Cloud infrastructure is now well established as an enabling factor for connecting platforms and services that is cost effective and safe, and the business benefits of doing so are clear. But this trend isn’t reflected across all industries.
As more security equipment becomes connected to the wider network, the data that it generates can be used for a much wider variety of purposes beyond protection of people and assets. Morphean is already looking at ways in which AI and machine learning can draw insights from video footage, analysing retail store footage to both improve customer experience and enhance security capabilities.
But adoption of cloud among physical security professionals is slow. We know this, because Morphean commissioned an independent survey to establish the attitudes of business decision makers towards the cloud in the UK, France and Germany. The results of this survey were revealing and, in some cases, unexpected. There’s a high degree of confidence in the cloud around email, CRM, ERP and HR; an understanding of its benefits; but adoption remains lower than in other business critical areas.
The primary concern, expressed by 73% of respondents, is around cybersecurity, and it’s understandable that there’s caution around adopting VSaaS – after all, if your physical security gets hacked the consequences would be severe. In reality, however, cloud services are demonstrably safer than many on-premise solutions, especially when they are configured for end-to-end encryption and the provider is directly responsible for ensuring firmwares are updated against the latest cybersecurity threats.
Cloud services can offer better guarantees when it comes to compliance with legislation such as GDPR. Cameras, by their nature, capture personal data about customers which needs to be anonymised and protected. Blocking out faces before files are passed to long term storage, for example, could be one effective compliance measure. As GDPR enforcement grows, a VSaaS service can be updated to the latest requirements.