Are You Ready for Cloud?

The rapid rise of cloud services is the most critical development in computing since the advent of the Internet. Cloud solutions are proven in various environments to enable businesses to easily take advantage of advanced IT capabilities. And now the video surveillance industry is following suit.

As we have all heard, transitioning to a cloud-based video surveillance model has many advantages. The SaaS subscription model makes it easier to scale up as organizations grow, and a cloud service is an operational expense rather than a capital expense, making budgeting simpler. There’s also more flexibility and access to a broader range of capabilities than on-premises video management infrastructure.

But moving to the cloud isn’t as simple as flicking a switch. You need to make sure you’re prepared. Readiness is everything.

Migrating your video and security operations to the cloud is a significant decision for any business. There are many moving parts to consider, and it’s imperative that you thoroughly plan your migration strategy and your roadmap.

The first step is to ensure that your primary stakeholders are aligned about the transition and its goals. When it comes to video surveillance, this will likely consist of your IT and physical security teams. But no matter who is involved, getting everyone on the same page is crucial to long-term success.

Once aligned, the evaluation process begins. The first decision is to select a public, private, or hybrid cloud option. There are primarily three different methods by which most organizations deploy cloud technology. For those adopting a private cloud, an enterprise uses proprietary architecture and runs cloud servers within its own data center. A public cloud model enables a company to partner with service providers that work with third-party cloud providers, such as Google Cloud, Amazon, or Microsoft. Finally, hybrid cloud models allow for a mix of on-premises and services within the public cloud.

What is best depends on your organizational requirements:

• The public cloud option expands capacity without requiring expensive hardware.
• Private cloud allows for greater customization and is typically deployed in mission-critical environments.
• A hybrid cloud video service can offer the best of both worlds. Non-essential video workloads can be stored in the cloud, but mission-critical data can be hosted within an on-premises video management system. Hybrid cloud also allows you to migrate to pure cloud over time on your schedule.

Once you’ve selected the specific cloud to base your deployment on, it’s time to evaluate service providers. Take the time to consider all the options: cost, support and service, cybersecurity impact, and deployment ease, for example. Will the vendor be able to support you as your organization grows? Do they require you to buy specific hardware, or are they an open platform? Can they integrate with your existing investments? During this process, you’ll also want to work closely with your integrator partner to gather their insight on options.

Once a selection is made, it’s time to think about training. Users — whether security, senior leadership, IT, or marketing — will need to learn how to use any new video service and aligned systems relevant to their roles once deployed. We’ve all heard it before: Adopting a new approach is pointless if your staff doesn’t know how to use it effectively.

A strategically planned and well-deployed video cloud solution can improve your business’s security, efficiency, intelligence, and risk management. When you take the time to consider all the best practices above, the cloud readiness journey is simpler than you imagine.

What are you waiting for?