For end-users, a simplified approach to video surveillance has its advantages. Cisco Meraki delivers simplicity, replacing a complex video surveillance system with edge-empowered cameras that connect directly to a web portal.
The architecture minimises physical infrastructure and the software required for traditional cameras by placing storage and processing inside each camera, and by putting the video management system (VMS) in the Cisco Meraki cloud. Additionally, with Meraki’s web-based Vision portal, organisations can enable secure, remote access to the video anywhere with an internet connection.
Providing simple experience
Meraki enables customers to accelerate their business by continuing to provide a simple experience across hardware and software offerings, coupled by partnerships with ecosystem partners that directly address relevant business problems.
Meraki MV smart cameras provide end-to-end, cloud-managed solutions for video security
“We empower physical security teams with the necessary tools to stay informed, react, and respond faster, to create safe environments,” says Scott Wierstra, Senior Manager of IoT Product Management, Cisco Meraki. Meraki MV smart cameras provide end-to-end, cloud-managed solutions for video security, built on the Cisco Meraki cloud-first platform. Cisco Meraki is centered on helping customers connect, secure, and automate to accelerate their digital agility in a cloud-first world, says Wierstra. Thinking about the approach as a ‘service’ rather than a ‘system’ ensures that customers can benefit from Meraki’s capabilities right away, versus waiting to decipher the system’s capabilities.
Cloud-managed approach
Traditional obstacles to embracing cloud-managed video surveillance have been interoperability and cost. Customers that have historically been hesitant to implement a cloud-managed approach do not want to lose the interoperability that traditional systems may offer. Furthermore, a cloud-managed approach can be more costly in initial costs.
However, in a recent Total Economic Impact study, respondents felt that the decrease in operational costs far outweighed initial costs over time, according to the company. Additionally, organisations experience up to 75 percent savings in maintenance costs, as well as a three-year 43 percent return on investment (ROI) with a payback period of 10 months. “With a cloud-managed approach to video surveillance, organisations can ensure simplicity and security, while improving day-to-day operations,” says Wierstra.
Managing system costs
A selling point of the Cisco Meraki approach is to manage system costs more efficiently
A selling point of the Cisco Meraki approach is to manage system costs more efficiently — i.e., end-users pay a monthly fee versus dealing with unpredictable, adhoc expenses over the life of a system. For traditional systems, the unpredictable expenses can often include the cost of diagnosing a camera issue, which can be an average of $525 per camera.
With Meraki’s approach to video surveillance solutions, smart cameras are not only more reliable, but also provide the customer with enhanced visibility on the cloud-managed Meraki dashboard to troubleshoot the issues. Meraki Support is also available 24/7 to troubleshoot alongside the customer, should they need any assistance, says Wierstra. The process no longer requires a technician to be onsite for troubleshooting, and according to the Total Economic Impact study, it can save an organisation up to $457,000 over three years.
