Cloudview has launched what it calls a corporate-grade surveillance solution offering IP and cloud-based technology without, the firm claims, the associated costs or complexity.
The company says that CCTV users remain stubbornly attached to analogue; digital IP systems still account for little more than a fifth of new installs. And a huge installed base is highly reluctant to change. According to Cloudview CEO, James Wickes, one reason for this is the need to rip and replace analogue CCTV infrastructures so as to upgrade. Despite benefits such as simpler remote monitoring, wireless connectivity and integration with other applications, he believes buyers remain suspicious of digital, viewing them as more complex and insecure.
Cloudview offers a VSaaS (Video Surveillance as a Service) package, comprising a Visual Network Adapter (VNA) connected to the company’s cloud-based Visual Network System (VNS). The maker say the product can be added to any analogue CCTV system without affecting recording and monitoring arrangements. It’s scalable from one to thousands of cameras and no up-front investment in IP infrastructure is required. Installation the firm says takes minutes with minimal technical knowledge required. Other features include support for wired, WiFi and 3G/4G; integration with external alarm sensors and device actuators, and with ARC (Alarm Receiving Centre) platforms; monitoring of camera availability and alerting when cameras go off-line; edge recording to SD card if the network connection is lost; built-in motion detection; email and SMS alerting; and automatic remote updates.
The cloud-based video can be managed and accessed from a browser using a notebook, tablet or smartphone. The firm adds that applications include remote sites such as wind and solar farms, storage yards and sports venues. Or, the product adds remote monitoring and alerting to a CCTV system without the need for VPN tunnelling, fixed IP addressing or extra IT; or, you can add visual verification to intruder alarms.
James Wickes said: “The analogue comfort blanket has served the surveillance market well but is starting to show its age and needs to be brought up to date. That shouldn’t, however, mean throwing the baby out with the bathwater. Which is why we have developed Cloudview to deliver remote camera monitoring and management in a format that can be added to existing analogue set-ups. It is simple to install and doesn’t require significant additional investment.”
The Cloudview VNA firmware is automatically updated over the Internet. New releases are distributed and applied to fix problems and deliver new features. These include support for digital IP as well as analogue cameras, one of several upgrades planned for later this year.
Available
Shipping now, Cloudview is available direct to installation companies. Aimed at corporate and high-value domestic customers, VNA units are supplied pre-configured, with the makers claim minimal training or IT expertise required, plus a flexible subscription model for the cloud-based VNS component which will enable suppliers to profit from sales and ongoing service revenues.
For more on Cloudview, visit www.cloudview.co
