Customers often ask how
to access a live view of their remote security cameras when they’re
away from their home or business. After all, people lead busy lives, come in
and out of work, go on vacations, and run errands so investing in a remote
video surveillance system is crucial to the well-being and safety of your home
or business. Thus, much of the time you’re not actually able to be onsite where
your cameras are installed. One of the primary benefits of IP video is that
you’re not limited to viewing your remote video surveillance system on site.
The advancements in video surveillance technology have made it possible to view
your remote security camera from any internet-enabled PC or smartphone.
VideoSurveillance.com has outlined the key components of remote security camera
system and video surveillance app, everything you need to know in order to
start viewing your security cameras off-site.
What is Remote Video Surveillance?
Remote video surveillance
enables users to view live video on a PC or laptop from just about anywhere in
the world with internet access. To facilitate remote viewing, you simply type
in the IP address of your network security camera in your internet browser like
you would a website. This is done through DDNS and port-forwarding, which is
discussed in greater detail further below. Once you’ve configured DDNS and
port-forwarding and have obtained an IP address to view online, you can then
begin to experience what it’s like to view your security camera system from a
remote location. Remote security cameras are typically compatible with a wide
range of web browsers. It is worth noting that specific web browser support
varies by manufacturer.
What is Mobile Monitoring?
Remote mobile video
surveillance takes remote monitoring to a whole new level. Several IP camera
manufacturers offer complimentary mobile surveillance apps that give you the
ability to view and manage your security cameras from a smartphone or tablet
such as the iPhone, iPad, or Android. Many of these security camera apps allow
you to view multiple cameras simultaneously, control PTZ settings, view
recorded images, search through archived footage, play back events, and much
more. Just like you would view your security camera(s) on a remote PC/laptop,
you will need to have an internet data plan and IP address to do so. Remote
video surveillance is perfect for users who are often off-site, and therefore
not able to be on the local computer system where their IP cameras are
connected.
What’s the Difference between Remote and Mobile Video
Surveillance?
The common denominator of
remote monitoring and a security camera app is online viewing. The main
differences between the two are usability features. Remote monitoring tends to
give you greater control over your camera system when it comes to managing
settings and recording video. If you’re checking up on your business cameras
from your home or hotel on a PC or Mac, you usually have a more reliable and
secure internet connection.
A mobile security camera
app requires a smartphone data plan, and may lose connection from time to time
in no-coverage zones. It’s also a matter of personal preference – if you use
the internet primarily on your smartphone, then mobile surveillance may be the
right choice for you.
How can Remote Video Surveillance and Mobile Monitoring Help
You?
Remote security camera
monitoring and mobile surveillance do not require you to be “on location” in
order to view and manage each of your security cameras. You’re not limited to
monitoring just one camera remotely; most video surveillance apps provide
simultaneous viewing and multi-site options so you can check up on all of your
remote security cameras in your business or home. Monitoring off-site is also
extremely convenient for users as it gives them the freedom to come and go as
they please without having to worry about their property. For example, mobile
and remote monitoring is great to have when you’re on vacation. If you’ve got
two or three IP cameras installed at your home, and decide to take a trip
somewhere, you can still monitor your property and receive email notifications
if your cameras detect motion or tampering. Essentially, remote video
surveillance makes it so you don’t have to be at the exact location of your
security cameras to keep a watchful eye on your property. In addition, remote
monitoring works wonderfully with pet cams, nanny cams, and pool cams. You’re
not limited to what you can view. Surveillance on the go has never been easier.
Features
View Live Stream - Real-time
video display is a primary selling point for remote and mobile monitoring.
Having direct access to your live camera feed gives you the power to monitor
your property without actually being there.
View NVR Live Stream - Some
NVR manufacturers offer remote web interfaces and video surveillance apps that
provide remote access to your IP camera system. These Internet-based platforms
give you instant access to live camera displays and recorded video footage that
work on PCs, and some smartphones. You simply log on to the NVR’s web interface
or app to facilitate real-time monitoring.
View Recorded Video from your
camera/NVR - Another benefit of remote monitoring and mobile surveillance is
with some mobile apps and NVR web interfaces, you can view recorded video. This
is especially helpful when you’re on vacation; you can review recorded video
and decide if it’s relevant or not, or notify law enforcement if you come
across something suspicious that was captured on video.
Images are sent to your phone,
on motion or schedule - You can configure your IP
camera so that images are sent directly to your email account or smartphone via
message MMS if motion, tampering, or vandalism is detected. Images can also be
sent on a schedule to keep you abreast of what your video monitors.
Send images to email account
- With video management software, you can configure your security
cameras to send email alerts to your smartphone, iphone or email account for
evidentiary purposes and as a way to archive footage deemed important.
Administer VS System remotely
- You can do a lot more with mobile and remote monitoring than
just viewing live video. A number of IP camera and NVR brands offer web
interfaces and cloud services that can be accessed from remote locations. These
online platforms allow you to control the settings and configure your IP camera
system like you would onsite.
How Do You View Your Video Surveillance Cameras Remotely?
In order to monitor your
video surveillance cameras from a remote device like a PC or smartphone, you
will typically need to set up DDNS and port forwarding.
DDNS - With
video management software, you can configure your security cameras to send email
alerts to your smartphone, iphone or email account for evidentiary purposes and
as a way to archive footage deemed important.
Port-Forwarding - When
you purchase your IP camera system, you’re at first limited to viewing your
cameras locally, meaning you can only access them in a local area network. To
view your cameras remotely, you must configure port-forwarding. Port-forwarding
sends network ports used by your IP camera(s) onto the World Wide Web so that
you can monitor your cameras remotely. Network ports are typically forwarded
through your network’s router, which tech support specialist at
VideoSurveillance.com can help you with. Port-forwarding can only be set up by
obtaining the IP address of your router that connects to your video
surveillance cameras. It should be noted your IP cameras and NVRs are still
secure when accessed via the Internet because of password protection.
Special Plug-and-Play Solutions
- Some NVR manufacturers such as Smartvue offer online cloud
services that allow you to access your video surveillance system from a remote
location by simply logging into your cloud account. Once logged in, you can
view your live video feed, manage settings, and search recorded video as
needed.
Conclusion
What makes remote video
surveillance and mobile monitoring so favorable is that they both fit within
your busy schedule. Remote monitoring and mobile surveillance give you
on-the-go, real-time access to your live camera view so you can check up on
your property anytime, day or night. The remote solutions made available by IP
camera, NVR manufacturers, and even third-party mobile app developers are
manifold; it is up to you to decide which one best aligns with your day-to-day
routine.
