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VSaaS: Managed Video Surveillance

By on November 3, 2011 in Cloud Computing, Hosted Video Surveillance, Video Surveillance Systems

Managed or Hosted services have been around for a long time and are commonly reffered to as Cloud Computing or Software as a Service (SaaS).

The definition of SaaS is “a model of software deployment where an application is hosted as a service, provided to customers across the internet.”

The idea is that instead of purchasing software and servers to host your own system, you pay a monthly fee and all your information is hosted online.  In the IT and Data world, this business model has been around for a long time and makes lots of sense.  If you talk to an IT manager about Cloud Computing or SaaS, they will understand the concept immediately.

The idea is that instead of purchasing software and servers to host your own system, you pay a monthly fee and all your information is hosted online.  In the IT and Data world, this business model has been around for a long time and makes lots of sense.

Examples of everyday SaaS services:

  1. Email:  Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo Mail
  2. CRM: Salesforce
  3. Banking:  TD Canada Trust, BMO, Scotia Bank

Whether you are talking about security or data, the benefits of hosted services are the same.

  1. Lower up-front Cost:  no software or hardware to purchase
  2. Lower Maintenance & Operating Costs:  no hardware to maintain, no software to maintain
  3. Easier Accessibility:  access your system from anywhere/anytime
  4. Always up-to-date:  Every time you log on you will be working off the latest platform

In the past 5-10 years we’ve started to see the security market follow the cloud computing trend. Managed Access Control system’s hit the market about 10 years ago and we are now starting to see the large manufacturer’s follow suit.  In the past 3-4 years, hosted video surveillance providers began popping up and are now started showing benefits in the smaller camera count opportunities (4-8 cameras).

Hosted Video Surveillance  ”For Dummies”:

-          An IP camera connects to a network switch

-          When the camera detects motion, it pushes the video to secure website

-          Customers can access their video by logging into the website

-          Storage is typically 15 or 30 days

 

 

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What’s the Default Password?

By on September 16, 2011 in Access Control Systems, Alarm Systems, Cloud Computing, General, Hosted Video Surveillance, People Counting System, Video Analytics, Video Surveillance Systems

I met with a client this week to discuss a project that is currently in progress. When we touched on the subject about administrator and user rights on the video surveillance and access control system, he told me that he was surprised at how often he finds systems at his facilities (phone systems, other security systems, etc) that still have default username and passwords.

This wasn’t breaking news to me, to say the least.  Last month, we were online searching for information on a manufacturer and we stumbled upon a web address linked to a video surveillance system.  When we clicked on the address the web interface popped up and asked us for a username and password.  Knowing what type of system it was, we typed in the manufacturer’s default credentials and were shocked to be logged into a State Jail located somewhere in the USA.  We had full control of the video surveillance system including audio in the booking area.  Cameras located all over the jail are just broadcasting onto the internet for anyone (with the default credentials) to view.

I won’t share the name of the jail or the address of the cameras, but I will urge all people to immediately change their username and password.  It should be the first step to take once the system is handed over.

Carlo Di Leo, General Manager

 

 

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Outsourced Access Control

By on June 8, 2010 in Access Control Systems, Cloud Computing

The Canadian Property Management edition for the month of April, 2010, featured an article by Double Vision’s GM Carlo Di Leo, entitled Outsourced Access Control.  The article starts out:

Access control has traditionally required cabling from the door to the control boards and from the control boards to the server. As with any in-house system, there are concerns about software, computer hardware, backup equipment, system maintenance and even the location, temperature and dust accumulation of the server room.

It discusses the advantages of the implementing an IP based Online Access Control system versus the disadvantages of a traditional software base system.

Via IP based systems, building owners/managers can control access to their buildings using any computer from anywhere in the world. By simply logging into a secure website, the master administrator (i.e. operations manager) can delegate groups of buildings to different senior administrators (i.e. property managers). Senior administrators can then delegate buildings to assistant administrators (i.e. building managers). When an administrator leaves the company or is on vacation, a superior can easily log in to the system and transfer the building over to another user.

The full article can be read here:  CPM: Volume 2: Wired with Possibilities


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SaaS and IP Access Control

By on April 27, 2010 in Access Control Systems, Cloud Computing

Banking, email, asset management, customer relationship management (CRM), and now IP access control,  have all been adapting to a new model of software deployment called Software as a Service (referred to as ‘SaaS’).  This is where an application is hosted as a service, and is provided to customers across the internet.  By eliminating the need to install and run the application on your own computer, SaaS alleviates the burden of software and server maintenance, ongoing operation, and support.

With web based IP access control, property managers and business owners can make their life easier while saving money on equipment, maintenance, and operation expenses.  Listed below are a few things that Web Based (SaaS) IP access control will do for you.

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