Network failures are pretty uncommon these days, thanks to ISP innovations, network technical service and redundancy plans. Yet there can still be times when your network might be unavailable, like if a local switch or router crashes or someone accidentally unplugs a cable. And even in a hosted video application, video management systems (VMS) might be taken offline periodically for server upgrades and scheduled maintenance. This has led to a popular hosted video myth: If my network goes down, I lose my surveillance capabilities.

To avoid losing critical surveillance coverage during potential outage intervals, consider installing an onsite backup system to cache the video locally.

But wait a minute — isn’t one main selling point of a hosted video system that you don’t need onsite storage? Aren’t we getting rid of the DVR with hosted video? Yes, hosted video does replace the need for expensive, high-maintenance DVRs for onsite storage; however, if you cannot afford even a brief lapse in your hosted recording, there are two common off-the-shelf and inexpensive local storage options: Network Attached Storage (NAS) drives and SD memory cards.

NAS: Backup and Recovery on Demand

The NAS device installs on the same local area network (LAN) as the network cameras. The cameras can be programmed to stream video to the cloud and the NAS simultaneously 24/7, or just to the NAS if the connection to the cloud is lost. Once the connection is re-established, the NAS can upload its stored video to the cloud automatically, or be offloaded on either a scheduled or manual process, depending on how you have programmed your surveillance system.

Since the NAS is attached to the LAN, you can also view NAS-stored video from any desktop, laptop or mobile device that has access to the network. It is transparent to the user whether the video came from the NAS or the cloud.

A NAS device is easy to install because it can be registered to the hosted video service portal with a single click. It is also a cost-effective backup solution since multiple cameras can share the same storage device. The NAS can be programmed to record multiple streams at different frame rates and resolutions, giving end-users both a redundant safety net for storage and the freedom to configure the cameras in the system for various performance levels and image quality (including HDTV and megapixel) depending on a particular application and its security needs.