“Video Analytics has Been Over-sold and Underused”: The Future of Video Surveillance Panel Debate

A discussion panel at IFSEC 2016 recently looked into its crystal ball to consider the future of video surveillance.

Simon Adcock, CEO of Wolverhampton-based integration firm ATEC Fire & Security, set the background. “IP got traction and revolutionised images,” he said. “It’s an exciting new world, but IT has not annihilated CCTV.

“Video analytics failed to live up to the hype. Now there are new methods of image collection, such as drones and body-worn video, with all their Big Brother connotations.”

Cyber security must inevitably form part of any discussion about the future of security. Chris Garden, MD of FLIR, which manufactures thermal cameras, warned that hackers are forever raising the bar.

“For example, Talk Talk has been hacked. VMS is hardening as we put in a lot of anti-malware. Cyber security is now very important.”

What we need to do is sell default security protection out of the box. We must create products with a default zone in and educate the market.” Atul Rajput, director for Northern Europe, Axis Communications

Earlier this year Cloudview published research suggesting that both traditional DVR-based systems and cloud-based systems were vulnerable to cyber attacks.

Atul Rajput, director for Northern Europe at Axis Communications, said: “Hackers don’t want to waste a lot of time. So what we need to do is sell default security protection out of the box. We must create products with a default zone in and educate the market.”

We can expect to see a lot more cyber hacks of physical security systems in the future, according to Stuart Rawling, Pelco’s director of business development.

“The weakest points are old cameras,” he says. “Owners don’t want to make hacks public, but there has to be more transparency.”

On the subject of video analytics and CCTV software the question was posed: “Does it really work?”

Rajput offered a nuanced response: “Analytics has been over-sold and under-utilised. It can be complex to install. Make it simple and reliable (some now self-calibrate) and it will fly. The business intelligence market could be an exciting opportunity.”

Rawling added: “We will see ever-more images, but we won’t get away from operators.”

Discussion then turned to the internet of things. A term regularly bandied about both in security and general media, the concept is not, nevertheless, one that many in the security industry know much about, Chris Adcock suggests: “Everyone has heard of it, few understand it. Its value is the data it provides.

“Its effect on security is a matter for debate, but we need to find new revenue streams. It might happen in 10 years time.”

Concluding, Adcock offered three predictions for the future of video surveillance: “Surveillance will continue to be at the heart of security. Voice communication and surveillance will be more integrated. And the industry will become more regulated.”

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