From natural language to AI agents: The latest trends in VMS

VMS or video management software is a vital component in a video surveillance system. Today, VMS solutions increasingly come with advanced and powerful features to better meet user needs and requirements. This article explores some of the latest and hottest trends in VMS.
 

Natural language

 
Today, more and more VMS products come with natural language capabilities allowing users to set rules or conduct searches with ease.
 
“Natural language processing has become a cornerstone in VMS, allowing users to search video footage using conversational language. For example, users can type or speak queries like: ‘Show me all instances of a red car entering the parking lot between 2 PM and 4 PM yesterday,” said Joakim Tullberg, Global Product Manager at Axis Communications. “The ability to search for any type of object, even beyond predefined categories, further expands these capabilities.”

AI agents

 
AI has been trending in VMS for quite some time. Toray, VMS solutions come with not only AI but also AI agents, which can automate mundane, repetitive tasks and make operations more efficient for security teams managing large, complex environments.
 
“AI agents are increasingly being integrated into VMS for real-time object and behavioral recognition. These agents are becoming important tools for testing and implementing new features, as well as enabling new capabilities. This allows for more efficient software development and enhanced VMS functionality, freeing up human operator resources,” Tullberg said.
 
“We are seeing a transition from passive detection to active AI Agents. These aren't just 'alerting' tools anymore; they understand behavioral context. They don’t just see a person; they evaluate intent and distinguish between a routine delivery and a security breach, and proactively suggest the next course of action to the operator,” said Pauline Lux, Senior Product Manager at TrustNXT.
 

Cybersecurity and anti-deepfake capabilities

 
Amid rampant cyberattacks and spread of misinformation through deepfake videos, VMS solutions now offer more countermeasures against these attacks.
 
“Modern VMS solutions are incorporating secure streaming (for example, RTSPS), encrypted databases, and role-based access control. From an India-specific perspective, cybersecurity requirements are becoming more stringent, with STQC certification for VMS increasingly becoming mandatory,” said Sourav Das, Business Development Manager at i2V Systems.
 
“We are seeing a surge in deepfake detection and cryptographic watermarking. At TrustNXT, we believe a VMS is only as good as its 'Chain of Trust', ensuring that video data remains an unmanipulated record of physical reality from the lens to the archive,” Lux said. “TrustNXT is not a traditional VMS; rather, we provide the foundational ‘Trust Layer’ that modern VMS ecosystems require to survive the generative AI era. We offer an SDK that allows VMS providers to integrate our technologies directly into their software environments to establish data Integrity from the point of capture.”
 

Cloud

 
Today, VMS comes with more comprehensive cloud features allowing users to enjoy various cloud benefits, including scalability, unlimited computing power and remote management capabilities.

It should also be noted that hybrid solutions are now in strong demand as they offer the best of both worlds.
 
“Hybrid cloud models are becoming the preferred path forward. Financial institutions are modernizing at their own pace, choosing where cloud adds value, such as video sharing, centralized management, and investigative workflows, while maintaining systems that perform best on-premises,” said Matt Tengwall, SVP and General Global Manager at Verint Fraud and Security Solutions.
 

Integration and user experience

 
Integration and interoperability are also trending in VMS, where different security systems are unified under one platform.
 
“Video is no longer a standalone system – it is increasingly connected with access control, alarms, sensors, and external data sources. This creates a more complete operational picture, where events can be verified and understood in context rather than in isolation,” said Greg Colaluca, CEO of Intellicene.
 
Such integration underscores the importance of openness in VMS solutions.
 
“The pace of innovation means open platforms matter more than ever. No single vendor can keep up alone. The most future-proof approach is an open ecosystem where you can integrate new AI tools and adapt quickly,” said Barry Norton, Fellow at Milestone Systems. “An open platform VMS is a customizable solution that is more future-proof and ready for tomorrow’s technology and data needs.”
 
“There is a growing emphasis on open platforms. Organizations are recognizing how quickly technology is evolving and are becoming more cautious of closed ecosystems that limit flexibility. Open architectures, supported by APIs and SDKs, allow teams to integrate video into wider systems and adapt as requirements change. Nx Witness is designed with this approach in mind, remaining hardware-agnostic and integration-ready,” said Joel Lahnstein, Marketing Operations Manager at Network Optix.
 
It should be noted that a highly integrative VMS platform can improve the user experience, too, where users can view, manage and control their security from a single dashboard.
 
“Ease of use remains a constant requirement. Regardless of how advanced a system becomes, it must be intuitive for operators, quick to learn, and straightforward for IT teams and developers to deploy and extend. Nx Witness continues to focus on delivering a streamlined experience that reduces complexity without limiting capability,” Lahnstein said.