The demand for Video Surveillance as a Service (VSaaS) is on the rise. These solutions, which provide users with complete managed solutions, bring the advantages of cloud to video surveillance.
Nigel Waterton, Chief Revenue Officer of Arcules, comments, “So much of our lives and personal data is cloud-based. So, why can’t that translate to business?”
The VSaaS Value Proposition
It doesn’t take much for managed services providers (MSPs) and value-added resellers (VARs) to communicate VSaaS’ value to their clients.
Waterton explains, “The cloud has proven to be a highly functional, flexible and convenient method for end users to leverage as part of their strategies to comprehensively protect and modernize their facilities. Centralized management is one of these critical benefits, garnering the ability to access information from any place at any time and from a range of connected devices.”
Also, he says VSaaS is scalable. So, as a business grows and its needs change, the business can store and manage video data through the cloud rather than new infrastructure. “This reduces the complexity that may come with expansion,” Waterton says.
Furthermore, VSaaS takes the burden of maintenance off internal resources. “Software updates via the cloud are automatic. End users benefit from always having a system that’s up to date with the latest software,” he says.
Last, but by no means least, Waterton says VSaaS users also benefit from enhanced security. “Cloud has often gotten a bad rap for being insecure, but in fact, the ability to identify and patch vulnerabilities automatically gives cloud a significant advantage over on-premises solutions that must be manually updated by on-site teams.”
“As we begin to realize that the common misconceptions of the cloud are out the window — like data security — the demand for VSaaS will only grow,” he says.
Building a Competitive VSaaS Offering
VSaaS solutions typically include remote camera setup and remote management, automatic software updates, and centralized views. Waterton adds, “The addition of access control and other Internet of Things (IoT) device functionality is enhancing VSaaS offerings by bringing in multiple data points into a common operational picture.”
He says that it’s also vital for VARs and MSPs to look for a vendor partner who has taken user experience and ease of use into account.
Waterton points out that an MSP’s or VAR’s expertise is also a vital component of top offerings. “The most successful VSaaS providers can speak the language of the IT manager, down to how to address security concerns and conduct security via the network,” he says.
“Differentiators in VSaaS offerings come down to the ability to use a wide range of your existing camera infrastructure, built-in analytics functionality via the cloud, and the ease of use of the platform. These set VSaaS providers apart,” Waterton says.
And, although VSaaS is an opportunity to build recurring revenue for your business, smart MSPs and VARs will also recognize that the as a Service model also translates to value for your clients, budget-wise. It allows them to replace large capital expenditures for hardware with a manageable, predictable operating expense.
The VSaaS Outlook
Waterton says now is the time to “think about the future of your business, and the way to do that is to abandon the ‘old’ way of thinking about security.”
He says it’s particularly important to offer VSaaS if your business deals with global organizations with multiple locations and low camera counts. “They’re adopting this kind of an approach because of the ability to scale up or down as needs change, store endless amounts of data, and keep a centralized management of multiple locations,” Waterton explains. Businesses where VSaaS has a strong play include retailers with multiple stores, property management companies, schools and educational facilities, and enterprise businesses with multiple locations.
“Traditional, project-based work is going by the wayside as more and more customers demand managed services,” Waterton says. “Integrators that diversify their portfolios by incorporating cloud-based video management services can bring more to the table to customers and help guide them into the wave of the future of security.” 
