The shift from analog to IP has accelerated through the last 5 years, as both manufacturers and consumers focus their spending on technology that can be scalable and deliver not just better security but add on services to improve the operation of their business.

However, as we show in our Research Report, growth in IP Networking has slowed down in the Video Surveillance sector partly as the performance and prices of analogue cameras have improved significantly. This has held back further penetration in the small building sector. Even in the short term of the next 3 years it will regain its momentum for it is inevitable that the IoT will further accelerate the need for IP networked cameras.

There are a multitude of technologies that support the physical security industry and pretty much all are active in developing and improving the performance of the industry. In our report - http://memoori.com/portfolio/physical-security-business-2014-2018-access-control-intruder-alarms-video-surveillance/ - we selected 6 categories (below) to analyse in depth. In this article we look at 2 of them;

• Wireless Technology
• Video Surveillance as a Service (VSaaS) and Managed Video
• Video Technology, IP Cameras & HDCCTV,
• Storage, Standards, & Mobile Apps,
• VMS, Analytics, PSIM & PIAM and Situational Awareness
• New Concepts, Applications & Business Opportunities

Wireless Technology

Wireless network technology has operated in the security and safety market for many years but it has only mostly been applied when hard wiring has not been an economic solution or where it has not been possible to run wires; for instance in historic and heritage buildings.

Wireless technology has undergone some major improvements over the last 5 years and it has shaken off its reputation for being unreliable. It still has a massive inertia to overcome. Wireless sensor networks in commercial settings will slowly continue to gain traction against traditional hard-wired solutions due to their ease in extending monitored sensor types, speed of installation, cost savings and mobility.

[contact-form-7 id="3204" title="memoori-newsletter"]

In addition investment in developing wireless network technology is booming because the IoT cannot be realized without it. Unless wireless networks can satisfy the capacity and capability requirements then IoT will not be practical and cost effective to retrofit into existing buildings.

Today’s security needs are different than they were a decade ago. People and assets are now much more mobile, so security needs to be as well. People are ‘connected’ thanks to mobile devices so they can stay linked to their security and data systems in real time.

The vertical markets that have the highest penetration of wireless communication are the commercial and transportation markets whilst banking & finance are still concerned that security systems could be breached. Education and Health buildings look to be the next growth markets. Demand is still strongest in outdoor situations but wireless is now well established in access control and intruder alarm / perimeter protection both in the new construct and retrofit markets.

Video Technology, IP Cameras & HDCCTV

IP Network Video extends the value proposition and provides better performance which will continue to improve with the advances of CMOS technology. New CMOS technology will create sensors with huge resolutions that will lead to the first cameras with a resolution above 10 Megapixels. There will be a place for HDCCTV provided it can get its costs down to analogue prices. These are major areas for innovation and R&D expenditure and new developments have continued to advance product performance. The move into IP network cameras has come significant improvements in light sensitivity of IP cameras and a growth in thermal network cameras, which can detect in complete darkness.

In 2013 there was one thermal camera per 400 regular surveillance cameras in circulation. This ratio is expect to reach 1:50 in a few years as surveillance professionals realize that this technology is affordable, can be easily connected to their existing network system and used for many critical applications.

Flir is making the headway here with their acquisition of Lorex Technology. This move supports several of Flirt 's key strategic growth objectives of bringing infrared thermal imaging into the commercial world.

IP cameras are also giving users the ability to see color and detail even in dark conditions. Innovations in storage have presented a tremendous opportunity to use IP in smaller installations and has brought down the starting point for IP to systems with more than 32 cameras because of its scalability, image quality and total cost of ownership.

The rise of hosted video combined with advancements in edge storage, potentially opens up virtually the total market because IP can then become a realistic and affordable solution for most installations.