Video surveillance as a service (VSaaS) is a model for security cameras in which recording, storage, management and viewing are delivered through a provider’s cloud platform, usually for a monthly or annual subscription per camera. Instead of running a digital or network video recorder (DVR or NVR) at each site and managing it yourself, you view and search video from a web browser or mobile app, and the provider handles software updates and storage. It is a common way for multi-site organizations to standardize physical security cameras.
At a glance
- Cameras connect to a provider’s cloud platform, directly or through a small on-site bridge or recorder.
- Video may be stored in the cloud, on-site, or a mix of both, depending on the provider and plan.
- You view live and recorded video from a browser or app, across all sites, without a VPN to each recorder.
- Pricing is typically per camera per month, with longer retention and analytics costing more.
- The provider handles platform updates; you still own camera placement, network capacity and privacy compliance.
What problem it solves
Traditional surveillance puts a recorder in a closet at every site. Each one has its own software, user accounts and storage, and each can fail, often without anyone noticing until the footage is needed. Viewing cameras remotely often means a VPN or exposing the recorder to the internet, which has been a common way attackers get in. Multi-site organizations often end up with a different system at each location and no single place to search footage.
VSaaS moves the management and much of the storage into a hosted platform. Footage can survive a stolen or damaged recorder, administrators manage users and cameras centrally, and the provider keeps the software patched. For lean IT teams, it turns cameras from a box to maintain into a service to manage.
How it works
Cameras and on-site hardware. Cameras are Internet of Things (IoT) devices on your network. Some platforms connect cameras straight to the cloud; others use an on-site bridge or appliance that buffers or records video locally and handles the cloud connection.
Recording and storage. Depending on the design, video is recorded continuously to the cloud, recorded locally with clips uploaded on motion or events, or kept locally with cloud backup of selected footage. Retention periods are set by plan, and longer retention usually costs more.
Platform and viewing. Users sign in to a web or mobile app to see live video, search recordings, export clips and manage permissions. Many platforms add analytics such as motion search, people or vehicle detection and alerts, sometimes running on the camera and sometimes in the cloud.
Network. Uploading video uses bandwidth, especially for continuous cloud recording. Cameras are often placed on their own network segment to limit what they can reach, a common IoT security practice.
When it matters for buyers
- When opening a new office. Starting with a cloud-managed platform avoids adding one more recorder to maintain.
- When an old DVR or NVR fails or reaches end of life. Replacement is a natural point to compare cloud-managed options.
- When standardizing many sites. One platform, one login and one search across locations is the main draw.
- When pairing with door access. Many buyers link cameras with access control as a service (ACaaS) so door events can be checked against video.
- When upload bandwidth is limited. Sites on slow connections may need local recording rather than continuous cloud streaming.
Questions to ask vendors
- Where is video recorded and stored: in the cloud, on-site or both? What happens during an internet outage?
- How much upload bandwidth will each site need with our camera count and retention settings?
- Can we use our existing cameras, or do we need yours? What happens to the cameras if we leave?
- How long is footage retained on each plan, and what does longer retention cost?
- Which analytics are included, and do they run on the camera or in the cloud?
- How are user access, multi-factor authentication and audit logs handled?
- Where is video stored geographically, and how do you support our privacy and retention obligations?
How it differs from traditional CCTV
Traditional closed-circuit television (CCTV) records to equipment on site, typically a DVR for analog cameras or an NVR for IP cameras, which you buy and manage yourself. VSaaS moves management, and often some or all storage, to a provider’s platform paid by subscription. On-site systems can avoid recurring fees and upload bandwidth; VSaaS trades those for central management, remote access and provider-maintained software. For help comparing options, see our video surveillance overview.