Debunking Cloud Myths: Top 4 New User Misconceptions

Cloud storage for video surveillance is the trend of the IT market for the next 5 years, and maybe even more. According to statistics from the International Data Commission, global spending on cloud adoption increased by nearly 24% in 2019 alone. This trend will continue and the numbers will grow. 

But despite the popularity of the technology, there are myths that undermine the reputation of cloud services. 

The growth rate of cloud solutions

Over the past 10 years of market development, cloud technology has grown literally exponentially. Whereas previously they were used by small organizations, today video surveillance with recording in the cloud can be found in large enterprises. 

But even this trend has not convinced all end users of the technology. 

Why are myths born?

Myths about IP video surveillance “the cloud” are born for the same reason as other misconceptions. More often than not, it is due to skepticism and a lack of deep knowledge of the topic. Those who doubt the effectiveness of cloud technology simply don’t understand how it works. 

Top 4 Myths and Misconceptions

Most of the doubts about the use of cloud technology have to do with security and efficiency. Let’s examine and refute the most common ones. 

Difficult

In video surveillance, cybersecurity is important. In analog systems, all data is stored on hard drives or video recorders without remote access. As a result, all the information recorded from the cameras is not protected in any way. Storage devices could be broken, all data could be erased from them, etc. This cannot be the case with cloud surveillance. The information from the monitoring goes to a remote service that only the owner has access to via a special security code. Hacking such storage is unreal. 

For more information on the issue, see the articles “Cybersecurity of video surveillance systems. How to Protect Information” and “Cloud versus hard drive. Once again, about secure data storage.” 

Sophisticated systems

Many people avoid new technology because they think it will be technically difficult to implement and use. However, cloud solutions, on the contrary, were invented to make it easier to use the security surveillance system. 

For example, you don’t need a lot of equipment to connect the cloud, just cameras, a cell phone and an app. For comparison, “Complete list of expenses for home video surveillance.” 

With less hardware, systems are easier to scale and maintain. All updates happen automatically, and to implement a new camera, all you have to do is connect it to a shared service. 

Cloud video surveillance most often features remote diagnostics and notifications. The user can troubleshoot all problems remotely via the Internet without involving specialists. 

Low bandwidth

In fact, cloud technology works on a different principle of data transfer. The service doesn’t dump all the information into the cloud, which could reduce the bandwidth of the system.

Video footage is stored in the IP camera and is only transferred to the storage if the user requests it or if a suspicious situation is detected. This ensures that important video files always reach the cloud. 

Read more: “Reduce the cost of HD video surveillance bandwidth“.

Expensiveness

The term “expensive” can be seen in two ways. The first is the installation of the system. A cloud solution is much cheaper to implement than an analog because the purchase of additional equipment is avoided. For example, you don’t need to buy video recorders, services, hard disks, access control accessories, etc. for a cloud solution. 

Secondly, the use of cloud video surveillance. let’s consider this issue on the example of Faceter. In order to actively use the service, the user will only need to pay for two things: 

• For mobile Internet to keep in touch with the system. But most often this monthly fee has long been included in the costs; 
• for the chosen tariff. Read more at the link. 

Thus, the connection and continued use of the cloud can easily fit 1 000 rubles monthly. 

Conclusion

Most of the myths about cloud video surveillance are wrong. They have appeared due to a general lack of user awareness of the technological capabilities of the systems. But there is nothing surprising because cloud technology wasn’t that well known five years ago, and because of its rapid development, not everyone has time to follow the trend.