Juri Knjazev, UK Managing Director, Axxonsoft provides his exclusive insight into cloud-based video surveillance and storage solutions, and offers insights into future trends
Axxonsoft has established itself as a significant player in the video surveillance and storage industry. Can you share some of the major trends you’ve observed in the Video Management Software (VMS) space over the past few years?
Certainly. Over the years, we’ve witnessed several noteworthy developments within the industry, with artificial intelligence (AI) emerging as one of the most prominent trends. AI has enabled us to analyse video streams, detect objects and events of interest, and empower security operators to perform their duties efficiently and effectively. However, there are other significant advancements to mention, such as the rise of cloud solutions and VSaaS (Video Management Software as a Service). Many video management software solutions have transitioned to the cloud due to its increasing popularity. This shift is driven by factors like scalability, affordability, and ease of deployment.
Another notable trend is the integration of Internet of Things (IoT) and edge computing. Edge computing is a distributed computing paradigm that brings computation and data storage closer to data sources. It has proven beneficial for video management systems by reducing latency and improving performance. Additionally, IoT devices are entering the ecosystem, introducing a variety of sensors that provide valuable data for VMS applications. Cybersecurity is an ever-present concern in this landscape, and it has been a focus for the past decade. Finally, integrating third-party systems, such as access control and intruder panels, has been an ongoing development.
Let’s take a moment to focus on VSaaS and the cloud-based solutions. Could you elaborate on the advantages that cloud solutions offer compared to traditional video surveillance setups?
In the security industry, we’ve witnessed a significant shift towards cloud-based solutions, primarily because they offer superior scalability. When customer demand for software grows, cloud-based systems can dynamically allocate resources without the need for substantial initial capital investments in hardware. This scalability can lead to cost savings as you can adjust your resources up or down according to your needs. Moreover, cloud solutions eliminate the need for hardware procurement and installation, streamlining deployment.
Additionally, cloud-based systems bring decentralisation, enhancing security and stability. They allow remote access from anywhere in the world, and the geographical dispersion of cloud infrastructure increases resilience against physical disasters and cyberattacks.
One of the primary challenges we’ve encountered in the VMS and PSIM spaces, especially with the rapid evolution of technology, is the need to keep pace with these technological advancements. The AI space, in particular, has been progressing at a breakneck speed, and it has been crucial for us to align our offerings with market demands. To stay competitive, we’ve had to invest significantly in research and development to integrate AI effectively into our portfolio.
Additionally, our customer base is quite diverse, ranging from small companies and individual users to large enterprises, each with unique requirements. Meeting these varied needs can be challenging, but it’s a priority for us. Furthermore, specific verticals we serve are subject to compliance and regulations, adding another layer of complexity.
The growing popularity of cloud solutions has also been a significant factor. We need to ensure that we align our development efforts with this trend to remain competitive.
Storage is a critical concern in video surveillance. How is Axxonsoft addressing the challenges of large-scale storage solutions and requirements, and are there any innovations on the horizon to make this process more efficient?
Addressing the storage challenge involves several strategies. We start by supporting the latest codecs and compression techniques, collaborating closely with hardware and camera manufacturers to reduce data sizes. We integrate devices to work with the latest codecs, including proprietary ones.
Moreover, we explore various storage methods, such as standard hard drives and solid-state drives, depending on customer requirements for latency and data access speed. This approach allows us to optimise performance and cost-effectiveness. For example, we might use solid-state drives for databases and traditional hard drives for video storage.
We’ve also partnered with companies like Seagate to offer cloud storage options. Our system seamlessly integrates with their live cloud offerings, eliminating the need for middleware or additional data processing. This ensures scalability to meet changing customer storage requirements.
In essence, we continuously collaborate with manufacturers to incorporate the best storage solutions into our offerings at all levels, ensuring optimal performance for our customers.
Could you highlight some of the technological innovations in your latest products that differentiate you from competitors?
Let’s start with our investment in in-house AI capabilities. We have a dedicated computer vision team focused on introducing new AI and computer vision functionalities to our products. This investment gives us the flexibility to tailor AI to the specific needs of our clients and partners. While we offer generic AI models, we also provide AI that’s trained to meet unique requirements, which sets us apart in the market. Training these models can be a substantial effort, but our years of work in optimising software and analytics, alongside collaborations with companies like Intel and Seagate, have allowed us to deliver AI solutions quickly and with high performance.
We also harness the power of data for informed decision-making. Analytics, AI, and machine learning generate vast amounts of data and metadata, which we utilise for forensic searches, quick event response, and operator insights. Our approach focuses on extracting meaningful data from video content and combining it with information from other sources, including access control and IoT devices. This data-driven, integrated approach is a hallmark of our offerings…
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