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What’s the difference between a VMS and VSaaS?

How does a video surveillance or video management system (VMS) compare to video surveillance as a service (VSaaS), and why can a hybrid-cloud deployment be a good long-term choice? Genetec says choosing between a VMS and VSaaS depends on your organisation’s requirements and objectives.

What is a VMS and when is it a good option?

VMS stands for video management system. Typically, VMS software is installed and hosted on on-premises servers. This allows organisations to have more control over how they set up, deploy, manage and maintain their video surveillance application and infrastructure.

For this reason, organisations that choose a VMS usually take a more hands-on approach to video system management and maintenance. For instance, they’ll have their own plans and strategies in place to manage cybersecurity, handle major updates, oversee infrastructure lifecycles and more. All of this can be dictated by site or industry requirements, or company policies.

A VMS solution comes with robust feature sets and various built-in analytics that help streamline different video tasks. It’s often associated with high levels of scalability and reliability. And since some open-architecture VMS solutions have been around a long time, they provide support for numerous third-party hardware, systems and IIoT sensors. VMS software offers organisations the added flexibility to develop some interesting custom integrations and applications using a Software Development Kit (SDK).

In a VMS deployment teams will need to have a software client installed on their desktop or laptop, and they may also have access to mobile and web-based applications. Video recordings are generally stored on local servers, but there may be some flexibility to use the cloud for added storage and redundancy. Additionally, budgets are usually forecasted and allocated in lump sums. These CapEx investments help maintain and expand the video infrastructure and deployment.

Who can benefit from a VMS deployment? Organisations that:

• Want full control over video deployment, management and maintenance.

• Need to retain and oversee all on-premises infrastructure for specific reasons.

• Want to keep all video on local, company-owned servers and networks.

• Have a limited bandwidth and a preference for a closed network.

• Want an SDK for more complex customisations and integrations.

• Have budget structures where physical security remains a capital expenditure.

• Appreciate or need support for an extensive list of devices, sensors and systems.

Video management systems installed on-premises use existing local networks to manage, monitor, and record from IP-based security cameras.

A cloud solution brings together direct-to-cloud cameras from different sites where they are connected and processed in the cloud solution for live video surveillance and automated remote management.

Direct-to-cloud devices, edge appliances, and on-premises systems come together seamlessly in a hybrid deployment, alongside automated and remote updates and management.

What is VSaaS and when is it a good option?

VSaaS stands for video surveillance as a service. This video solution has been engineered and optimised from the ground up to harness the power of the cloud, and is offered as a subscription-based service by the technology vendor. Having a monthly or annual subscription plan allows for a more predictable cost structure. Organisations can use OpEx budgets to fund VSaaS installations and expansions.

Since a VSaaS solution is hosted and managed in a public cloud environment, there’s little to no onsite infrastructure needed. This can help partners get video systems up and running with greater ease and agility.

Having a VSaaS solution also means there’s less maintenance involved. Channel partners can access health monitoring metrics and ensure the system is optimised and running well. All system updates and fixes are automatically pushed from the cloud by the vendor. This makes sure you always have the latest innovations, cybersecurity updates and features at hand.

Your teams can access a VSaaS application using mobile or web apps. This makes it easy to give various types of individuals access to the video surveillance system, no matter their location.

VSaaS solutions can also come with enterprise-grade feature sets, including various analytics-powered capabilities. They can offer a versatile application programming interface (API) to help facilitate system integrations. Though you’ll need solid bandwidth throughput and internet connectivity for a VSaaS solution, adding cloud-managed appliances can further enhance reliability and redundancy when it’s needed.

Who can benefit from a VSaaS deployment? Organisations that:

• Are searching for more deployment flexibility and agility.

• Have a cloud-first policy.

• Need for flexible storage options or to back up recordings offsite.

• Seek low to no hardware footprint across their deployment.

• Want the convenience of instant updates and access to the latest innovations.

• Don’t want to maintain hardware or don’t have the resources to do it.

• Have budgets where operational capital can fund security investments.

How do VMS and VSaaS offerings compare?

Both a VMS and VSaaS solution are engineered to help organisations manage video surveillance cameras and strengthen physical security. Using either solution, operators can easily handle different video-related tasks such as monitoring live camera feeds, retrieving video archives, managing camera configurations and much more.

Today’s VSaaS solutions have also advanced considerably over the last decade. This means that both VSaaS and VMS offerings can provide enterprise-level scalability and reliability, as well as extensive feature sets that make managing and maintaining video easier.

One thing to know is that VMS and VSaaS features are typically optimised for on-premises infrastructure, or a public cloud environment, respectively. This helps organisations address specific needs and requirements across various locations. Some of these capabilities include built-in tools that help strengthen cybersecurity and privacy best practices, as well as video and audio analytics.

In both VMS and VSaaS deployments there’s an opportunity to manage many different sites from one centralised command centre. There’s also the possibility to connect video with other critical physical security and business systems to gain a unified view of your environment. By having a unified video solution, organisations can enhance day to day operations and give operators access to insights they can act on as soon as something happens.

So, what’s the true difference between VMS and VSaaS? Why should you choose one over the other? It all comes down to some key considerations:

1. Your unique requirements: Do you have the space and resources to install and maintain physical servers across your various sites? How does bandwidth and connectivity measure up across your different locations?

2. Your company policies: Is your organisation moving towards a cloud-first or hybrid-cloud policy? Do your current policies and operations dictate keeping all video on corporate servers and networks? Are you looking for ways to strengthen data governance and compliance with evolving regulations?

3. Your budget structure: Do you have the flexibility to use both CapEx and OpEx budgets toward physical security investments? Would a subscription-based service alleviate budget constraints and allow you to evolve your security?

4. Your current and long-term goals: Do you want to reduce hardware costs in the next five years or find new ways to enhance your cybersecurity strategy? Do you want an SDK to accommodate specific customisations and business applications?

5. Your available resources: Does your IT team have the capacity to keep managing and maintaining a growing video surveillance deployment? Are you ready to start outsourcing some of these tasks using cloud services?

Can they work together in a hybrid-cloud deployment?

The short answer is yes; a VMS and VSaaS can work together within a hybrid-cloud deployment. And in your video surveillance decision this will be one of the most important aspects to prioritise, because this gives you the ultimate deployment flexibility.

Having the option to implement an on-premises VMS solution at one site, and a VSaaS solution at another site, and then manage it all under one centralised solution is optimal. Other organisations may want to add cloud cameras to certain areas or locations and connect them back to a centralised on-premises VMS in their security operations centre (SOC). The opposite holds true as well. You can connect existing non-cloud cameras to a centralised VSaaS solution using cloud-managed appliances to facilitate the connection to your SOC.

The true benefit of a hybrid-cloud deployment is that nothing is off limits. With this level of adaptability you can take advantage of new cloud-ready technology at any time. You can also hone in on specific requirements and organisational needs to deploy the right video surveillance solution at each location.

A hybrid-cloud strategy is built to last. If your organisation isn’t ready to transition to the cloud yet, you’ll have the opportunity to do so later on. You can be fully invested in a VMS deployment today, but slowly convert existing sites or add new sites using VSaaS when you’re ready, at your own pace. You can also add cloud-managed appliances at certain locations for additional edge processing and analytics while simplifying hardware maintenance for your team.

A hybrid-cloud deployment gives you the best of both worlds, making use of both VMS and VSaaS solutions when and where you need them.

Why unification matters for your physical security solution

One last important consideration? Prioritise physical security unification as part of your video surveillance decision. After all, you may start by upgrading your VMS or transitioning to VSaaS today. However, in a few years time you might be thinking about upgrading your access control or connecting your intercom and intrusion systems with your video surveillance solution.

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