5G, AI, and IoT accelerate edge storage needs for video security solutions

Technology innovations are driving the growth of the video surveillance industry. Artificial intelligence (AI), the internet of things (IoT), and 5G technologies are advancing at a rapid pace, enabling a wide range of new products, services, and applications for video security.
 
The video security market is expected to reach US$69.1 billion in 2026, up from US$42.9 billion in 2021, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10 percent during the forecast period.* Increased use of AI and IoT in video security will help increase security as security threats continue to grow.
 
The proliferation of 5G is also expected to have a major impact on video security solutions as it promises higher bandwidth, low latency, high reliability and secure network connectivity, as well as greater scalability and flexibility. These features will have a particular impact on real-time analytics and video monitoring.
 
The advancements in AI, IoT, and 5G also mean that the amount of data being collected by cameras is increasing exponentially. With ultra-high-definition cameras and the use of AI, video security systems are collecting and storing more and more data. As a result, there is a need for high-performance security-grade edge storage solutions that are affordable, reliable and flexible.

Applications driving edge storage needs

According to Joey Lin, Senior Segment Marketing Manager at Micron Technology, the applications in which edge storage in video security applications can be utilized are endless, but these five applications are witnessing substantial growth due to their usage of AI, IoT and 5G.

1. Cloud video security solutions

Cloud-based video security solutions have become increasingly popular in recent years, owing to the ease of deployment. There is no need for NVRs, servers, or complicated wiring - data is stored on the edge and transferred to the cloud. This combination of “edge cloud” means that collected video data can be stored on the camera itself, with a microSD memory card, and then transferred as needed to the cloud for easy access, saving precious bandwidth.
 
Cloud is the perfect solution for enterprises looking for a flexible, cost-effective way to monitor and manage multiple sites remotely from an internet-connected device anytime, anywhere. A wide variety of AI analytics can also be applied to cloud solutions providing end users with smarter data to more proactively keep their premises safe and secure. Furthermore, as 5G becomes more available, cloud video security solutions will greatly benefit from the higher bandwidth and low latency.

2. Smart home

The smart home market has witnessed significant growth over the past few years, greatly enabled by IoT. Video security cameras and video doorbells have become key components of today’s smart home. Easy to install and easy to monitor, modern home security cameras and video doorbells provide homeowners with an affordable way to secure their homes, all while providing access to video from the palm of their hand. Edge storage on smart home devices makes DIY installation of cameras much easier, doing away with unnecessary, complicated wiring to a physical storage system.

3. Mobile, body-worn security cameras

Mobile, body-worn camera applications have become increasingly popular in law enforcement and enterprise wearable camera sectors such as security agencies, retailers, warehousing, and logistics. Video and audio recordings are stored directly to an onboard microSD card and then streamed or managed centrally through integration with a video or evidence management system for an immediate response, incident management, or training purposes.

4. AI security cameras

Advancements made in AI have made cameras smarter than ever before. For many years video analytics failed to truly penetrate the market due to inaccuracy, inconsistency and cost. But today, AI has not only made analytics more accurate, but easy to deploy. Technological advancements have made it possible to run analytics on the edge of smart cameras. Analytics such as face recognition, people counting, etc., can now all be run on the camera itself, making it possible for even the smallest of businesses to utilize the actionable insights gathered from AI analytics.
 
However, smart cameras with onboard analytics and AI generate a tremendous amount of data -- the more AI functionality, the more data. Furthermore, for AI applications to “learn,” collected data needs to be stored on the camera for longer periods to optimize performance. This makes the edge storage device a critical component of AI-enabled cameras.

5. Video telematics

According to Gartner, the automotive industry will become the largest market opportunity for 5G IoT solutions in 2023, representing 53% of the overall 5G IoT endpoint market.** Video telematics combines video with vehicle data to improve fleet management. Built-in AI provides real-time analysis and alerts to drivers, increasing vehicle safety and collision avoidance. At the same time, data can be transferred via the cloud through 5G networks so that fleet managers can get a great degree of oversight over employees and assets. Edge storage in video telematics is a critical part of incident management for fleet managers.
 

Benefits of edge storage in video applications

The benefits of edge storage in video applications stretch far beyond the cost benefits. For starters, it reduces the amount of bandwidth the cameras themselves consume. This is especially useful in applications where the bandwidth is limited. Other benefits include ease of deployment and management, as well as scalability since no physical recording systems are required. It allows the user to save on cloud storage costs.

Edge storage requirements

Considering the above-mentioned use cases, an industrial microSD card would be a preferred choice for edge storage applications in video security given its advantages – removable storage with smaller footprint. While specifics might differ based on application, Lin stated a few general requirements that must be considered when deciding on an edge storage device.

• Reliability: Where the device is located will determine the type of edge storage you require. Typically, video security solutions need to be ruggedized and weather resistant. Considerations such as movement and temperature must also be considered. For example, in mobile and video telematics security solutions where video devices are placed inside a vehicle that will constantly be moving and subject to high heat, a high-endurance industrial microSD card is essential.
   
• Performance: It’s safe to say that all video security solutions require reliable storage solutions as the loss of a few seconds of video may become critical in determining what really happened and who should be held liable. A consumer-grade retail microSD card might be incapable of handling the heavy workload of processing 24/7 edge recording applications, resulting in frame drop issues and recording failure. It would be critical to choose a high-performance industrial microSD card that is optimized for continuous recording to reduce the risk of data loss.

Visit the Micron website for more information about edge storage for video security and useful tools like their video storage capacity estimator.
 
*Source: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/global-video-surveillance-market.asp
**Source: https://www.gartner.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2019-10-17-gartner-predicts-outdoor-surveillance-cameras-will-be