Cloud technologies at the service of video surveillance

According to Eagle Eye Networks, video surveillance in the cloud will be the next disruptive technology (SaaS). The company, ahead of its time, offers the only open platform compatible with more than 3,500 camera models. Interview with Rishi Loshia, Managing Director of Eagle Eye Networks EMEA. 

How would you qualify the activity of Eagle Eye Networks? 

Rishi Lodhia: Eagle Eye Networks is a unique company within the industry of video surveillance. First and foremost, it is a Cloud technology Company in an industry that is still largely based on traditional local server solutions. Although we could have outsourced our cloud needs to the likes of AWS, Microsoft Azure, or Google, we chose to build out our own cloud infrastructure to obtain the needed layers of security, guarantee compliance with local regulations, reach the necessary price points, and minimize video latency. One of the keys to building a successful cloud and cyber business is owning the technology and infrastructure from end to end so you can deliver the best product. Cloud Video Surveillance has many benefits such as easy sharing of video and user management, flexibility when it comes to storing data for a fixed number of days.

Apart from these advantages, Eagle Eye Networks has another prime distinctive feature. Eagle Eye Networks operates as an open platform compatible with over 3500 camera models. Most of the Cloud solutions are only compatible with a few camera models which means a business needs to reinvest in camera hardware in order to benefit from the advantages of the Cloud. Eagle Eye Networks alas has an open API that can integrate with an infinite number of other applications.

A number of factors are driving the video surveillance trends in 2021.Innovation from companies like Eagle Eye Networks and our partners are leading and meeting the demands of customers for their video surveillance systems to provide business insights in addition to security. Combine the promise of AI and cloud video surveillance with the volatility, instability, and remote work environment of 2020, and we have an environment where people are looking for their video surveillance and security systems to deliver more business value than ever before. The acceleration of cloud adoption and use of analytics to provide improved security and drive business improvements will make 2021 a transformative year for the industry.

Video Surveillance and Security Trends for 2021:

• Customers are Asking for Cloud: The shift to the benefits of cloud in the video surveillance space are powerful and undeniable, including major cost savings, heightened data security, remote access and maintenance, flexible storage and retention, scalability, increased stability, and disaster recovery.
• Analytics and AI Turn Security Systems into Business Solutions: Video surveillance systems are not just for security anymore, they’re also a valuable tool for business intelligence (BI). While AI has been talked about for several years, its deployment has lagged. This year, we’ll see AI move from the lab to practical adoption.
• Compliance Requirements are Constantly Evolving: As video surveillance becomes a more widely adopted tool across industries and continents and more industries are using video for compliance purposes, regulating its use is becoming more prevalent.
• IT Departments More Engaged and Owning Video Surveillance: IT leaders have not only gotten involved in the video management system, they’re actually owning it. As part of their IT strategy, corporations are leveraging video for business process improvement while reducing unnecessary operational overhead.
• Demand for Open, Integrated Systems: An open and connected ecosystem makes it possible for businesses and developers to integrate any number of applications on a single video management system (VMS) platform. The platform handles all the heavy lifting of interfacing with the cameras, recording video, securely transmitting and storing video to the cloud, and making video available for use in the integrated applications. The days of vendors “locking” users into their cameras or touting “hybrid” systems (which require upgrades to vendor hardware to get new features) will not be accepted.
• User experience as a key factor to adopt solutions: user is the king. Ease of use, intuitive user interface, low latency connection, compatibility across several devices… rocket science at the reach of anyone thanks to a rewarding user experience.

In your industry, what advantage does the use of cloud technology and artificial intelligence represent? 

Rishi Lodhia: When we refer to analytics in relation to video security, we’re talking about the implementation of software or hardware to create smarter, more streamlined video security systems. Using analytics, businesses can detect and track people or objects, as well as report and analyze activity that takes place in the video. It’s a vital tool for building intelligent business security.

As more companies adopt the cloud for video surveillance, it’ll become more common for analytics to be deployed through cloud processing. This is great news for the security industry, as processing analytics in the cloud offers numerous benefits.

• Unlimited processing power and ability to make sense of large amounts of data

• No downtime with quick, global updates pushed through over the air updates

• Instantly transform standard analog and IP cameras into powerful AI solutions, without any additional onsite hardware.

Many industries are now realizing the potential of analytics with their video surveillance systems. Owners and operators can create long-term strategies based on the insights gained from their analytics.

Using analytics, business owners can determine the number of people entering and exiting the property at any given time. Monitoring the traffic flow and patterns of the establishment is crucial to operations, allowing better planning around staffing and business layouts.

Analytics also provides insight into employee behavior. Are proper procedures being followed? Are customer interactions positive or negative? This can highlight areas where further training may be needed or a change in policy is required.

What are the challenges specific to the video surveillance market? In addition, what are the future prospects for this market? 

Rishi Lodhia: It is clear that the cloud will be the dominant technology for Video Surveillance in the future. The challenges occur in a number of areas. First of all the importance of cybersecurity. As long as companies are still comfortable with connecting cameras to the company network with port forwarding thereby exposing their whole organization to a cybersecurity hack, it will take more time for the cloud to be adopted. Now with cybersecurity becoming a hotter topic by the day, more attention will be paid to the possibilities of Cloud Video Surveillance.

The other challenge concerns the fact that businesses don’t look beyond the possibilities of cameras other than surveillance. A camera can be considered a sensor that can detect abnormalities in a business and serve as a way to make your business and building smarter. Integrations with access control, other sensors, Point of Sale Systems can bring relevant information together and create a completely new business insight.

Employee theft is one of the biggest issues management is faced within the restaurant and retail space. With some systems, like the Eagle Eye Cloud VMS, you can integrate your point-of-sale (POS) and video surveillance to view sale and payment data in one place. Owners and operators can quickly and easily search transactions and view the video tied to events, streamlining investigations into suspicious transactions. Regardless of the industry or size of your business, analytics has a host of benefits to offer. Find out more about how advanced analytics in the Eagle Eye Cloud VMS is helping business owners and operators improve their operations across industries.

More specifically, what tools and solutions do you offer your customers? 

Rishi Lodhia: Eagle Eye Networks, Inc., is #1 in cloud video surveillance worldwide, addressing the needs of businesses, alarm companies, security integrators, cities, and individuals.  Eagle Eye’s 100% cloud managed solutions provide cloud and on-premise recording, bank level security and encryption, and broad analog and digital camera support – all accessed via the web or mobile applications. Businesses of all sizes and types utilize Eagle Eye solutions for operational optimization and security. All Eagle Eye products benefit from Eagle Eye’s developer friendly RESTful API platform and Big Data Video Framework ™, which allow for indexing, search, retrieval, and analysis of live and archived video. Eagle Eye’s open Video API has been widely adopted for integration in alarm monitoring, third party analytics, security dashboards, and point of sale system integrations.

Eagle Eye Networks sells its products through authorized global resellers and installation partners. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, USA, Eagle Eye has offices in Europe and Asia-Pacific.