Smart Buildings: Focus on Networking and Video Surveillance

David King

December 09, 2024

Enhance operations and reduce expenses by bringing video surveillance (OT) and IT network best practices together.

Video Surveillance systems are used globally across industries. Nowadays, many organizations are not just encouraged but mandated to implement physical security and monitoring solutions and processes. 

In a recent webinar, Smart Buildings: Focus on Networking and Video Surveillance, ALE security expert, Aaron Cole and I, weighed in on video surveillance industry trends, challenges and solutions.  Here are some of our thoughts.

Where the industry is going

The industry is seeing an ever-increasing convergence of OT (Operational Technology) and IT (Information Technology) networks. In fact, according to Virtue Market Research, 80% of companies experience cost savings through OT-IT convergence. Buildings are becoming smarter and smarter with the help of IoTs (Define IoT) that need to connect through wired and wireless networks. They are best deployed with the OT and IT groups aware of each other’s requirements and working together for optimal operations, cost efficiency and zero-trust security.

Some interesting stats related to OT-IT convergence include:

• The market is predicted to grow at a CAGR of 21% until 2030
• 87% of industry leaders see a transformative impact on operations
• Cybersecurity breaches are reduced by 70% with integrated OT-IT solutions

We touched on three key trends and innovations in video surveillance systems: AI operations (AIOps), converging networks and cybersecurity.

AI Operations (AIOps)

By leveraging AI Operations, video surveillance deployments can achieve greater efficiency, reliability and adaptability. Things to consider when deploying a video surveillance system include:

• Orchestrate: define, approve and use configuration templates
• Manage: apply role-based and operator-based management and deploy issue resolution toolkits like VMS plug-ins
• Monitor: Consider and deploy a network management system that can monitor, backup and restore the network, ideally for Integrators, remotely

Converging networks

Video surveillance was once easy – basic, minimal and plug-and-play. Today, to deliver enhanced functionality, it has become more complex. The key components of a video surveillance system include:

• Surveillance IoT (Cameras, Physical Access, etc)
• Software (VMS)
• Servers
• Storage 
• Switches

As you can see, there are a lot of areas where Video Surveillance solutions can leverage IT, or IT practices, for the deployment and lifecycle management of these systems. These may include tools for simplifying and securing the deployment of video surveillance systems. Bringing video surveillance (OT) and IT network best practices together can significantly enhance operations and reduce expenses. You can create a cohesive and efficient building ecosystem by integrating communication systems and technologies.

Cybersecurity

The increasing deployment of IoTs in smart buildings are also increasing cyberattack surfaces. That said, what is the best route forward? Implementing a zero-trust architecture. For instance, creating a specific segment in the network for video surveillance will minimize the spread of cyberattacks stemming from cameras to the rest of the organization’s network. It also makes it easier to contain access to the video surveillance system to only authorized users. 

To learn more about video surveillance industry trends and solutions, watch our on-demand webinar.