Video Surveillance as a Service (VSaaS): Why are Enterprises Embracing Cloud-Hosted Video Security?

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The Chinese Communist Party (CCP)’s ambitious initiative to establish a nationwide video surveillance network represents the unprecedented scale of Video Surveillance as a Service (VSaaS) adoption and growth.

What is VSaaS?
Key benefits of VSaaS

With the underlying idea that “the masses have sharp eyes,” the Chinese government deployed 626 million video cameras from cities to villages. This was followed by a scaled adoption of IoT, AI, cloud computing, big data, and deep learning to expand, improve, and automate the analysis of collected data heaps for mass surveillance.

The Chinese nationwide video surveillance strategy certainly exemplifies the aggressive growth of the VSaaS market in a nutshell. Note that the global VSaaS market is currently valued at USD 4.47 billion and is projected to reach USD 5.08 billion by 2025, at a CAGR of ~13%. Laying the groundwork for the booming VSaaS adoption are these market trends:

Cloud Expansion: The increasing adoption of the cloud among enterprises can be interlinked with the increase in demand for VSaaS. Traditional HDD or on-premises storage faces significant challenges in footage retention, and increasing regulatory scrutiny is accelerating the shift towards cloud adoption.

Proliferation of IoT devices: The rapid growth of IoT devices in security, driven by advanced monitoring capabilities, offers an opportunity for enhanced surveillance and real-time threat detection. This enables businesses to achieve comprehensive coverage, improve operational efficiency, and reduce incident response times.

Integration of AI: The rise of AI in surveillance has notably strengthened banking security. However, it is now garnering steady adoption from numerous sectors, attributed to its strong capabilities in object and intrusion detection, facial recognition, anomaly detection, and other areas. These capabilities facilitate prompt threat identification, real-time data analysis, and enhanced situational awareness, making AI-powered surveillance an essential instrument for any enterprise.

5G Deployment: While in nascency, the implementation of 5G is linked to the growth of VSaaS, thanks to its massive bandwidth compared to previous generations. This allows VSaaS systems to handle the data demands of HD, 4K, and even 8K cameras, facilitating seamless real-time processing and streaming.

To present a comprehensive picture, the VSaaS market–attributed to the trends above–is projected to acquire a 10.17 billion USD capitalization within the next decade. Adding to the growth is the increased adoption from Asia Pacific, North America and the Middle East regions.

The “as a service” business model further strengthens the market. It would not be wrong to say that much like other “as-a-service” solutions, VSaaS has fundamentally reshaped how enterprises approach video surveillance. Since it eliminates the need for substantial upfront investment in hardware and infrastructure, enterprises globally leverage it for cost efficiency and scalability over a longer duration.

To better understand the notion that “VSaaS eliminates the need for substantial upfront investment in hardware and infrastructure,” it is essential to pick VSaaS from ground zero—hence, this guide. It will cover the concept from definition, implementation and functionality to its benefits while emphasizing the importance of navigating the VSaaS landscape with the right implementation partner.

What is VSaaS?

Video Surveillance as a Service, or VSaaS, is a novel approach to surveillance. It encapsulates CCTV feed storage, management, processing, and access on a secure, certified cloud server. In essence, it is a hosted, cloud-based video surveillance solution. For instance, the VSaaS system can function as either an on-site or off-site platform that communicates with cameras and the cloud, serving as the central conduit for surveillance management.

The “as a service” element here refers to obtaining custom features from the provider, like cloud storage or video management, on a subscription or usage-based fee structure. Instead of managing the underlying infrastructure, customers pay a recurring fee for access to these services. Indeed, enterprises are primarily embracing cloud-hosted video surveillance because of its convenience.

Any security team may find it challenging, if not impossible, to keep security in check across multiple branches or large areas. However, the convergence of IT and Security has made this process a breeze. VSaaS platforms enable seamless integration and management of an unlimited number of branches, CCTV cameras, VMS, or access controls, ensuring no alerts or potential intrusions are missed. To mention, remote management further streamlines training, integration, and system updates.

Key benefits of VSaaS

Cost-Effective Storage: Albeit enterprises have primarily resorted to CCTV surveillance in recent years, the shift has presented a big issue—data storage. VSaaS moves CCTV feed storage from on-prem hardware to the cloud, effectively addressing the problem. It enables enterprises to choose from multiple cloud storage plans based on requirements and scale as needed, ditch the hefty upfront investment in HDDs, and opt for low environmental impact.

Flexibility: VSaaS providers offer unparalleled flexibility, allowing enterprises to scale their surveillance infrastructure by adding or removing equipment based on security requirements. With a wide range of bundled plans available, enterprises can deploy the necessary solutions, optimizing cost and functionality. Furthermore, updating or modifying the subscription is straightforward as security needs change, ensuring the system adapts to organizational growth.

Security & Data Processing: Traditional surveillance systems generate large amounts of data, creating challenges for security teams in managing and analyzing footage. This inefficiency can leave organizations vulnerable, especially during security incidents. VSaaS addresses these challenges by leveraging cloud-based storage for real-time recording, review, and analysis of security footage. This solution ensures organizations have unlimited storage, allowing for seamless access and management of video data.

Remote Access: VSaaS provides the advantage of remote access, enabling monitoring from any location at any time. Access real-time footage through secure cloud portals, i.e., web or mobile applications. This flexibility allows security managers to stay updated with ongoing surveillance, helps quickly assess incidents, and decision-making in critical situations, ensuring enhanced responsiveness across geographically dispersed sites.

Retrieve Footage as Needed: One key feature of a robust VSaaS system is the ability to retrieve archived footage. When combined with AI-driven analytics, like facial recognition, object tracking, and behavioural analysis, AI helps identify and locate specific incidents or persons in recorded footage. For instance, you could easily search for a “man with a red shirt”. This capability reduces the time it would take to manually sift through hours of footage.

The benefits of VSaaS and its ease of implementation can lure enterprises, specifically security teams, towards its adoption. However, a thorough understanding of VSaaS operation and the components involved can accelerate the decision-making process.

Why Enterprises Embrace Cloud-Hosted Video Security Over Conventional Systems from a Technical Standpoint?

To further simplify the selection, here is a comprehensive comparison of VSaaS and traditional systems from a technical standpoint.

Technical Aspects	VSaaS (cloud-hosted video security)	Traditional System
System Architecture & Deployment	Scalable, Cloud-Based Architecture: distributed cloud infrastructure for elasticity, scalability, and redundancy. Auto-provisioning of devices for seamless deployment. Quick setup with zero to no on-site effort.	Centralized Local Setup: Localized, often siloed installations of DVR/NVR systems. Deployment is complex and resource-intensive, requiring on-site interventions.
Security & Data Integrity	E2E Encryption, for instance, AES-256: Data security with robust encryption during transit and storage. Managed cloud security with regular updates and compliance with industry standards. Zero trust architecture monitoring for potential threats.	On-site Security Measures: Physical security for NVR/DVR units. Security and encryption protocols may not be standard or regularly updated and are often less robust.
Storage, Backup & Redundancy	Elastic Cloud Storage: Auto-scaling storage with virtually unlimited capacity. Geo-Redundant Backups: Data is mirrored across multiple data centres, offering guaranteed data protection and continuity.	Static Local Storage: Limited by physical capabilities. Backup mechanisms rely on local servers and hard drives, susceptible to failures, with longer recovery times.
Remote Access & User Management	Anywhere, Anytime Access: Access live and recorded footage from any device. Cloud-based user management with granular access controls for different user roles.	Local Access Only: Limited access to footage and data. On-site management and user control, with limited flexibility for remote access.
Monitoring & Alerting	Real-Time Monitoring and Automated Alerts: For proactive security, instant notifications and live video footage streaming are combined with AI-based threat detection.	Manual Monitoring: Continuous on-site monitoring requires delayed alert systems and no automated threat detection.
AI, Analytics & Intelligence	Integrated AI/ML Analytics: AI-driven video analytics, facial recognition, behaviour analysis, and anomaly detection help detect real-time incidents. Predictive analysis for proactive security insights and enhanced operational efficiency.	Basic Event Detection & Limited Analytics: Simple motion-based detection with limited analytic capabilities. Requires manual footage review, making it labour-intensive and less efficient in spotting critical events or trends.
Maintenance, Upgrades & Flexibility	Seamless Cloud-Based Maintenance: Automatic software updates, patches, and device health checks ensure system reliability. No on-site intervention is required, providing flexibility to scale and evolve security systems.	Manual Maintenance & Limited Flexibility: Hardware-based systems require on-site personnel for maintenance, troubleshooting, and upgrades. These manual updates lead to downtime and high operational costs, with limited scalability for future growth.
Cost & Total Cost of Ownership	OPEX (Subscription-Based Model): Subscription-based pricing offers predictable costs with no upfront capital expenditure. Flexible scaling ensures that costs grow in line with business needs, reducing total cost of ownership (TCO).	CAPEX (High Upfront Investment): Significant capital investment for hardware, installation, and infrastructure setup. Ongoing maintenance costs, power consumption, and hardware upgrades result in higher long-term TCO.
Video Quality & Processing	Cloud-Based Video Processing & Optimization: High-definition video processing and bandwidth optimization using cloud resources. Automated resolution scaling based on available bandwidth and device capabilities for optimal quality.	Local Video Processing & Bandwidth Limitation: Video quality is constrained by local storage and processing capabilities. Bandwidth limitations lead to potential loss in resolution and frame rate.
Latency & Bandwidth	Low Latency & Dynamic Bandwidth Management: Cloud infrastructure ensures low-latency video streaming with adaptive bitrate technology. Bandwidth usage is optimized with compression algorithms and intelligent routing for real-time data transfer.	Higher Latency & Fixed Bandwidth Requirements: Latency is higher due to the reliance on local processing and storage. Bandwidth is static and prone to congestion, affecting video quality and response times.
Environmental Impact	Energy-Efficient Cloud Infrastructure: Distributed cloud resources optimized for energy efficiency. The centralized model reduces power consumption per site, with lower carbon footprints due to shared infrastructure.	High Energy Consumption: On-site data centres and local NVR/DVR setups lead to higher power consumption per unit. Limited energy optimization in hardware results in a higher environmental footprint.
Vendor Support & Service	24/7 Cloud-Based Support & Remote Diagnostics: Continuous support through cloud-native monitoring tools, with remote diagnostics, software updates, and fast resolution times. SLAs with guaranteed uptime and proactive troubleshooting.	On-Site Support & Limited Vendor Reach: Vendor support requires on-site visits for repairs, upgrades, and diagnostics. Limited remote troubleshooting capabilities increase downtime and response times.

Navigating the VSaaS Landscape with the Right Implementation Partner

The transition to VSaaS can seem complex, but the right implementation partner can make it seamless. Before making your selection, look for these key features in a partner:

Functional Capabilities: Ensure the VSaaS provider offers comprehensive features suited to your operational needs. The platform should support advanced analytics (e.g., facial recognition, anomaly detection), seamless integration with existing hardware, real-time monitoring, automated alerts, and more. Additionally, the ability to customize security configurations, retrieve archived footage on-demand, and monitor system health remotely are key features that improve overall effectiveness.

Interoperability and Integration: One of the primary considerations for selecting a VSaaS partner is their ability to integrate smoothly with your existing infrastructure. The solution should be compatible with various camera brands, sensors, and other surveillance systems. Whether working with legacy equipment or looking to scale up with new technology, the solution should ensure easy integration and continuous functionality while minimizing operational disruptions and costs.

Scalability: An enterprise’s video surveillance needs to evolve as the enterprise grows. A top-tier VSaaS partner will provide a solution that can scale seamlessly to accommodate increasing locations and cameras. The flexibility to add or remove equipment and easily modify subscriptions ensures that your surveillance system grows alongside your business, avoiding unnecessary costs while optimizing security coverage.

Security: Robust security protocols should be a non-negotiable feature when selecting a VSaaS provider. Look for providers that offer end-to-end encryption, regular security updates, and compliance with industry standards. The right partner should also prioritize multi-factor authentication (MFA) and role-based access control (RBAC) to ensure that only authorized personnel can access sensitive data and video feeds.

User experience: The usability of the platform is equally important. The solution should provide a user-friendly interface that enables both technical and non-technical teams to manage the system effectively. A well-designed dashboard that allows easy access to live feeds, video retrieval, and reports, along with clear navigation, ensures smooth adoption across your organization. Additionally, providing comprehensive training and 24/7 support ensures that your team can quickly troubleshoot issues and get the most out of the system.

Build the Future State of Enterprise Security with IGZY

IGZY understands that determining the right partner to utilize video surveillance as a service is strategic for enterprise safety, security, and reputation, as even the smallest oversight can be detrimental. This sets us apart.

1. Hardware Integration/Device Onboarding: Integrating new or existing hardware should not be as tedious as it appears. Thus, the IGZY VSaaS platform simplifies the device onboarding process with the following:

Plug-and-Play Setup: Automatically detect devices across a network leveraging ONVIF protocols
Multi-Site Management: Remote configuration and monitoring of devices across multiple sites via a unified dashboard
Secure Communication: Ensure end-to-end encrypted pairing with HTTPS and RTSP over TLS
Smart Bulk Deployment: Onboard hundreds of devices using predefined templates, facilitating quick deployment for large-scale installations

2. Live Streaming: Seamless, high-quality live streaming with ultra-low latency, powered by adaptive bitrate management. Key benefits:

Low Latency: Sub-second streaming for real-time situational awareness
Adaptive Bitrate: Video quality adjustments based on network conditions
Multi-Channel Views: Monitor numerous video feeds at once with customizable layouts

3. 24/7 Secure and Accessible Recording: We ensure secure, efficient, and compliant surveillance footage recording with:

Flexible Storage: Select from various cloud storage plans tailored to enterprise needs
Regulatory Adherence: Customize video retention policies to comply with legal requirements
Efficient Compression: Utilize H.265 or H.264 to reduce storage costs without compromising quality
Data Integrity: Safeguard video with encryption and robust access controls

4. Access Playback History: The playback feature offers a user-friendly experience with:

Event-Triggered Playback: Find the footage of interest by referencing motion or object detection
Multi-Camera Views: Review events from different angles
Precise Frame Scrubbing: Fframe-level accuracy to spot critical moments
AI-Driven Search: Search using metadata such as object type, time, or specific activity zones

5. Video Analytics: Smarter Surveillance, Smarter Decisions: Transform physical data into proactive intelligence insights with our advanced video analytics:

Instant Alerts: Get real-time notifications for events like intrusions or any pre-defined custom triggers
AI-Driven Detection: Identify faces, license plates, or objects via AI
Operational Insights: Leverage heatmaps and behaviour patterns to optimize workflows and resource distribution

6. DevOps: Productivity Meets Simplicity: Managing complex surveillance systems with low manual effort:

Centralized Management: Keep track of system health, stream quality, and storage usage from a single dashboard
Automated Workflows: Manage updates, scaling, and deployments, all without downtime
Scalability: Scale resources dynamically to meet peak demand and adjust as needed

VSaaS is among the fastest-growing segments of the video surveillance market. By integrating advanced AI analytics, real-time threat detection, and seamless multi-site management, VSaaS emerges as the ideal strategy for enterprises looking to future-proof their surveillance infrastructure while maintaining operational excellence.

Partner with us to embrace video surveillance as a service and unlock new possibilities in the realm of surveillance management.