and edit these permissions as and when they need.

By connecting a cloud-based alarm with outdoor CCTV cameras, users can set-up virtual zones and video tripwires to trigger when a boundary is crossed. Using a motion search interface, users can mark specific areas of interest for each CCTV camera on their premises, adding filters to trigger an alert when people are in the scene or within a certain time window. With facial recognition, this can also be set-up to trigger for specific persons of interest, like known shoplifters, repeat offenders or former employees.

Using onboard analytics, the connected cloud cameras will record high resolution video when movement is detected, sending an image to the cloud for AI verification, ensuring users are only notified for actionable events rather than lighting changes or weather-related movement. If a human is detected in the frame, a rapid notification will be sent to the operator to view footage and take immediate action.

Responding to an alarm activation can be unsettling, stressful and frustrating - especially if it's a false alarm. With a cloud alarm system, your maintenance provider or Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC) will be able to deactivate a false triggering alarm and resolve the issues entirely remotely, saving you the expenditure of a technician call-out.

With automatic firmware updates, cloud security devices are continually upgrading and improving alongside industry innovation. Put simply, when you install a cloud-based security system, that is the worst version of that system. It will only ever improve with the latest features and algorithms, making the solution even more secure as time passes.

Similarly, if a new wave of cybersecurity threats emerges, providers like Verkada are able to automate patches to combat these in rapid times, preventing hackers from remotely accessing cameras, data storage or other devices.

Providers like Verkada, AVA and Openpath are trusted cloud security manufacturers with a security by design approach. Reputable, well-known providers have the infrastructure behind them to penetrate test their systems, with developers continually working to further the security of their systems. Certain manufacturers will generally have their systems audited or “hacked” by third-party developers to test the security effectiveness.

Strong cloud-based security should feature encryption on all data in transit over the network. Encryption adds an extra layer of security to all data operations, preventing malicious interception or eavesdropping.

All cloud-based control interfaces are powered with foolproof audit trailing, to detect activity changes both as they happen and reactively. Using proprietary algorithms, users can observe physical and digital sabotage from a number of sources, both internally and obtrusive external data breaches. Essentially, for businesses with multiple access to their system, operators can monitor all changes made in the archive, adding an extra layer of security to their operations.

While cloud security systems do rely on internet connection for full functionality, hardware offered by brands like Verkada and AVA will continue to perform, even if the network connection drops.

Without a connection, users will lose out on phone notifications and alerts, but cameras, alarms, sensors and detectors with a connected power source will still record or trigger if a breach is detected, reducing security downtime and making them no less secure than a standard legacy system.