Cloud video for businesses with cameras already installed
Cloud Video Surveillance
for the Cameras You Already Have
Spotter Security connects the cameras you already own to a cloud platform, so you get remote access, backup and alerts without replacing equipment that still works. We check your cameras first and tell you what to keep, connect and replace.
What you get
Remote viewing on any deviceLive and recorded video from a browser or phone
Cloud backup of key footageImportant clips stay safe off site
Works with many existing IP camerasONVIF or RTSP
Hybrid optionIf your internet is slow
Your Cameras
Keep, Connect or Replace.
Most camera systems end up as a mix. This is how we sort yours.
Keep
IP cameras that support ONVIF or RTSP and still give a clear picture. Most connect to an open cloud platform as they are.
Connect with a bridge
Analog cameras and older IP cameras can often connect through a bridge, encoder or cloud connector on your network. Your cameras and cabling stay where they are.
Replace
Cameras that are failing, too low in resolution to be useful, no longer supported, or locked to a platform you are leaving. We replace those only, not the whole system.
Benefits
What the Cloud Adds to Cameras You Already Have.
Connecting your cameras to a cloud platform gives them features they did not have on a standalone recorder.
View live and recorded video from a browser or phone, at any site.
Important clips stay safe even if the recorder is damaged or stolen.
Many platforms manage software updates and user permissions for you.
Add cameras and sites without buying more servers.
Hybrid setups send clips and alerts, not full video streams.
Platform Compatibility
Not Every Cloud Platform Takes Your Cameras.
Not every cloud platform accepts every camera. Some are open and work with the cameras you already own. Others are built around their own cameras and take outside cameras only through extra hardware, sometimes with fewer features.
| Platform | Existing cameras | How they connect | Watch for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eagle Eye Networks | Yes | ONVIF Profile S IP cameras connect through an Eagle Eye Bridge. Combo bridges also take analog cameras. | Needs a bridge on site. We check each camera against Eagle Eye's compatibility list. |
| OpenEye | Yes | ONVIF Profile S cameras, and many RTSP H.264 cameras. Records on site or in the cloud. | Licensing is per camera channel, so price follows camera count. |
| Avigilon Alta | Yes, with a connector | Third-party ONVIF cameras connect through an Alta Cloud Connector. | Needs the connector. Cameras must sit on a network the connector can see. |
| Verkada | Limited | Third-party ONVIF or RTSP cameras connect through Command Connector hardware. | Outside cameras can have fewer features than Verkada's own. The platform is built around its cameras. |
Platform details change. We check your exact camera models against each vendor's current list before we recommend anything.
Hybrid
Hybrid and Phased Moves: You Do Not Have to Switch Everything at Once
A hybrid system records video on site and uses the cloud for remote viewing, management and backup. If the internet drops, cameras keep recording. Because the heavy footage stays local, it also protects your bandwidth.
BandwidthStreaming many cameras to the cloud around the clock can slow the connection your phones and point-of-sale systems use. Hybrid sends clips and alerts instead of full streams.
RetentionIf you keep video for months, local storage often costs less than cloud storage. Some industries have retention rules, so we ask about yours.
OutagesLocal recorders or camera memory cards keep recording during an outage and sync when the connection returns.
1
Phase 1: Audit and connectWe list every camera and connect the ones that work, so you get cloud viewing and alerts quickly.
2
Phase 2: Add cloud managementRecording, retention and user access move into the cloud platform, site by site.
3
Phase 3: Replace only what needs itFailing or unsupported cameras are swapped over time, as budget allows.
Options
Alternatives to Replacing Working Equipment
Cloud bridge or gateway
A small device that links your existing cameras or recorder to a cloud dashboard. Cameras and cabling stay in place.
Cloud backup only
Keep your recorder and back up important clips to the cloud. The simplest first step.
Hybrid cloud software
Record on site and manage everything from a cloud platform. Good for slow upload speeds or long retention.
Replace only the weak spots
Swap the failing cameras and problem areas, such as poor low-light coverage, and keep the rest.
Get Started
How We Check Your Cameras
1
Free camera check
We list your camera models, check ONVIF or RTSP support and firmware, and look at cabling, network and upload speed.
2
Keep, connect or replace plan
You get a camera-by-camera list and an itemized quote. No surprises.
3
Phased install
We connect and configure the cameras that work, replace the ones that do not, and train your team.
What we look at
- Camera make, model and age
- ONVIF or RTSP support
- Firmware version
- Image quality and resolution
- Cabling type (coax or network) and PoE switches
- Upload bandwidth
- How long you need to keep video
- Existing recorder or video software
Download the Cloud Security Upgrade Guide.
A short guide to planning your move to the cloud: what to check on your cameras, what to ask vendors, and common mistakes to avoid.
Get the guideFAQ
Frequently Asked Questions About Cloud Video
Often, yes. Cameras that support ONVIF or RTSP usually connect to an open cloud platform. Older cameras may need a bridge. Some platforms work best with their own cameras, which is why the platform choice comes first.
A small device on your network that connects existing cameras or a recorder to a cloud platform. It sends video to the cloud while your cameras and cabling stay in place.
Not always. An encoder or combo bridge can digitize analog video so the cameras connect. If the picture quality is poor, replacing those cameras makes more sense, and we will tell you.
Eagle Eye Networks and OpenEye are the most open. Avigilon Alta takes third-party cameras through a Cloud Connector, and Verkada through Command Connector with some feature limits. We check your models first.
Video is recorded on site, and the cloud handles remote access, management and backup. Cameras keep recording if the internet goes down, and your bandwidth stays free.
It can if every camera streams to the cloud around the clock. Hybrid setups record locally and send clips and alerts, which keeps most of your bandwidth free. We check your upload speed during the camera check.
With local recording or camera memory cards, recording continues and syncs when the connection returns. With pure cloud recording, video stops until the connection returns, which is why many sites choose hybrid.
Yes. Options range from backing up key clips from your existing recorder to moving all recording to a cloud platform. The right choice depends on retention, bandwidth and budget.
Reputable platforms encrypt video in transit and at rest and offer user permissions and audit logs. Security also depends on setup, such as strong passwords, two-factor login and current camera firmware. We configure these as part of the install.
Cost depends on the number of cameras, resolution, how long you keep video, and whether you need bridge hardware. Reusing working cameras usually lowers the upfront cost. You get an itemized quote after the camera check.
Platforms We Work With
Trusted Solutions
- 1-hour support response
- 24/7 support and service across Ontario
- Licensed & Insured
- Canadian Authorized Avigilon Dealer
Not Sure What You Can Keep?
Book a free camera check. We will tell you what to keep, connect and replace.
Moving your doors to the cloud too? See our cloud access control guide and access control systems.
