Latest commercial CCTV camera technology trends overview

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When looking at the latest CCTV technology, 2022 brought a new wave of remote-first, scalable solutions. Key video security trends gaining momentum include cloud-native solutions, AI-powered video analytics, and a move away from analog to 100% digital video systems.

Focusing on business security, camera trends include leveraging footage into valuable data with the help of AI, and investing in “As a Service” (AaS) solutions for scalable ways of introducing new technologies into existing operations and standards, from on-premise security systems to ONVIF camera compliance.

Below are the latest CCTV camera technology trends in more detail. Find out how to best integrate these security camera industry trends into your security system.

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AI video analytics technology is transforming footage into big data

Thanks to AI, it is possible to turn hours of previously redundant footage into data, which can then be analyzed for video security trends and patterns. Whereas before, security teams only learned from the incidents identified manually, now they can learn even more from hours of untapped video that were previously skipped over.

One of 2022’s most significant commercial security camera trends is leveraging video analytics technology to generate big data. Below are some of the factors driving its growth.

Deep learning helps security teams make better, faster decisions

The growth of deep learning in video security is one of the latest CCTV technology trends. Video analytics is a prime example of cutting-edge technology being adopted by mainstream manufacturers and distributors across the commercial security camera industry.

AI vision solutions, or “computer vision” as it is known in the machine learning field, uses a highly sophisticated type of artificial intelligence known as convolutional neural networks. These networks analyze images, looking for patterns that correspond to generalized concepts such as people or vehicles. The more examples a network is given, the better it becomes at identifying these concepts quickly and accurately – which means this technology is set to become even more advanced in the near future.

So why are video analytics such a game-changer for security teams? Enhancing video security with analytics enables teams to do much more with the resources they already have. Over an average shift, a security professional’s accuracy when monitoring video decreases due to tiredness and distractions, whereas video analytics can accurately monitor video 24/7/365. Analytics also remain consistently fast at processing video.

These video security trends do not mean that security professionals are about to be replaced by algorithms. AI is only as good as the people directing it, so security professionals still need to verify alarms to make sure they are handled appropriately.

Adopting video analytics into the latest CCTV camera technology makes a video security operator’s job easier by automating the time-intensive, low-output tasks like watching hours upon hours of video. Now, teams can work smarter with the extra time and energy they have. With analytics providing fast, consistent intelligence, teams are better able to make split-second decisions about how best to respond to incidents.

The growth of edge computing

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The growth of edge computing is a major technological shift in the security camera industry. “Edge computing” refers to applications or functions that run within a device, rather than at a central server. So, “edge analytics”, or analytics “on the edge”, uses video camera analytics technology to analyze video data at the point of recording, instead of sending the video to a main server for analysis. The edge devices in this case are security cameras. This is one of the latest trends in CCTV technology to gain popularity because:

Reduced latency equals faster decision-making. Latency is the delay before a transfer of data begins. If a security camera were to continuously stream all its video to a central server, there would be some delay because this data is of a considerable size. However, if a camera only sends small video clips as and when they are picked up as relevant, latency reduces because the file sizes are much smaller.

This means security teams not only receive more relevant information, they also get it even faster – which can make a difference in situations where operators have a matter of seconds to respond to an incident.

Smaller video clips means less bandwidth and data storage. Cameras continuously streaming video to servers use a lot of bandwidth. When you consider that only a small proportion of that video is needed for rapid incident response, a more efficient method is preferable.

Cameras that send through relevant snippets put much less pressure on the network, using much less bandwidth. Not only does this mean that clips get through faster, it puts less financial strain on businesses too, since there is less data to transmit and store.

Edge computing is the very latest CCTV camera technology. It sends accurate alerts quickly without straining a network, making it a popular video security trend. The CCTV camera market is developing hardware equipped to carry out many more tasks within the device itself, making for a more efficient network.

Cloud technology is changing how businesses manage video security

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The move to cloud technology empowers businesses to grow flexibly and scalably in almost every area, such as finance, hiring and distribution. In terms of commercial security, camera trends are also heavily influenced by the cloud.

Cloud servers and “As a service” software offer flexible, scalable commercial security solutions

For many companies, the security camera industry trend of moving to the cloud means an improved IT infrastructure with greater flexibility and reliability, for a lower cost. Factors such as cybersecurity and maintenance are handled by the cloud supplier, and tiered remote access is made easier for employees.

As the cloud has grown in popularity, so has the “as a service” model (AaS); many service providers are also taking advantage of the cloud, using it to power their subscription-based businesses. Security providers are adopting the AaS model too, with easy-to-integrate video analytics software, access control solutions and site management tools. 

How does the cloud factor into the latest trends in CCTV technology? One word: redundancy. Every security professional knows that if you have a main system in place, you also set up a fallback system, just in case. Cloud-connected cameras link to a reliable network that is highly unlikely to cut out. If it did, it is also highly unlikely that your data would be lost or that you would lose access, as cloud providers store data in more than one location to mitigate against outages.

The Internet of Things enables real-time, HD video streaming over a dispersed network

Cloud security is the powerhouse behind the Internet of Things (IoT): a network of connected devices. One of the latest trends in CCTV technology is the move to cloud/WiFi-enabled cameras that can be set up almost anywhere, and still transmit high-quality video. 

A cloud network allows connected cameras to stream HD video over its servers in real time, providing rapid, high-quality intelligence to security teams. It also breaks down team or location-driven silos: by merging all sites and/or teams onto one network, it is possible to take a company-wide view of security operations. 

Many software providers now offer mobile apps too, so businesses can check on their video security at any time, from any location, on any device.

Physical security and cybersecurity are merging

Many physical security traditionalists will be wary of all this interconnectivity! It is true that while the cloud has many benefits, it is wise to approach it with caution. Interconnectivity can reveal weaknesses that are all too easy for hackers to exploit. For this reason, physical security and cybersecurity are overlapping more and more, as security hardware and services migrate online. A more holistic approach to security (both online and offline) is high on the list of commercial security camera trends. 

Remote devices like IP security cameras have their own firmware, operating systems, and logins. It is crucial that you treat these devices like any other computer: regularly run updates, make sure logins are hard to hack, and only provide access to those staff who need it. Otherwise, your devices could become an easy entry point to the rest of your network.

The security camera industry is seeing continued demand for IP cameras over analog

As businesses in the security camera industry move their operations to the cloud and invest in new technologies like AI, it is logical that they will choose devices which fit into this new ecosystem. Analog cameras, which transmit a raw video signal over a coaxial cable, simply don’t integrate as easily. While it is possible to enhance legacy analog cameras with newer video analytics technology, many businesses are choosing to upgrade to ONVIF IP cameras. 

In a side-by-side comparison, the advantages of IP cameras vs. analog cameras become clear; for example, video quality is far superior. Image resolution in an IP camera can be from 6 to 20 times higher than an analog camera, enabling wider viewing areas, and much more detail when zooming in. 

IP cameras transmit video as a digital signal, which is usually of a better quality. If the signal is transmitted over WiFi, rather than cables, then the risk of it degrading over long distances is also significantly reduced. The latest CCTV camera technology is focused on improving CCTV IP cameras to make them even smarter, in various ways.

The rise of 5G technology

The development of 5G enabled cameras is a big trend in the security camera industry. These CCTV cameras will transmit audio and video signals over 5th generation wireless networks, which are slowly being rolled out in several countries. 

Only a handful of these cameras are currently available on the market. When they do become more popular, consumers can expect much faster, even higher quality video, with even wider integrations and applications. 

As the latest CCTV camera technology becomes easier to check on the go, it is also highly likely that 5G cameras and mobile applications will become even more effective and intuitive to use.

Thermal imaging cameras are more popular post-COVID

At the height of the COVID pandemic, many businesses found thermal security cameras were an effective, contactless way of checking someone’s temperature. As thermal camera technology improves, security professionals are finding many more uses. 

Contact-free fever detection is the latest thermal commercial security camera trend, but they are a versatile piece of security equipment. Thermal cameras have been used to detect fire, and are also a core part of video security systems that monitor sites in low lighting or night conditions. “Day-to-night” cameras are also gaining popularity in the CCTV camera market, which combine regular video and infrared technologies to monitor sites 24/7 – removing the need for two separate sets of cameras. 

Alongside regular CCTV bullet or dome cameras, thermal cameras can also be enhanced with the latest video analytics technology; neural networks are being trained to analyze infrared images with similar levels of accuracy as full-color images.

Security cameras need to integrate seamlessly with IT infrastructure

Considering business security camera trends in 2022, the most popular features people are investing in are rapid set-up, flexibility, remote connectivity, and ease of integration. Companies are moving many of their operations online (often to the cloud). This means that new devices joining their infrastructure must be easy to integrate and set up. The security camera industry has responded with new hardware and software solutions to make that possible. 

“Plug and play” solutions are increasingly attractive to commercial security professionals who don’t want prolonged testing to delay operations. This is especially intriguing to those working with existing infrastructure such as TVL security cameras or analog cameras. As companies decide to try out different technologies, mixing and matching solutions to create a tailored security system, being able to easily integrate everything is indispensable.

What do these commercial security camera trends mean for your business’s security system?

You might read through these trends and decide to try them out in your own business – so where do you start?  Look closely at your video security system and any compliances, such as FIPS compliance requirements, that you may need to keep in mind. In addition, take a wider view of the security technology you currently use. Before adding something new, take stock of what you already have, to see where enhancements can be made. 

Then, if you think you could strengthen a weakness or improve a process by adding new technology, try it out one step at a time: don’t add video analytics, day-to-night cameras, and cloud servers all at once. Completely overhauling your video security without a proper risk assessment might land you with more problems than solutions. 

These commercial security camera trends are set to continue and become more sophisticated over time – so try out what works for your business, and adopt new technology in a considered way for the best chance of success.

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