VSaaS stands for Video Surveillance as a Service. It is a cloud-based approach to video surveillance that allows businesses to store, manage, and access security camera footage through the cloud instead of relying entirely on local recording and storage infrastructure. Video from security cameras is transmitted to a cloud platform, where footage can be stored and accessed remotely. Depending on the setup, VSaaS can work with cloud-connected cameras or integrate with existing surveillance equipment, including systems that already use an NVR or DVR. This means businesses can adopt cloud video surveillance in different ways, from fully cloud-based recording to adding cloud storage or backup to an existing surveillance system.
How Does VSaaS Work?
From Security Cameras to the Cloud
Security cameras capture video in much the same way as they do in a traditional surveillance system, but instead of keeping all recordings exclusively on-site, VSaaS sends the footage to a cloud platform over the network. Depending on the system, video may be uploaded directly from compatible IP cameras or through a gateway, NVR, or DVR that connects existing surveillance equipment to the cloud. This allows compatible existing systems to gain cloud storage and remote access capabilities while continuing to use cameras and recording hardware already in place.
Cloud Storage and Video Management
Once the video reaches the cloud, recordings can be stored for a defined retention period and managed through the VSaaS platform. Unlike a system that relies only on the storage capacity of an on-site NVR or DVR, cloud storage keeps footage off-site and allows storage needs to be adjusted without simply adding more local hard drives. The cloud can serve as the primary storage location or provide an additional backup alongside local recording. The retention period determines how long recordings remain available in the cloud before older footage is removed, so businesses can choose storage based on how long they actually need to keep their video.
Remote Access to Video Footage
Once footage is available through the cloud platform, authorized users can connect to the surveillance system over the internet to view live video or retrieve stored recordings. Access is typically provided through the VSaaS platform rather than directly from the recorder at the monitored site, allowing footage stored in the cloud to be reached remotely. The exact viewing, playback, and management options depend on the VSaaS provider and system configuration.
VSaaS vs. Traditional Video Surveillance
The main difference between VSaaS and traditional video surveillance is where video footage is stored and how the system is managed. Traditional systems typically record footage to an on-site DVR, NVR, or other local storage device. With VSaaS, video is sent to a cloud platform for storage, management, or backup, depending on how the system is configured.
This does not mean that businesses have to choose exclusively between local and cloud storage. VSaaS can complement a traditional surveillance system by keeping recordings locally while also sending footage to the cloud for storage or backup. This hybrid setup combines the immediate availability of local recording with the benefit of keeping footage off-site.
Traditional Video Surveillance | VSaaS |
Recordings are primarily stored on an on-site NVR, DVR, or other local storage | Recordings can be stored off-site in the cloud |
Storage capacity is determined by installed local hardware | Cloud storage capacity can be adjusted as requirements change |
Adding storage may require additional or upgraded local hardware | Storage can be expanded without adding local hard drives |
Each location typically relies on its own local surveillance infrastructure | Cameras and recordings from multiple locations can be managed through a cloud platform |
Remote access depends on the capabilities and configuration of the local surveillance system | Remote access is provided through the cloud platform |
Recordings stored only locally depend on the availability of the on-site recorder | Footage stored in the cloud remains separate from the recording equipment on-site |
Neither approach is automatically better for every surveillance system. The right setup depends on factors such as internet connectivity, required video retention, existing equipment, the number of locations, and whether off-site storage is needed.
What Are the Benefits of VSaaS?
Access Your Security Cameras Remotely
With VSaaS, authorized users can check live video and review recorded footage remotely instead of having to be physically present at the monitored location. This can be useful when responding to an incident outside business hours, checking what is happening at a site while away, or retrieving footage without travelling to the location simply to access a local recorder. The exact viewing and management options depend on the VSaaS platform and system configuration.
Scale Your Video Surveillance More Easily
Surveillance requirements can change as a business grows, opens new locations, adds cameras, or needs to retain recordings for longer periods. With a traditional system, these changes may require additional hard drives, recorders, or other on-site infrastructure. Cloud-based video surveillance provides more flexibility because storage and connected camera capacity can be adjusted as requirements change, making the system less dependent on the fixed storage capacity of a single local recorder.
Manage Multiple Locations Centrally
VSaaS can simplify surveillance for businesses that operate multiple locations. Instead of treating every site as a completely separate surveillance system, cameras and recordings can be accessed through a centralized cloud platform. Authorized users can then switch between locations, review footage, and monitor different sites without connecting separately to each local recording system.
Reduce Dependence on On-Site Storage
Keeping the only copy of surveillance footage on an NVR, DVR, or another device at the monitored location creates a dependency on that hardware. If the recorder is damaged, stolen, or otherwise becomes unavailable, recordings stored exclusively on it may also become inaccessible. VSaaS allows footage to be stored off-site in the cloud, reducing reliance on local storage as the only place where recordings are kept.
What Are the Limitations of VSaaS?
Internet Connection and Upload Bandwidth
Sending surveillance footage to the cloud requires a reliable internet connection with sufficient upload bandwidth. This is different from the download speed that is often emphasized in internet plans, because surveillance cameras need to continuously send data from the monitored location to the cloud. The amount of upload bandwidth required depends on factors such as the number of cameras, video resolution, frame rate, compression, and how much footage is uploaded. A system with several high-resolution cameras will generally require more bandwidth than a small installation with only a few cameras, so available upload capacity should be evaluated before choosing a cloud recording setup.
Ongoing Cloud Storage Costs
Unlike storage purchased as part of an on-site recorder, cloud video storage usually involves recurring costs. The total cost can vary depending on the number of cameras, the amount of footage stored, video quality, and how long recordings need to be retained. Longer retention periods and higher-resolution footage require more storage, so businesses should define which footage needs to be kept and for how long before choosing a storage plan. This helps avoid paying for substantially more cloud storage than the surveillance system actually requires.
Camera and System Compatibility
Not every security camera, NVR, or DVR works with every VSaaS platform. Compatibility can depend on the camera manufacturer, supported protocols, recorder configuration, and the way the cloud service connects to the existing surveillance system. Before choosing a provider, businesses with an existing system should identify their camera and recorder models and confirm that they are supported by the VSaaS solution. This can help determine whether the current equipment can be connected to the cloud or whether any additional hardware or configuration changes will be required.
Is VSaaS Secure?
VSaaS can provide a secure way to store and access surveillance footage, but moving video to the cloud does not make a surveillance system secure by default. Security depends on how the provider protects the footage, how the system is configured, and who is allowed to access it. When evaluating a VSaaS provider, businesses should consider:
- Data encryption: Video should be protected both while it is transmitted to the cloud and while it is stored there.
- User access controls: The platform should allow access to be limited to authorized users and, where appropriate, different permissions to be assigned based on their roles.
- Account protection: Features such as multi-factor authentication can add another layer of protection if login credentials are compromised.
- Off-site storage: Cloud recordings are stored separately from the equipment at the monitored premises, so footage already uploaded may remain available if an on-site NVR or DVR is damaged, stolen, or becomes unavailable.
- Provider security practices: Businesses should understand how the provider stores and protects video data and what measures are in place to prevent unauthorized access.
Cloud storage can therefore reduce some of the risks associated with keeping the only copy of footage on-site, but it introduces its own cybersecurity considerations. A business should evaluate both the technical security of the VSaaS platform and its own account and access management practices before deciding how sensitive surveillance footage will be stored.
How Much Does VSaaS Cost?
There is no single price for VSaaS because the cost depends on how the surveillance system is configured and how much video needs to be stored in the cloud. The number of connected cameras is one of the main factors, but video resolution, recording settings, and the required retention period also affect storage requirements. For example, storing high-resolution footage from 50 cameras for 90 days will require considerably more cloud storage than storing footage from five cameras for two weeks.
When estimating VSaaS costs, businesses should therefore start with their actual surveillance requirements rather than storage capacity alone. Consider how many cameras need cloud recording, whether they record continuously or only at certain times, what video quality is required, and how long footage must remain available. Additional service or platform features may also affect pricing depending on the provider. Defining these requirements first makes it easier to compare VSaaS options on a like-for-like basis and avoid paying for storage or capabilities that are not actually needed.
Who Is VSaaS Best Suited For?
The value of VSaaS depends less on the size or industry of a business and more on what it needs from its surveillance system. VSaaS may be a good fit if your business:
- Operates multiple locations. A cloud platform can provide centralized access to cameras and recordings from offices, stores, warehouses, or other sites without managing each location entirely separately.
- Needs regular remote access to surveillance footage. Staff responsible for security can view cameras and retrieve recordings without being physically present at the monitored site.
- Expects the surveillance system to grow. Adding cameras, locations, or longer retention periods can increase storage requirements, making the flexibility of cloud storage useful as needs change.
- Wants an off-site copy of important footage. Storing recordings in the cloud reduces reliance on an NVR or DVR at the monitored location as the only place where video is kept.
- Already has a surveillance system it wants to keep using. If the existing cameras or recorders are compatible with the chosen VSaaS solution, cloud capabilities may be added without replacing the entire installation.
VSaaS will not necessarily be the best option for every site. For example, a location with limited upload bandwidth or a surveillance system that is not compatible with the chosen platform may require a different setup or additional equipment. The decision should therefore be based on the existing infrastructure, connectivity, storage requirements, and how the footage needs to be accessed.
How to Get Started With VSaaS
Getting started with VSaaS does not necessarily mean redesigning your entire surveillance system. Before choosing a provider, assess what you already have, what you want to move to the cloud, and what the new setup needs to achieve.
- Review your existing surveillance system. Identify the cameras, NVRs, DVRs, and other recording equipment currently in use. Note the manufacturers and models so you can check their compatibility with potential VSaaS solutions.
- Decide what you need from the cloud. Determine whether you want cloud storage as your primary recording method, an off-site backup alongside local recording, remote access to footage, centralized management across multiple locations, or a combination of these.
- Define your recording and retention requirements. Consider how many cameras need to be connected, the required video quality, how footage is recorded, and how long recordings need to remain available. These choices will influence both storage requirements and cost.
- Check your internet connection. Make sure each location has sufficient upload bandwidth for the amount of video that needs to be sent to the cloud.
- Compare VSaaS providers. Look at compatibility with your existing equipment, storage and retention options, security measures, remote access capabilities, scalability, and pricing. The right solution should meet your actual surveillance requirements without requiring hardware or cloud storage that you do not need.
Already have a security camera system? See if you can connect your existing cameras to Camlocus cloud storage without replacing your current setup.