Last updated: October 2026
Avigilon not only makes great security cameras, but they also have a strong, mature video management software called Avigilon Control Center (or ACC). Avigilon Control Center (ACC) 7 is the version many sites still run. In 2023 Motorola Solutions renamed the line Avigilon Unity Video. The current release, Unity Video 8, is sometimes called ACC 8. Based on AI-powered analytics, its main enhancement was in how it draws users' attention to active camera feeds in live video monitoring with the "focus of attention" feature.
If you run ACC 7 today, you have three choices: stay on it, upgrade to Unity Video, or move to the cloud with Avigilon Alta. This guide covers what ACC 7 does well, what each choice involves, and how to decide. Short on time? Our Avigilon owner FAQ answers the common questions.
Which Path Fits Your System?
| Stay on ACC 7 | Upgrade to Unity Video | Move to Alta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fits when | The system is stable, your integrations only support ACC 7, and you do not need new features. | You want multi-site management, newer AI analytics or a current software version, and you keep on-premise servers. | You want no on-site server, run several small sites, or have little IT staff. |
| What it involves | Update to the latest ACC 7 release, check the server operating system, and keep backups. | A software upgrade through Avigilon's Software Manager, new licence keys, and checks on hardware and integrations. | A move to a separate cloud platform, done in phases. Some existing cameras can connect through Alta Cloud Connector. |
| Watch for | Older versions stop getting new features, and Avigilon can set a support end date. | A paid upgrade, some older hardware is not supported, and ACC 7 and Unity sites cannot sit in one organization. | It is a migration, not an upgrade. Avigilon has said there is no planned interoperability between Unity and Alta. |
What Avigilon ACC 7 Does Well
The focus of Attention is the flagship feature available on Avigilon ACC 7. Rather than watching static video feeds, Focus of Attention uses artificial intelligence (AI)-powered Avigilon self-learning video analytics and Unusual Motion Detection technologies to determine what information is important and should be presented to security operators.
In summary, while monitoring, the interface draws the user's attention to the camera feeds where there are changes in activity or unusual activity instead of giving all camera feeds equal importance. This reduces the risk of overlooking a critical event in a large camera system.
This feature changes the way that medium to large sites can be monitored using a single screen. It helps increase operator effectiveness by providing an overview of events occurring across all cameras in the site, including Avigilon analytic events, Unusual Motion Detection (UMD) events, motion events and alarms.
These are the three most practical ways to use it, plus three more worth knowing about. They also carry over to Unity Video, so they stay useful whichever path you choose.
Accurately Detect Safety Procedure Violations
With Avigilon AI enabled "Focus of Attention" you can get notified about unusual activity happening within your plant or warehouse. The cameras will automatically learn what a typical day looks like within its view and when something is out of the ordinary it will trigger an alert. That alert can either be emailed to you, pop up on a live screen, or even set off an audible sound. Users can set up motion configuration parameters to gain situational awareness from their video.
A great practical example of how this can be implemented: if the standard operational procedure is to use a forklift to add or remove objects from the racks and all of a sudden someone puts a ladder against the rack to climb up, you can get an alert sent to you. The system is sensitive enough to be able to distinguish between the forklift and a person on a ladder. It can be trained to alert you when there are operational policy violations.
Increase the Security of Your Premises
With Focus of Attention and Unusual Motion Detection, you will be able to have your attention drawn to things that may otherwise have been missed. Get an alert about unauthorized vehicles entering and loitering within an unused portion of your parking lot. Algorithms can be set up based on speed, direction, time of day etc. If any of the set parameters are violated, alarms will pop-up on your security control dashboard or be sent to you directly.
Unusual motion detection can be viewed live and counteractive measures can be immediately deployed. The interface highlights the cameras that matter, so one operator can keep an eye on more cameras without watching every feed.
Save Time by Quickly Finding the Video You Need
With more power than ever AI-based video analytics, video searches have become even more accurate. The search feature enables investigators to sort through hours of video footage with ease and quickly locate a person or vehicle of interest across an entire site. Appearance Search finds people and vehicles by how they look, such as clothing colour or vehicle type, across every camera on the site. You can start a search from a photo as well as from recorded video. Using Avigilon Appearance Search technology can dramatically improve incident response time.
Link Video to Door Events
ACC 7 works with Avigilon Access Control Manager, now called Unity Access. When someone badges in, you can see live video of the door and confirm who it is. You can also search for people by cardholder information. If you run both systems, this is the quickest win. See our access control systems service.
Watch Your Site From Anywhere
The Web Client and the Avigilon mobile app let you view live and recorded video away from the office. From ACC 7.4, you can also connect ACC 7 sites securely to Avigilon Cloud Services to manage several sites together.
Add Plate Recognition and Face Watch Lists
License plate recognition and face watch lists are add-on licences for ACC 7. Plate recognition suits gates and parking lots. Face watch lists alert you when someone on your list appears. Faces are personal information, so talk to us and your legal adviser about privacy rules before turning them on.
A few last things you may wish to know about Avigilon ACC 7: the interface can be switched to the dark mode for easier viewing in dark rooms like Security Operation Centers. The light and dark UI themes feature is designed to create less strain on the eye in dark viewing environments with different lighting conditions.
ACC 7 runs on Windows-based servers. Microsoft ended support for Windows 10 in October 2025, so check the operating system on your servers and workstations before any software change.
Option 1: Stay on ACC 7
What to do if you stay:
- Update to the latest ACC 7 release. Avigilon says you can upgrade from any ACC 7 version straight to the newest one, with no stepping stones.
- Check the operating system and keep server and client software current.
- Back up server settings on a schedule.
- Ask your dealer about support dates. We did not find an official end-of-support date for ACC 7, and Avigilon still documents it. That can change. For ACC 6, Avigilon stopped sales on 31 December 2020 and ended support on 30 September 2021. Plan for the same pattern.
Option 2: Upgrade to Avigilon Unity Video
Unity Video is the same software line under its new name, and it is where new features go. Unity Video 8 adds multi-site management, a single login across sites, user privilege management, and the AdaptAI analytics that can flag crowds and unusual sounds. License plate recognition and point-of-sale features are available in every edition.
What to check first:
- Licences. The upgrade is paid. ACC 7 customers need Smart Plan licences or Unity Video upgrade keys, and whether you qualify for a free upgrade depends on when your plan expired. Avigilon has an upgrade-eligibility checker, and we run it for you.
- Hardware. Some older hardware is not supported, including the ES HD Recorder, the ES Analytics Appliance and H4 ES cameras. Appearance Search and face recognition on your own server also need a supported graphics card.
- Integrations. Access control, alarm and other systems are often tested only on certain versions. Confirm the versions yours supports before upgrading.
- All sites together. You cannot run ACC 7 and Unity Video sites in the same organization, and after the upgrade you cannot connect to ACC 7 sites.
- Backups. Back up site settings on every server first. Avigilon's Software Manager has an "Upgrade from ACC 7" option and supports rolling back.
Here is Avigilon's own 2-minute walkthrough of the upgrade.
Video: Avigilon, How to Upgrade from ACC7 to Avigilon Unity Video.
Option 3: Move to Avigilon Alta
Alta is Avigilon's cloud platform. Cameras, door readers and software are managed from a browser or a phone, with no on-site video server. It is a separate platform from Unity, so moving from ACC 7 is a migration, not an upgrade. Avigilon has said there is no planned interoperability between the two.
It fits best for businesses with several small sites, little IT staff, or an old server that is due for replacement. Alta Cloud Connector can link some existing cameras to Alta, so working cameras do not always need replacing. We check which of your cameras connect before recommending a move, and we phase it site by site. Read more on our Avigilon Alta dealer section and our guide to keeping your existing cameras when you move to the cloud.
How to Choose
Answer these five questions:
Is the system stable and doing what you need?
Yes points to staying.
Do your integrations support Unity Video 8?
No points to staying for now.
Do you want multi-site management or newer AI features?
Yes points to upgrading or Alta.
Do you want to get rid of the on-site server?
Yes points to Alta.
Are your servers or cameras near end of life?
Yes means this is a good time to plan a bigger move.
Before You Change Anything
Frequently Asked Questions
To summarize, ACC 7 still does a lot well: it keeps critical events from going unnoticed and makes searching video quick. Whether to stay, upgrade to Unity Video or move to Alta depends on your licences, hardware and integrations, not on the calendar.
Not sure which path fits? Spotter Security is an authorized Avigilon dealer. We audit your system, check licences and integrations, and give you a straight recommendation. Contact us or read the Avigilon owner FAQ.
