Why is it important to keep up to date with the latest version of video management software?

Just as you should regularly update your computer operating system and the software on your smartphone to keep it current – the same goes for video management software (VMS). Surveillance cameras and network cameras in general are becoming smarter and more intelligent – almost like computers – with more analytics, processing power and other comprehensive feature sets built into the cameras. And because IP cameras are connected to the network, they can be susceptible to the same security issues as computers including hacking, tampering and data breaches. VMS, which basically decodes the camera stream, is consistently being upgraded to ensure security certificates are up to date and the software is compatible with new, advanced features and functionality to provide a better user experience. To get the most benefit out of the camera and harness its power, users need to update the VMS regularly and consistently.

Just like Microsoft and Adobe (to name two commonly recognised software providers), all VMS providers will issue patches, updates and version upgrades to their VMS operating systems from time to time. It is important that these updates be installed promptly. A patch is a change that will fix an identified issue; all intermediate patches will subsequently be included in the next official update or version upgrade of the software. It is important to bear in mind these patches are important to daily operations and need immediate attention (i.e., cannot wait for the next full version upgrade). Updates and version upgrades to a VMS will, however, provide much more. They include improvements to existing features, new features, new third party integrations and plug-ins, and refinements to make the VMS more efficient. Prompt installation of VMS updates will ensure systems run smoothly and remain compatible with the latest technology on the market.

Generally speaking, when software or firmware upgrades are offered to an existing system, it is worthwhile to follow the suggested update path to ensure you are taking advantage of any available security-related updates, as well as the latest functionalities offered for the system. In the case of ONVIF’s specifications, however, our profile concept was developed to be immune to the need to constantly update to the latest version of the specification. Because the specifications of a profile never change, one can be certain that if a device was Profile G supported in the previous version of your VMS, it is still Profile G supported in the newer VMS version. When new profiles are introduced from ONVIF, it will be necessary to update your VMS to make sure that your VMS includes the latest profile addition.

In our computer-driven world, updating software is akin to a good habit line brushing one’s teeth. Unlike hardware, which has historically reached optimal value when it is installed, software has a potential to keep getting better and better – to be more compatible with other systems, to expand functionality, to be less vulnerable to cyber-attack, to have fewer bugs. Even today’s hardware now has embedded chips that are driven by firmware that can be upgraded in the field. Proactively updating software can avoid having to do it reactively, when a new component is added or when there is a problem.  

Cybercrime often succeeds by exploiting vulnerabilities in software. Sometime these have been present for years in “trusted” tools. Remember the Shellshock bugs discovered in the widely used Unix Bash shell? Did the bad guys discover this years before it was fixed publicly in 2014? Also, standalone systems can have issues from changes and “upgrades” to connected products such as cameras, NVRs, etc. Even operating systems change, e.g. Windows XP no longer supported. Software creators should be diligent enough to release patches to users. Let’s hope their testing is scrupulous and not just “kicking the can down the road” to escape today’s embarrassing spot, nor creating new problems, nor a tactic to increase sales with “improvements.” It is up to VMS owners to install those patches or, more likely, for maintenance or SaaS providers to see they are corrected. Go carefully, though. Do you want to unwittingly be their beta tester?