As businesses outgrow traditional DVR/NVR recorders, many are rethinking how they store and manage video. Old on-premise systems can be hard to scale, vulnerable to theft or damage, and difficult to manage across multiple locations. Shifting to cloud-based video surveillance storage [1] gives you more flexibility, better protection for your footage, and a simpler way to run security day to day.
Here are six key benefits of moving your surveillance recordings to the cloud, and how Surveillance Secure can help you get there.
Benefit #1: Remote Access From Anywhere
With cloud video surveillance, your team can securely view live and recorded video from any authorized device [2] rather than having to be on site at the recorder.
- Check cameras across multiple locations in one dashboard
- Share clips with HR, legal, or law enforcement in seconds
- Receive alerts and investigate events without driving to the property
This kind of remote access turns your cameras from “after-the-fact evidence” into a real-time operational tool.
Benefit #2: Stronger Security & Cyber Protection
Traditional on-premise NVRs that sit on your local network, and sometimes even on an office shelf, are attractive targets. A criminal who steals or destroys the recorder can wipe out your evidence in seconds.
Cloud systems add security at multiple layers:
- Encrypted transmission and storage of video data
- No direct public internet access to cameras or recorders
- Hardened, professionally managed data centers with strict access controls
Instead of your team trying to harden a single DVR in a back room, your footage benefits from enterprise-grade cybersecurity and monitoring [2].
Benefit #3: Built-In Redundancy & Disaster Resilience
On-site recorders are a single point of failure. Fire, flood, vandalism, or simple hardware failure can permanently erase critical footage.
With offsite cloud storage [3]:
- Video is replicated across multiple servers and locations
- Hardware loss at your building doesn’t mean data loss
- Cloud providers offer disaster recovery options [4] so your footage is still available when you need it most
For organizations that must preserve evidence for investigations, compliance, or liability protection, this redundancy is a major advantage [2].
Benefit #4: Easy Scalability as Your Surveillance System Grows
Adding more cameras or keeping footage longer often means buying bigger NVRs, adding drives, or replacing older hardware.
Cloud systems make it simple to scale:
- Add new sites and cameras without redesigning your storage
- Adjust retention (e.g., from 30 days to 90 days) through software instead of buying new servers
- Support multiple locations under a single cloud VMS [3] instead of a patchwork of separate recorders
You pay for the storage and features you actually use, and you can change that mix as your needs evolve.
Benefit #5: Automatic System/Software Updates & Less IT Overhead
On-premise systems require manual software updates, firmware patches, and physical service visits, often across multiple sites.
With cloud-based video management:
- Security patches and new features roll out automatically
- No need to open risky ports for remote access or upgrades
- Your IT team spends less time maintaining boxes and more time focusing on higher-value tasks
This “always up to date” model not only improves security, it also helps ensure your system keeps pace with analytics, AI, and integration advances [1].
Benefit #6: Lower On-Site Physical Risk & More Reliable Evidence
Local recorders can be:
- Stolen or smashed during a break-in
- Damaged by power surges or overheating
- Located in unsecured or shared spaces
When your recordings are stored in the cloud, the footage is physically separated from the incident itself. Even if a bad actor targets your equipment, your video evidence is preserved offsite and accessible to authorized stakeholders.
Modernize Your Video Storage on the Cloud With Surveillance Secure
Cloud video storage won’t be right for every building in exactly the same way. Some organizations benefit most from a pure cloud solution, while others from a hybrid cloud + on-premise design that balances bandwidth, retention, and regulatory needs.
Surveillance Secure helps you:
- Evaluate your current DVR/NVR environment
- Design a cloud or hybrid architecture that fits your bandwidth, budget, and compliance requirements
- Deploy secure, encrypted cloud video storage with ongoing support
Ready to move beyond aging on-premise recorders?
Contact Surveillance Secure today to discuss a cloud-based video surveillance solution tailored to your facilities.
Sources:
- https://www.dtiq.com/blog/cloud-video-surveillance/the-benefits-of-cloud-based-video-surveillance-for-your-business
- https://www.een.com/blog/4-reasons-to-move-to-cloud-based-video-surveillance/
- https://inteconnex.com/2023/05/cloud-vs-on-premise-video-surveillance/
- https://esicorp.com/cloud-vs-on-premise-video-surveillance-key-differences/
Virginia DCJS Private Security Services ID #11-6085