Storage - Cloud or Premise

CCTV is all about Storage.
 
Footage is of essential importance for Video Forensics or Evidence. This is the one reason that has driven CCTV Technology forward. People wanted more in terms of quality of pictures. People wanted better forensics. People wanted durable storage medium's and eventually people now want to access these pictures or videos on the fly.
 
To understand this technology one needs to look at the evolution so to speak of Storage.
 
Let’s look at Evolution of Storage Technology.
 
To begin with CCTV Cameras were recorded on VHS Tapes based on Video Recorders. These Recorders were Time lapsed so that many hours of footage could be stored on a single 3 hour tape. However, VHS Tapes had issues not just resolution but also with storage and quantity. The quality reduced when it was played back a number of times plus the tapes itself were prone to due to fungus accumulation etc.. Finally managing a large number of tapes became a nightmare to a security manager. 
 
The next evolution came about when Digital Video Recorders were introduced and CD /DVD Disc’s were used to store evidence. The quality was better and also durability was better but again management was an issue in terms of number of disc's to be stored. Even today crucial evidence is exported to CD / DVD disc.
 
The next natural progression came with increased capacity in terms of Hard Drive Storage being available and thus today almost of recordings are stored on SAN/NAS based Storage devices. With larger pixel density cameras being available storage sizes have risen dramatically over the years. A decade ago Security Managers looked at 8GB storage as being massive, while today most system would need around 30 for 40 GB of Storage to begin with.

In terms of Technology earlier in what was the Digital Video Recorder days All Management in terms of Recording Resolution, Frame was done locally on the DVR and number of days were restricted by size of the Hard Drive. Event back up’s were taken on CD / DVD Drives and in some cases you could export the event to a remote computer for back up over the Network.

IP CCTV evolved in the same manner but instead of the DVR came a server which got connected and all management was done at the server level and as technology evolved Storage Size became only limited by financial constraints of cost of the storage and typically these days people even prefer archiving the important events onto a remote Cloud.

Today Cloud based Storage for Archiving is becoming popular with a number of Small Business (SOHO)  and Distributed Small Businesses looking to store data on the Cloud. Video Surveillance Companies are offering Cloud Storage and Video on Demand or Video as a Service based on Cloud Storage. Residences are turning to Cloud Computing for Remote access and view of their homes.

Let's face it Cloud Based Storage does have some real strong advantages.

It allows you to

1. Reduce your IT Infrastructure footprint.
2. Allows you access to highly scable IT infrastructure on the go or on demand.
3. Extends the functionality of your on premise Security system
4. Reduces the indirect costs of managing your IT infrastructure ( Servers, Cooling, Power etc.. )

Finally as far as a Security Manager is concerned -- REDUCES THE RELIANCE ON CORPORATE IT TEAMS.

 Now let me not give you the feel that I am all for Cloud Storage..

Cloud Storage has serious problems which most vendors will not admit on record.

Most VMS platforms have still not evolved to handle multiple site cloud based server storage streaming... ( I can hear hundred's of voices already protesting ) and most will not admit this.. Secondly due to the huge bandwidth requirements involved if we have a large system it would become quite an expensive affair in the end not just from the size of storage but also managing the streams and the uplinks etc couple that with High Megapixel Camera streams and it can become a huge problem.

Finally with all the security concerns which exist today Cloud Storage is still a major problem. Most IT companies will never admit this as a problem but the problem exists and its only after a breach has occurred that people say a breach has occurred.. Only a couple of days ago did we hear of the data leak at Zomato.. The number may have been reduced but the fact is the breach occurred. Similarly if the network fails due to various issues down the line you would lose a lot of data (and if your luck is bad) of critical importance.

So what is the answer?

Well in my experience there is no real straight forward answer.. The answer lies in the Honesty of all people involved in the organization to the various questions asked by the Security Audit teams and the ability of people to rise and raise their hands up when required.

Can you accept a data breach?
How many days / hours of data can you afford to lose in a day?

In large systems I recommend a Hybrid approach. Store on premise and archive important footage on the cloud. 

I guess as of today I would say from my personal opinion that Cloud Storage is strictly for non serious storage / redundancy.

All comments / brickbats welcome..



 

Security Automation Consulting

Well, Its been a while since I wrote anything worthwhile.
 
The process being called laziness!
 
Finally after much delay and thought I finally decided to jump into the arena and become the dreaded Consultant.
 
The thought process being that if I can, I should change the process from within the system.

 

Our Industry has plenty of Consultants, surprising most of them survive, Most have very little / actual knowledge of the Systems they recommend and yet they survive.

Why do people appoint Consultants?

  

1.To be able to get advice on picking the right system for the application
 
2.To be able to create a common benchmark for vendors to submit competitive bids
 
3.To be able to create the correct Bill of Quantities
 
4.To get an informed view on the systems and technologies available
 
5.To ensure the security automation is done to industry standards

 
What do most Consultants do?

 1.They use a  one size fits all scheme and merely change legends for different clients

 2.They prefer using a bunch of systems and products due to various reasons

 3.Hardly ever take responsibility for the systems installed

 4.Never ever do an Audit of the systems they specify and recommend.

 
So What is it that I do which is different?
 
Well to begin with .. Since I have been on the other side of the table for the past 30 years I possibly know more about systems than any of the present lot of consultants
 
Secondly here is a list of activities I propose to do to begin with

  

•Site Visits for Risk Assessment & Design Consideration
 
•Creating a recommendation documentation for Client
 
•Drafting of Performance Specification & BOQ
 
•Short list Vendors for Bidding post Due Diligence Process
 
•Strategy & Design for Security Systems, Lighting & Control
 
•Create a Tender Document “RFQ”
 
•Evaluations of Tender based on RFQ and provide detailed analysis.
 
•Project Management
 
•Submit variations and compliances to the Client based on Tender RFQ
 
•System Trails / POC and commencement of the installation
 
•Audit Installations & Provide Consultancy on Upgrades
 
•Create and Audit Training program for Client
 
•Audit System for Gaps based on Initial Recommendations & Variations

What is my USP?

1. I am the only one possibly who has installed systems.
2. I am the only one has certifications from various OEM's.
3. I am the only one who  specializes in CCTV.
4. I am the only who has worked with OEM's.
5. I am the only one who has introduced Technology to India Security Market.
6. I am the only one who understands the viewpoint of a System Integrator and Client

I am completely independent and technically qualified to go through various technicalities of systems.

I propose to only propose systems and designs based on client needs.
 
Let me try and see if I can make a difference..
 
SO HERE GOES.. GOOD LUCK TO ME!!!!!

Survey on Video Management Systems

Would you guys take 5 minutes of your time and do this survey please! 

Much Appreciated! 

Thanks!

Video Management Systems Survey

Smart Cities & City Surveillance

These days I meet people and generally talk about perceptions and requirements. Invariably the talk veers towards “Smart City Programmes”…. Mostly I guess the Term “City Surveillance” is losing its sheen.

Sales Guys!!!!!! The Lengths they will go to try and bring something new on the table even when they don’t have a clue as to what they mean!

City Surveillance began as a Pilot project at a few intersections at Jaipur in 2002 -2003 under the guise of Traffic Management. This Pilot project was carried out of India’s premier R&D centre C-DAC Trivandrum under the leadership of Shri. V. Muralidharan, Director, C-DACP & Shri. P. Ravikumar, Deputy Director, CIG, C-DAC. Later this was repeated at Pune. A paper on this can be found at

http://www.webelmediatronics.in/ATCS/CDAC%20writeup%20of%20Pune%20survey.pdf

I was associated with both these projects and in a way can take some amount of credit for being the first to start implementing surveillance which could have a positive impact on our daily life and make travel and commute safer and better. I am proud of this achievement.

However I am not here to TOMTOM my achievements but the thought which comes to me is

Are we Indian’s doing the right thing by trying to do stuff which is neither here or there and which in the long will not benefit any of us?

What am I talking about?

Let’s face it…. We are happily going about selling City Surveillance and Smart City Projects across the country.

I am also aware of a number of Large Multi National Organisations who are happily meeting various Governments with offers of financing schemes as long as their systems are installed. Come on you Sales Guys this is your country! The Country deserves systems and processes which we can provide to fulfill our objectives without compromising on quality of surveillance! Sadly our Truly Fantastic Sales Guys are happy doing their numbers, grabbing their sales incentives / bonuses and forget that they sell stuff that their country doesnot deserve.

A truly smart city approach would be integration of all possible video feeds from all public surveillance feeds to be really effective since this would actually enable transfer of data between agencies. After all the Law Enforcement Agency is the one which comes into operation the moment an incident takes place.

I don’t want to sound like the proverbial guy with the Pin to prick the bubble but the truth is that this is not possible in today’s scenario and there is no thought process that the road to be taken needs to have a destination of commonality!

Now this is interesting..Spare some of your time and think…

What if we have a common platform across cities which would be truly SMART!

We can achieve

• A Common Database of Criminals which can be shared and updated online on the go across cities

• Video Feeds could be accessed across cities from any location across the country

• A nationalized database which the centre can access and step in for priority requirements

Face Recognition options for the Law Enforcement Agencies for online recognition and updation of Database right from the streets to Police Stations to Check Post at borders to Jails and Various Public Locations across the Country!

Will we ever get to being SMART from a Technology point of View?

We are as a race extremely SMART!

By the way I was speaking about CCTV! ☺☺☺☺

Access Control

Most Corporates install systems which are based on global standards and policies, however what’s interesting is that Global Pricing standards are followed in India as well for systems and features which are not relevant or used in India.

Today modern access control systems have advanced greatly to lower cost of per door installations plus adding features like integrated photo badging, integration to digital video / CCTV, telephone entry systems and many more features that provide for scaling of access to corporate assets.

While my knowledge on Access Control is limited, I have found that over 60% of the installations in India specifically corporate installations use only a small percentage of the features available in the systems. I haven’t found any of the Security Managers complaining about the lack of feature utilization but the thought has always played in my mind that if a feature to price evaluation was done would the same Security Managers and Commercial Bean bags start looking at installations in a new manner.

Some Security Managers may not even know a feature is available in the system and the fault lies with the installer and OEM for not educating the end user. This is not because they don’t want to educate the end client but most of the time due to lack of information that the local teams have about the systems themselves.

Our Security Managers are some of the best in the world and would probably find a relevant method to use a particular feature of the system to suit Indian conditions and most of them know what will be used and what will not be used in India.

Access control systems which are sold to Corporate Clients use Enterprise class licensing and the OEM rides on this to sell at a price level negotiated for Global Clients in India… So we end up paying for what is never going to be used.. What if the Security Manager had a say and indicated feature to price benefit exercise? It would shake up this market and get prices downwards.. Prices would be re-negotiated on a region to region basis and we would still end up with some of the best technologies at a lower cost.

I may not be 100% correct on this assumption but hey the pressure would be on the OEM to justify the kind of price and service provided in India.

I am actually quite keen on seeing what the experts in this field have to say about this thought process and would anyone actually go about this exercise to downscale feature availability based on installations?