Industry executives and experts share their predictions for 2023.  Read them in this 15th annual VMblog.com series exclusive.

The Year Ahead: Digital Transformation Propels Modernization

By Bob Wall, CTO, Edge360

It's no surprise: Digital transformation is the centerpiece of new experiences. There is no business strategy without a plan in place. The adoption and interest in embracing the IoT and advanced networked technologies continue as organizations pursue a "digital-first" policy for onboarding new workloads. And today, more than ever, we expect to see security and IT leaders look to modernize their video surveillance infrastructures to support ongoing digital transformation efforts. 

As we look to the future of video management in 2023, we must explore advanced solutions that deliver the IT functionality and protection that mission-critical organizations need. Video management systems play a crucial role in modern security systems, and organizations must continue to invest in this technology. But yesterday's VMS - proprietary, hardware-focused, and built on legacy OS - no longer fit into today's risk-focused enterprise organizations.   

VMS architecture should promote interoperability, scalability, and reliability; therefore, older video management solutions are not the best fit to address the changing risks that companies are up against. Today there are more risks to consider. Cybersecurity is critical, in addition to emerging security issues, such as active shooters and employee theft. The days of using an antiquated video system are quickly coming to an end.    

Almost 20 years ago, video cameras evolved from analog to digital, and now video management must follow suit. IT leaders are becoming involved in selecting and deploying these once-traditional physical security solutions as more organizations adopt an IT-centric security infrastructure. Now is the time to adapt to more advanced systems.    

Although video surveillance is not a new addition to the security market, it is one of the few solutions that almost every vertical requires. But most businesses are not experiencing the full scope of what's possible across their organization because many VMS systems deployed today utilize older technology. Data-driven enterprises need fully containerized VMS equipped with the frameworks, databases, and remote capabilities they need at deployment.    

How does containerization drive more modern VMS capabilities? Quite simply, containers are the choice for modern enterprises because they are more flexible and resource-efficient than virtual machines (VMs). Containers enable users to develop and implement applications, such as video management, more rapidly and securely. Bugs and errors often result from code generated in a specific computing environment being installed. This problem is eliminated by containerization, which bundles the application code with the required configuration files, libraries, and dependencies. This "container" can run alone on any platform or cloud without issues.    

With so many options available today, what makes containerized VMS systems more optimal than traditional VMS systems? Containerized VMS solutions have all the prerequisites pre-configured and installed for functionality, and they do not need any additional frameworks or database software. Containers are ready to implement instantly. Because these systems do not have different server requirements, deployments are hassle-free and built with complex global situations in mind.    

Here are other benefits to consider:   

• Ease of Management: Containers automate workloads and service installation, scaling, and management. Containers simplify tasks such as scaling applications, adding new cameras or IoT devices, and providing monitoring, logging, and ongoing system health monitoring.  

• Easy Upgrades: Containers can run simultaneously, allowing a seamless and safe upgrade process. The old container continues to run while the new one is built. Once the new container is made, it is validated and tested by the software while the other is still working. A server update becomes active during a rolling cluster upgrade.  

• Security: Overall, there are added layers of security inherent to using containers. The isolation of application containers prevents malicious attacks from affecting other containers or the host operating system. Additionally, security permissions can block unwanted components from entering containers or limit communications with unnecessary or insecure resources. 

• Eco-Friendly: Containerized video management requires fewer servers than a traditional video management system. This leads to less upfront infrastructure cost, reduced heating and cooling requirements, and a data center footprint.    

The video surveillance and physical security markets are evolving, embracing cloud and IT infrastructure more rapidly than ever before. We expect 2023 to be the year we truly see a shift in the buying cycle, with more organizations leaning toward platforms built on a modern OS that can easily support IT requirements. Do you agree? 

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Robert Wall is Chief Technology Officer for Edge360. In this role, he is accountable for the company's strategy, development, and cross-functional delivery of Edge360’s technology portfolio. Wall is a proven leader with years of experience in managing diverse product portfolios and strategies, and in working closely with partners and customers to drive software innovation.