Verkada Sells Simplicity: Cameras Have Edge Processing And Link To The Cloud

Verkada was founded by three computer scientists and security experts who studied together at Stanford University. They connected with a former founder of Meraki and created Verkada with a mission to “modernize the world of physical security”. The fast-growing company currently focuses on delivering an all-in-one hybrid cloud video security solution powered by edge processing inside the camera.

On the surface, the product is simple: cameras record video, connect to the internet, and push data to the cloud.

“What sets us apart is the system architecture that drives our solution,” says Brandon Davito, Verkada’s VP of Product and Operations. “Starting with edge processing, all data is instantly analyzed and processed at the camera. This enables enterprise users to scale coverage without traditional limitations like bandwidth consumption or the costs of supporting additional equipment for processing footage. Simultaneously, all footage is stored directly on each camera and can be streamed securely via Verkada’s centralized management platform to any device.”

The product is simple: cameras record video, connect to the internet, and push data to the cloud

Hybrid cloud architecture

Verkada’s goal is to make it easy to buy, deploy and manage large-scale enterprise video security systems across hundreds of cameras and dozens of sites. The hybrid cloud architecture makes it easy to access video footage from hundreds of cameras across any platform (web, mobile apps, tablets, and AppleTV). Verkada is appropriate for any business, school or enterprise that needs a scalable, secure and reliable video security solution, says Davito.

“Our system streamlines surveillance management, removes the need of supporting equipment, and is ready to use, out-of-the-box, without the need for technical configurations,” says Davito. The simplicity and scalability of the end-to-end solution is attractive to security professionals, simplifying the day-to-day of surveillance management and providing insights that drive a business forward in other areas of the organization.

“This approach also allows us to provide customers with a complete experience, as we build our hardware and software to work seamlessly together,” Davito adds. Verkada does not integrate with other equipment or systems. “Taking an end-to-end approach ensures that we are able to develop and roll out features more quickly and take advantage of the edge-processing capabilities of our cameras,” Davito says.

The simplicity and scalability of the end-to-end solution is attractive to security professionals

Defending against IoT threats

An end-to-end solution also increases defenses against threats in today’s Internet of Things (IoT) space. IP cameras have historically been some of the most vulnerable devices. Verkada cameras save time by updating automatically, and they are unable to accept 3rd party software (and the risks that come with it).

Verkada partners with many of the leading channel distributors and is always recruiting new integrator/reseller partners. “The solution is easy to sell. It's a bolt-on value-add that doesn't require altering or configurations to existing infrastructure,” says Davito. “Sales cycles are also much shorter because implementation is simple and streamlined; it’s creating a lot of business efficiency.”

The world of physical security is always evolving, so Verkada’s ongoing challenge is to continue delivering on the potential of hybrid cloud management of physical spaces. “We are always launching new features and enhancements, as well as ensuring the security and integrity of our customers’ environments,” says Davito. “We will look to continue to push the boundaries of physical security and deepen our use of technologies like machine learning and future advancements in video analytics and AI technologies.”