As far as cloud is concerned, there are two prominent concepts/narratives, namely legacy VMS in the cloud and cloud-native VSaaS, each with merits and advantages. This article explores these two cloud technologies and what types of users they cater to.
Needless to say, the migration to cloud is trending highly in video security. As far as cloud is concerned, there are two prominent concepts/narratives, namely legacy VMS in the cloud and cloud-native VSaaS, each with merits and advantages. This article explores these two cloud technologies and what types of users they cater to.
A brief overview
In video surveillance, legacy VMS (video management software) in the cloud and cloud-native VSaaS (video surveillance as a service) sound similar but represent different architectures and operational models. Legacy VMS in the cloud or cloud-hosted VMS refers to traditional on-premises VMS that has been lifted-and-shifted to cloud infrastructure. Cloud-native VSaaS is built from the ground up as a SaaS platform and is delivered via subscription.
“Legacy VMS in the cloud is a traditional video management system that has been shifted into a cloud-hosted environment. The core system design remains largely unchanged, with servers still managing video ingestion, storage, and processing. While infrastructure may be hosted remotely, the architecture is still largely server-centric,” said Caroline Coleman, Senior Manager of Product Marketing at Verkada.
“Legacy VMS in the cloud is a hybrid approach to surveillance, offering remote flexibility while still leveraging on-site recorders. With cloud-native VSaaS, video security architecture is run entirely in the cloud, with the only deployable pieces of hardware being cloud cameras,” said Neil Killick, VP of International Sales at OpenEye.
Benefits offered by both
Legacy VMS in the cloud and cloud-native VSaaS each have merits and benefits. The former offers a fast migration path to cloud for enterprises with existing VMS. Cloud-native VSaaS, meanwhile, is highly scalable, uses an OPEX subscription model and offers superb AI capabilities.
“Legacy VMS in the cloud has the benefit of utilizing existing security infrastructure. If a business has already gone through the process of installing cabling and cameras, an open platform VMS can use those resources while enabling cloud capabilities,” Killick said. “Cloud-native VSaaS is a different conversation entirely. There is no legacy infrastructure to worry about. Deployment is faster, and customers get immediate access to the most advanced AI capabilities available. For the right organization, it is a genuinely transformative step forward.”
Coleman offers a similar view. “Legacy VMS solutions extended to the cloud can be a useful interim step for those looking to modernize without immediately replacing existing infrastructure,” she said. “Cloud-native VSaaS platforms are designed to unify physical security systems, which reduces complexity and provides a more complete, real-time view. By reducing reliance on on-premises infrastructure and consolidating management into a single platform, the VSaaS model helps lower long-term overhead while keeping systems current through continuous updates and improvements.”
As for which architecture will win out, Killick notes that both will co-exist. “What makes OpenEye's position interesting is that we genuinely believe both have a place in the market right now. We are not pushing customers toward one or the other. We help them find the right fit for where they are today and where they want to be tomorrow,” he said.
Target users
Since both technologies have unique characteristics, they cater to different types of end users.
“Legacy VMS tends to resonate more for organizations that have made significant infrastructure investments and are not in a position to walk away from them. However, by introducing a cloud-based VMS solution, these businesses can still utilize their pre-installed systems and develop an easy on-ramp to the cloud,” Killick said. “Cloud-native VSaaS is best suited for entirely new builds, locations that are mobile and require flexible camera options, or areas that present challenges to cabling installation. The flexibility offered by cloud-native VSaaS not only serves small, mobile establishments well but is also easily scalable across large, enterprise organizations, making it an excellent choice for businesses of any type.”
Choosing between the two
Ultimately, choosing which architecture to deploy depends on the user’s unique needs and requirements. How the company wants to scale or expand in the future should also be taken into consideration.
“The starting point is always an honest conversation about where the business is today and where it is heading. I always encourage people to think beyond the immediate need and consider what their security environment needs to look like in three to five years. The good news is that you do not have to make a binary choice. The right platform should give you the flexibility to protect what you have already built while keeping your options open as your needs evolve,” Killick said.
Verkada’s Coleman, meanwhile, suggests the following questions users can ask when deciding which architecture to deploy:
- How important is it that you can access and investigate everything from one place?
- How quickly do you need to be able to search, review, and share footage when something happens?
- As you scale, do you want the experience to stay consistent across every site?
- How much bandwidth can you afford to dedicate in order to still get the visibility and responsiveness you need, especially for those managing across large, distributed environments?
- How much time do you want your team spending on maintaining infrastructure?
- Is it beneficial to have your team using a more straightforward and intuitive system?