Cloud vs On-Prem Security Architecture—Why ProCCTV Chooses Software First
The security industry loves to argue about where your system “lives.” Should all the brains sit safely in a data-centre, or do you keep everything on-site locked in a rack? At ProCCTV we start with one question: Which software experience will make you and your teams life easier every day? When the answer is clear, the hardware choice follows naturally.
1. Cloud and on-prem in plain English
Cloud-native platforms host all configuration, firmware management, user databases and potentially surveillance footage in secure, high-availability data-centres. All you need on-site is a smart device or lightweight gateway and a reliable internet connection.
On-prem systems keep the server, NVR and databases inside your building. They can function offline for long periods but usually demand higher up-front capital and scheduled technician visits for upgrades and backups. This starts to introduce various challenges as projects scale to multiple sites.
Some vendors blend the two: edge devices record locally but are managed through a cloud dashboard—handy when bandwidth or data-sovereignty is a concern.
2. Why “software-first” matters more than hardware spec sheet
You, your staff and even your monitoring centre interact with software—a mobile app, web portal or desktop client - not the hardware itself. If that interface is clunky or stagnant, it erodes the entire investment. Cloud-oriented vendors behave like SaaS companies: they release new features weekly, patch vulnerabilities in hours and refine UX constantly. Whereas Hardware-driven vendors tend to ship a firmware patch only when a glaring bug appears.
3. The everyday advantages of cloud systems
Automatic feature roll-outs – Avigilon Alta Video pushes the latest AI analytics straight from the cloud; you wake up to new capabilities with zero downtime. avigilon.com
Elastic scalability – Add a new branch office by plugging in a Cloud Connector; the cameras register themselves in minutes with no VPN wizardry. help.openpath.com
Resilient dual-path comms – Ajax hubs maintain Ethernet + cellular links through Ajax Cloud, so alarms still report if your ISP drops out. ajax.systemscommunity.home-assistant.io
Lower lifetime cost – Less on-site hardware equals smaller racks, lower power and cooling, and dramatically less service calls maintaining the investment.
Easier compliance & auditing – Central logs, role-based access control and built-in encryption help tick ISO 27001 or SOC-2 boxes without extra bolt-ons.
Quicker Deployment - Cloud based solutions just need an uplink to the internet and devices are typically enrolled to the cloud instance via QR Codes or serial numbers, as a result this dramatically reduces labour costs which frees up capital for the hardware purchase.
4. Integrations you shouldn’t miss
Cloud vendors treat APIs as first-class citizens, so you can tie security data into the rest of your tech stack.
Avigilon Alta
SSO with Okta and Azure AD for friction-free user management, no need to manage multiple user databases across your organisation avigilon.comsupport.avigilon.com
Slack & Microsoft Teams event posts—get a door-forced alert in the same channel your ops team already lives in. help.openpath.com
Airfob Space
Open Engine API & SDK connects to HR, payroll, time-and-attendance, meeting-room booking and even fire-alarm muster reports. www.airfob.com
Ajax Systems
Ajax delivers a unified intrusion and visual verification platform with minimal setup overhead. One of its standout advantages is how seamlessly it integrates with professional alarm monitoring stations. When deployed, all user data, device inputs, zones, outputs, and area mapping automatically sync to the monitoring station in real time—eliminating the need for lengthy manual configuration or mapping.
Unlike traditional systems, there's no need to program individual zones, outputs, or user permissions into a separate CMS platform. The Ajax Cloud handles this natively, providing instant visual verification through its integrated cameras or linked CCTV systems. This means that when an event is triggered, both the user and the monitoring station receive verified alerts, complete with real-time imagery, significantly improving response time and accuracy.
This makes Ajax a perfect fit for clients looking for a smarter, faster, and more serviceable intrusion platform, especially when remote management, automation, and incident response are top priorities.
5. When on-prem still wins
Air-gapped or defence environments that forbid external connectivity.
Remote sites with unreliable internet where 4G/Starlink is not an optimal solution.
Strict data-sovereignty mandates demanding video stay behind your firewall.
For these, we deploy Hanwha Vision WAVE servers, which can operate indefinitely offline yet still offer selective cloud relay (WAVE Sync) when policy allows for seamless remote access.
6. Hybrid reality check: WAVE vs Alta in practice
A WAVE deployment pulls analytics from each each camera. If you retrofit a basic IP Camera, its AI stops at motion detection. Alta processes analytics in the cloud, so even a five-year-old ONVIF or RTSP stream can suddenly deliver vehicle colour search or crowd density heat-maps overnight. Updates to WAVE require a tech to patch every NVR & camera; Alta patches itself. Choose WAVE if offline autonomy trumps everything, and Alta if continuous evolution and low maintenance are your goals.
7. FAQ quick-fire
Is cloud CCTV secure enough for enterprise?
Yes—vendors encrypt in transit and at rest, follow ISO 27001, and support MFA/SSO. avigilon.comajax.systems
What happens during an internet outage?
Edge devices buffer locally; footage & databases syncs back when links restore. Intrusion hubs like Ajax fail-over to cellular so alarms still reach the monitoring centre. Local devices such as touchscreens and keypads allow you to control the arm state on site regardless of internet connectivity.
Can I mix cloud and on-prem hardware?
Absolutely. Many clients start by cloud-managing their existing cameras via an Alta Connector, then migrate gradually to cloud native cameras.
8. The ProCCTV perspective
Put user experience first, well-designed software equals faster adoption and fewer service calls
Cloud platforms shrink capex and ensure your system always has the latest capabilities.
On-prem retains value for niche, high-security use-cases.
Hybrid models let you step into the cloud without ripping out sunk assets.
Be mindful of ongoing costs post installation. Cloud based solutions (Ajax being the exception) will have ongoing licencing costs. On prem solutions will require at least one annual health check to ensure optimal security and an issue free experience. Consider total cost of ownership and expected system lifetime before signing the deal.
Be mindful of where the system may need to scale to. Intending to scale your business to multiple sites? Cloud starts to really stack in your favour rather than installing siloed on prem solutions and trying to amalgamate at a later date.
Our service ethos, remote monitoring, proactive maintenance and 24/7 support, aligns perfectly with cloud ecosystems. They give us the hooks to solve problems before you even know they exist.
Ready to plan your next-generation security stack?
Book a free strategy session with a ProCCTV solutions engineer. We’ll map out the right blend of cloud, edge and on-site infrastructure to maximise ROI and keep your team empowered, not overwhelmed.