Should an enterprise’s video system have its own, or share the corporate network?
This week’s Expert Panel revisits a classic question that has been around since the advent of IP video: Should an enterprise’s video system have its own network, or should it share the corporate network? Our panellist’s responses reflect new IT trends, technology changes and shifting priorities that are impacting how the question is approached. Rising concerns about cyber-security (such as fears that video might provide a hacker entry into the enterprise system) are one new aspect. New trends like virtualisation are also changing the economics of IT systems, while bandwidth demands continue to be an issue. Let’s take a look at our panel’s latest takes on this classic network video system dilemma.
Per Björkdahl,
Chairman, ONVIF
16 Mar 2015:
As with many decisions, the answer is often dictated by costs. The question of whether a video system is part of a network or has its own is driven by operational and/or maintenance costs, specifically. At some point in time, the maintenance and human resources expended upon separate networks becomes inefficient. In most cases, it just becomes more operationally efficient to maintain one network and to centralise the network.
Simon Lambert,
Principal Consultant, Lambert & Associates
16 Mar 2015:
On the face of it, far fewer vulnerabilities are present if the video system stands alone, because (il)legitimate users of the corporate network will not have a readymade connection through which they could cause trouble. However, if we consider that our vulnerabilities might be data loss and corruption, unauthorised viewing, denial of service, etc, then a standalone system is not immune. Any of its network points might be misappropriated for hacking; such as camera, PC workstation, Wi-Fi, etc. How many standalone systems enjoy their own robust intrusion detection, logging, network management, fail-over servers, etc.? Not many. Corporate networks will likely have the critical mass and importance to warrant protection measures to this extent. Finally, if access to the video system via the Internet is requested by users then particularly robust and well-managed measures are vital. So being part of the corporate network can have its benefit accordingly.
Jumbi Edulbehram,
Regional President, Americas, Oncam
16 Mar 2015:
My interpretation of the question is that it’s not simply about using the same network infrastructure (that is, switches, routers, etc.) for IT and video security, but more broadly, using the complete IT infrastructure including storage and virtualisation, for example. With that said, there are both pros and cons. The pros include: cost optimisation and using shared resources, such as network components, storage and servers; virtualisation, used by some of the most sophisticated IT infrastructures to optimise performance and further reduce cost; better IT security; and better infrastructure management (by IT departments). However, video is bandwidth and storage intensive, so the IT infrastructure would need to be designed to handle it. Further, a lot of IP cameras/NVRs are not very secure and may pose a risk to the general IT network. Finally, security departments as a cost centre might not be recognised as a high priority by IT departments.
Bill Bozeman,
President and CEO, PSA Security Network
16 Mar 2015:
Video should be a part of the corporate network as soon as it is installed. The exception [when a separate system might be appropriate] would be the very small retail or residential application where cost or ease of installation is paramount.
Guy Apple,
Vice President of Marketing & Sales Network Video Technologies Inc. (USA), Managing Director, Network Video Technologies
16 Mar 2015:
It can be combined any time IT and security feel it is good time to do it. If video is thrown in the cabling network with IT’s typical network traffic, then naturally the network switches can prioritise and reserve network bandwidth capacity for mission-critical video and the run-of-the-mill IT traffic. IT and security can assign a high priority to video traffic to guarantee its timely delivery and situational awareness. That is all fine as long as the network is up to the task of handling bursts of computer data traffic combined with steady state 24/7/365 streaming video traffic. I prefer the separating of different types of data traffic on a network. It is a good way to optimise overall network traffic flows and quality of service (QoS), video delivery, to increase overall network security and control.
Mostly in favour of video being a part of the corporate network, this week’s answers focus both on a variety of concerns and some new opportunities. Video systems in the last few years have begun looking more like enterprise network systems, but there are still differences in how the systems operate. Maybe the key is to combine the best of both – functionality that maximises the handling of video with better infrastructure support and greater cyber-security from the IT side. There are also new ways today’s video systems can be better neighbours on the network, even as they take advantage of a nicer, more upscale neighbourhood.
Article published courtesy of SourceSecurity.com, a division of Notting Hill Media Limited.
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