A key component of managed video is that it must work like it’s just “built-in” to your network.
Step by step, access to video, video acquisition, storage and management will become components of “the network”.
The form factors that these components will take will vary. They may be separate hardware devices, or expansion cards for an existing devices or software added to some device. But the end result is that these components will become increasingly integrated as part of “the network infrastructure”, just as email, websites, fileservers, routers and switches are all part of the network infrastructure.
Why? To maximize the effectiveness of video and minimize the overhead.
Effectiveness is massively improved when the video can be linked to data. This data resides on other systems in the network, but unless they are linked together, value is lost. Effectiveness is also significantly improved when access to the video when many people can view the video. Outside of internal security, there is external security, such as first responders. Then there’s operations, marketing, maintenance, management, Human resources and the list goes on. All of these people are on the network now and could take advantage of the appropriate, authorized access to video.
Even at a medium sized business thousands of components may be involved in a video system. Installation and operation of these must be as plug and play as possible. Users with basic computer skills need to be able to jump in and find what they are looking for quickly. Component failures must be rare, easily detected and remedied.
By integrating components into the network infrastructure one can apply established methods for remotely operating, monitoring, repairing and controlling access to massive, distributed video systems.