SaaS (Software-as-a-Service) is a software licensing and delivery model in which software is licensed on a subscription basis and centrally hosted, much like your cellphone service. This model is being adopted by many security professionals as a way to remove the technical upkeep burden from their customers.
Now a proven operating model, SaaS is being extended further into the security market with the introduction of Video-
Surveillance- as-a-Service.
A server is a device that provides functionality for other programs or devices, also known as “clients.” Servers can provide various functionalities, often called “services,” such as sharing data or resources among multiple clients, or performing computation for a client. Typical servers are database servers, file servers, mail servers, print servers, web servers, game servers and application servers. In physical security, the server is the computer platform where the VMS or other security applications reside. In on-premises applications, the server is the hardware that supports the software application.
Software is the part of a computer system that consists of encoded information or computer instructions, as opposed to the physical hardware from which the system is built. The term is roughly synonymous with computer program or application. Software can also be referred to as firmware for devices such as cameras or access control equipment. The software is what you are purchasing when you acquire a VMS to load on your own computing servers.
Storage, often called memory, is a technology that houses the data created by the computer or video camera. A “byte” is the smallest measurement of data storage. But when you are talking about video, the most common terminologies used are gigabytes and terabytes. Your security policy should dictate how long you need to store video, at what resolution and frame rate. Based on this information, you can calculate the approximate amount of storage you will need to comply with your campus’ security policy.
Streaming is how a provider delivers video to an end-user. The verb “to stream” refers to the process of sending content for real-time viewing without requiring it to be stored on the end-users’ device. It is an alternative to downloading a file for later viewing. While viewing live video, the images are streaming to your computer, tablet or other mobile device as they happen. If you want to view a recording from the day before, you can either download the entire file or download a portion of it and start reviewing it while the rest downloads. The latter is would be considered streaming media.
Virus is the same as malware.
A VMS (Video Management System), also known as video management software or a video management server, is a component of a security camera system that collects video from cameras and other sources, records and stores that video to a storage device, and provides an interface to both view the live video and access recorded video. There are a variety of VMS developers including Axis, Milestone, Genetec, Exacq, IpConfigure and others that develop software to record video from network cameras. Their software is loaded on PC servers provided by the customer.
VSaaS (Video-Surveillance-as-a-Service) refers to hosted cloud-based video surveillance. The service typically includes video recording, storage, remote viewing, management alerts and cyber security. The video processing and management is performed offsite using the cloud, though the VSaaS system may have a simple onsite device to serve as the communication conduit between the cameras and the cloud.
Depending on the solution, the benefits of VSaaS could include lower capital investments while maintaining desired camera coverage. Customers are charged a monthly fee that is based on the number of video feeds and the amount of storage required so operating expenses reflect the actual resources a customer uses and consumption of those resources can be adjusted as needed.
James Marcella ([email protected]) has been a technologist in the security and IT industries for nearly two decades. He is currently director of technical services for Axis Communications (www.axis.com). Definitions were gleaned from a variety of sources, including Wikipedia, Google and the Axis knowledge database.
