As you begin your search for a VMS that meets the needs of you and your business, there are several things that you may encounter and should consider before purchasing. Here is a brief list of must-haves.

User Friendliness

Many VMS solutions possess complicated features that require trained professionals to install, operate and maintain the system. Finding an uncomplicated system or one with included training can significantly improve your user experience and provide greater control over your infrastructure.

Infrastructure Compatibility

Too often, a business is told they need to completely redesign their security infrastructure.  A VMS that is incompatible with your current hardware, for example, can be very expensive to implement. You will be paying for new and more powerful hardware, which will cost more money and resources. Technology is constantly evolving – and so are your security needs – and it’s necessary to stay up-to-date. If your system is replaced every time there is a better solution available, your organization will continuously lose money. Instead, invest in systems that can grow with your organization, that are built to scale to the needs of your business as it changes and grows. Hardware-agnostic systems are compatible with any hardware, meaning you would not need to purchase specific hardware in order to run it.

Features 

There are so many features out there that can drastically improve your surveillance experience and optimize your existing security infrastructure, but it can be difficult to know what to look for.

1. Multi-site monitoring. Depending on the size of your organization, you could have locations all over the world. You need a VMS solution that can allot access to users for specific camera streams.
2. Integration. Traditional VMS software can end up costing you your previous hardware investments, which will end up requiring a significant amount of money to replace. Additionally, these dated technologies will require more time and money to continuously update than to replace your system entirely. Find a VMS that allows for integration of existing security systems in order to save on your investment and create a comprehensive solution. Make sure your VMS provider can help you build a solution that is right for your organization and find any third-party integrations that your VMS will need.
3. Modern Architecture. Steer away from monolithic architecture. You need a VMS platform that is scalable and optimized for growth. The less the hardware requirement, the better.

These are just a few of the components to keep in mind when searching for a VMS. There are several other factors to consider based on your individual needs.