To understand the appeal of Managed Video as a Service versus other ways to leverage video, it helps to think about it at a high level from the customers’ perspective.  If I am a business owner or manager that believes I can benefit from the increased use of video to better understand and thus improve my business, what are my options? 

Option 1 (Build it): I can do some research, go to CostCo or to an electronics retailer and buy my own video equipment (cameras, cables, a DVR, etc)  I can then try to install the system and configure it as best I can.  At this point it is entirely on me if I can access the system or not and if it is set up to really enable me to improve my business.

Option 2 (Buy it): I can call a security company or other video provider to buy all of the equipment and software needed from them.  They will likely do the installation and get me set up initially, but I will own all of the gear and the software at that point so it will be my responsibility going forward.  If I pay the vendor some more money over time they may even help me ensure that the system keeps working.

Option 3 (Subscribe to it): I can go with a Managed Video as a Service provider and simply pay them on a monthly or annual basis to provide me with everything that I need in order to take advantage of video.

I’ll describe why customers decide to go with each model in subsquent posts.