In this year’s asmag.com video surveillance technology survey, sponsored by ZKTeco, 4K, lowlight cameras and multi-sensor cameras all ranked high in terms of suitability and maturity. Meanwhile, industrial-grade microSD cards, which are said to be more durable and reliable than their consumer-grade counterparts, are gaining popularity among users. This article takes a closer look at the results.
In this year’s asmag.com video surveillance technology survey, sponsored by ZKTeco, 4K, lowlight cameras and multi-sensor cameras all ranked high in terms of suitability and maturity. Meanwhile, industrial-grade microSD cards, which are said to be more durable and reliable than their consumer-grade counterparts, are gaining popularity among users. This article takes a closer look at the results.
VSaaS
In terms of video surveillance as a service, or VSaaS, it has a suitability score of 3.75 and maturity score of 3.63 for 2024. This is a slight reduction from 2023’s scores of 4.04 and 3.82, respectively. In terms of video surveillance technologies that receive the most customer inquiries, VSaaS ranks No. 8. When it comes to video surveillance technologies with the highest growth potential, VSaaS ranks No. 4. While the numbers are somewhat modest, we believe the momentum for VSaaS is still there and will not go away anytime soon.
“VSaaS still has momentum, although the market is maturing, and new competitors are entering the space. Interest in cloud-based video surveillance remains strong due to its flexibility, ease of deployment, and lower upfront costs. Many businesses are still transitioning from traditional on-premise systems, so the potential for growth remains significant. Additionally, the integration of video analytics, AI, and edge computing is pushing VSaaS towards higher levels of intelligence and efficiency, which will drive further adoption in the coming years,” said Tom Buckley, Co-Founder of Qumulex.
“Video Surveillance as a Service (VSaaS) continues to have strong momentum and significant growth potential in the near term. The shift to cloud-based solutions remains attractive due to their scalability, ease of deployment, and reduced upfront hardware investments. VSaaS enables organizations to manage their surveillance systems remotely, benefiting from automatic updates, flexible storage options, and enhanced cybersecurity,” said Laurent Villeneuve, Senior Product Marketing Manager at Genetec.
Camera technologies
We polled readers on certain camera technologies. Among them, lowlight and multi-sensor cameras performed particularly well, with the former garnering suitability and maturity scores of 4.34 and 4.25, and the latter 3.94 and 3.82, respectively. Both ranked at the top (lowlight No. 1 and multi-sensor No. 2) in terms of customer inquiries. Indeed, lowlight and multi-sensor cameras have useful functions in video security. Lowlight cameras can capture color well in lowlight conditions, and multi-sensor cameras can meet user demand for covering large areas with fewer cameras and licenses. Because of this, companies like Hikvision and Dahua are actively pushing their lowlight and multi-sensor solutions. We also surveyed readers on bi-spectral cameras, which combine both visible light and thermal lenses in one device. Suitability (3.75), maturity (3.62) and customer inquiries are all moderate. Yet given these cameras have useful applications in certainly sectors, for example perimeter security and manufacturing, we expect there will be continued demand from these sectors.
Industrial grade microSDs and SSDs
We also surveyed readers on two edge storage technologies that have gained traction in video surveillance – industrial grade microSD cards and solid state drives. The former received high scores of 4.08 and 4.01 for suitability and maturity, respectively, while the latter scored 3.86 and 3.75. In terms of customer inquiries and growth potential, both ranked moderately, even though SSDs rank higher than microSDs in both categories. Industrial grade microSDs are microSDs with higher terabytes written (TBW) and mean time before failure (MTBF) ratings, making them more durable and reliable than typical consumer grade microSD cards that are not really designed for continuous, 24/7 writing. Indeed, industrial grade miroSDs have become a more viable edge storage solution than NVRs due to their lower acquisition cost, removable feature and smaller footprint. SSDs, meanwhile, are becoming a storage solution of choice for NVRs. SSDs, which are semiconductors, are generally more reliable than hard disk drives which contain mechanical moving parts. Further, SSDs’ small footprint, fan-less design and wide temperature support make them ideal for NVR implementation in both indoor and outdoor use cases. These factors put SSDs in a good position for further growth in the future.
4K resolution
Same as last year, 4K scores high on both suitability and maturity, receiving scores of 4.21 and 4.18, respectively. This is an increase from 4.09 and 4.06 that 4K garnered in 2023. In terms of customer inquiries, 4K is ranked No. 3 this year. 4K refers to image resolution of 3840 x 2160 and remains a popular technology in video surveillance, especially in smart/safe city applications where the user can zoom in on a small/far away person or an object and get good details. Meanwhile, advances in technology and increased competition have driven prices down, making 4K and other high-resolution security cameras more accessible. Also, different models are available for various price ranges, catering to users with different budget needs. With these factors, we expect high demand will continue for 4K video surveillance solutions.
Solar-powered security cameras
As for solar-powered security cameras, they have a suitability score of 3.67 and maturity score 3.62. This compares with 3.72 and 3.47, respectively, for 2023. While there is little movement between 2023 and 2024, we can see maturity increasing slightly for these cameras, which are now equipped with better and more efficient solar panels. It’s also interesting to note that growth potential for these cameras is huge, ranking No. 3 in the survey. Indeed, solar-powered security cameras are pretty useful, especially in remote area monitoring where access to power sources is limited. Furthermore, the video surveillance industry is now heavily driven by the sustainability trend, and solar power cameras suit this trend well. In fact, in a previous interview with asmag.com, Dahua cites estimation that with every 10,000 solar cameras, 1.0512 million kWh of electricity can be saved per year. We can conclude that these factors will combine to further drive demand and sales of solar-powered cameras in the near future.
Ranking of video surveillance technologies, by inquiries from customers
| Ranking |
Technology |
| 1 |
Lowlight color camera |
| 2 |
Multi-sensor camera |
| 3 |
4K resolution |
| 4 |
Solar-powered video solutions |
| 5 |
4G/5G camera |
| 6 |
SSD for video security storage |
| 7 |
Edge storage with industrial microSD cards |
| 8 |
VSaaS |
| 9 |
Bi-spectral camera |
Ranking of video surveillance technologies, by future growth potential
| Ranking |
Technology |
| 1 |
4G/5G camera |
| 2 |
Multi-sensor camera |
| 3 |
Solar-powered video solutions |
| 4 |
VSaaS |
| 5 |
4K resolution |
| 6 |
SSD for video security storage |
| 7 |
Lowlight color camera |
| 8 |
Bi-spectral camera |
| 9 |
Edge storage with industrial microSD cards |
Click here to learn about the market reports and the top 50 rankings.
