Though they have been around for a number of years, hosted security services, sometimes referred to as Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), are starting to gain more traction in the industry.

In fact, IMS Research predicted earlier this year that Video-Surveillance-as-a-Service (VSaaS) would be one of the biggest trends driving growth in the video marketplace in 2010.

Given the recent economic downturn, the flexibility and potential cost savings benefits of a hosted access control or video surveillance platform are too strong for security managers to ignore. Companies using SaaS do not have to worry about maintenance issues such as software upgrades or future scalability. Many hosted access control and surveillance platforms have the ability to support residences and small businesses with just a few access points and cameras up to enterprise-class systems.

However, there are still reservations among some in the industry about moving some or all of their security operations to the cloud. Hosted service providers say most of those fears stem from a misunderstanding about how SaaS works or just simply fear of the unknown.

"I think it is a fear of not owning (the data) and not having that computer sitting in your server room or back office. There is a perception that the Internet is not secure and there is a misunderstanding about the things that can be done to secure Internet transmissions," said ADT Chief Technology Officer Jay Hauhn.

Despite those fears, most believe that hosted services are the future of security and will become more widely adopted across the spectrum.

"The move to put information in or deliver a software application from the cloud is actually not revolutionary, it is evolutionary," said Steve Surfaro, business development manager and industry liaison for Axis Communications.

Considering this evolution of hosted service, SIW takes at look several companies who are making their mark in the industry.

Brivo

Offering both hosted video and access control platforms, Brivo is one of the largest SaaS companies in the security industry today. According to Brivo President and CEO Steve Van Till, the company is probably best known for its access control offering, which has been on the market since 2001. The company launched its hosted video offering at ISC West in 2009.
"Everything is moving to the cloud," Van Till said. "It is inevitable, just like using the Internet for business was inevitable."