Epicamera News   01/07/2015 Vol: July '15
 
Cloud-based solutions are on the rise in many industries across the globe. Video Surveillance as a Solution (VSaaS) resonates this trend in the surveillance industry offering cloud storage solution for IP cameras and web cameras online, accessible through devices connected to the Internet. The convenience and affordability of VSaaS are appealing. However, in the excitement of experiencing cloud solutions, consumers may have their reservations.
 
For a winning investment, consumers need to understand the basics of what makes a great VSaaS.
 
Decent Bandwidth is a Priority
Bandwidth is the speed at which you get access to the Internet. Businesses often find themselves using the same Internet connection method that they used since the starting days of the company, even though most of technologies nowadays require faster Internet connection. A good bandwidth will provide a fast Internet connection. We’ve all experienced processes “taking forever” to complete, such as accessing cloud applications or downloading a large file. Some of us have experienced latency interruptions while trying to stream a video online, when the video stops and stutters repeatedly. These setbacks will defeat the purpose of video surveillance as it wastes valuable time while completing processes. Surveillance systems cannot afford such defects as they can cause security breaches and exploitations, hence before considering on cloud surveillance, subscribe to a decent Internet bandwidth for a start.
 
Unrestricted Storage Space
Remember the days of emailing yourself files so you could work on one document from two different computers? That method is a highly error-prone, outdated and inefficient in this era. Thanks to online cloud storage and file syncing, videos from your surveillance system can be stored somewhere for easy management and retrieval and this is where cloud storage comes to play. By having every file you ever need being stored at a secured place definitely gives you peace of mind. But, having all files stored in the cloud regardless of their importance is a no-brainer. For whatever the reasons, there’s always a guideline. You need to prioritize your needs and you’ll get the one that best suits you.
 
Breezy Accessibility
Accessibility should be focused to understand user requirements, formulate usability goals and decide on the best techniques for accessibility evaluations. An understanding of the five characteristics of accessibility – effective, efficient, engaging, error tolerant, easy to learn – helps guide the user-centered design tasks to the goal of user-friendly products. When looking for a good video surveillance system, consider those with system setups that are designed to cater to a wide variety of users. It’s crucial to take note on the ease factor of getting the cameras up and running in the server, in terms of the number of steps and duration required. Having a minimal amount of instructions to monitor your premises from the Internet from anywhere through the respective website or mobile apps should make the experience of setting up a video surveillance system just a walk in the park.
 
Tip Top Management
A video surveillance that comes with a user-friendly interface should always be one of the top criteria in determining a reliable video surveillance. For easy management experience, a comprehensive system for your video surveillance needs should be provided. Camera configurations and data management can be tedious with analogue or old versions of digital storage, making things hard for your security team. A VSaaS enables your network and security teams to collaborate effectively in a highly scalable environment combining both video and network techniques to optimize the experience. Enable your team with this secure policy-based system to ensure they maximize their productivity.
 
Highly Scalable
You should not be tied down to some fix plan for your video surveillance. The ability of a system, model or function that could cope and perform under an increased or expanding workload should be considered. A system that scales well will be able to maintain or even increase its level of performance or efficiency when tested by larger operational demands. Choose a system that is flexible to cater or prepare for the possibilities and uncertainties of the business.
 
There are many more criteria that you should consider for a reliable VSaaS, but these are the top crucial criteria that you should look into first, before jumping into one. Seek advice from the experienced, or you can just do some research from the previous studies available in the Internet. Check out EpiCamera’s many information resources, from websites to newsletters and social media for a more comprehensive look to help you make the decision of a lifetime and subscribe to a VSaaS of your own.