From a Video Management System to intelligent video surveillance

Many security systems still rely on a Video Management System (VMS). This allows camera footage to be centrally managed and incidents to be reviewed afterwards.

However, the volume of footage is growing faster than the capacity to process it. That is why more and more organisations are combining their VMS with AI video analytics. AI filters out irrelevant alerts, enabling faster and more targeted responses. The role of the Video Management System is shifting from storage to insight and action. verschuift van opslaan naar inzicht en actie. [1]

What a Video Management System can and cannot do

A Video Management System is primarily designed for management and availability. You use it to view live footage, store recordings, retrieve fragments and export data.

Where a standard Video Management System typically falls short is in automatically interpreting what is happening on screen. Without additional analysis, the system remains dependent on:

• Human live monitoring
• Simple triggers such as motion detection

That explains why CCTV systems in many organizations still function too often as a form of archive. They are valuable after an incident, but limited before or during an incident.

Why AI goes beyond a standard Video Management System

A traditional Video Management System records what happens. AI takes it a step further.

1. Real-time detection: from review to immediate action

AI video analytics identifies events as they happen. There is no need to search through your Video Management System afterwards. You can act immediately.

2. Fewer false alarms: context over motion

A well-known drawback of basic motion detection is the high number of irrelevant alerts. Think of animals, shadows, weather conditions or moving vegetation. Control rooms often lose valuable time responding to alerts that require no action.

AI video analytics works more precisely by first determining what is visible, such as a person or vehicle, and only then triggering an alert. Many providers refer to this asfalse alarm filtering’. De meldingen worden vervolgens als event teruggezet in het Video Management Systeem, zodat operators alles in dezelfde omgeving kunnen beoordelen en opvolgen.

In addition, modern AI technology operates with very high accuracy levels. Performance depends on data quality and system training. Soldefence guarantees an accuracy rate of 96% to 98%, which is exceptionally high.

3. Object and behaviour recognition: fewer signals, but the right ones

The difference between recording and control lies here: you do not just know that something is happening, but also what is happening and whether intervention is required.

In practice, organisations structure this as a chain: detection, followed by analysis and classification based on characteristics such as shape and behaviour. Only relevant threats trigger alerts.

Adding AI to your VMS

For many organisations, the Video Management System remains the central platform. It is where footage is viewed and stored. AI therefore often functions as an additional layer on top of the existing system.

The setup is typically clear and logical:

• The VMS for management and storage
• AI video analytics for recognising and classifying events
• Alerts returned to the Video Management System as events, keeping response workflows within the same environment

This means you do not need to replace your existing infrastructure, but you can make it smarter and more efficient.

Why this is especially relevant for large-scale sites

At large-scale locations such as solar farms, traditional camera systems reach their limits more quickly. These sites are often remote, poorly lit and widely spread. As a result, signals are more easily missed and it takes longer to assess what is actually happening.

In addition, there are often unnecessary alerts caused by wildlife and weather conditions. Without context, it becomes difficult to act immediately. Simply reviewing footage in a Video Management System is no longer sufficient.

That is why organisations increasingly adopt a layered approach: detect first, then assess what is happening, and respond quickly when needed. This approach is commonly used in solar park security.

Learn more about alarm response.

When AI alongside your Video Management System makes sense

• Your Video Management System generates too many alerts
• You have limited capacity to manually review footage
• Speed of response is more important than reviewing footage afterwards
• You want to feed enriched AI alerts back into your VMS to maintain existing workflows

What this means in practice

A Video Management System remains the foundation for management, storage and review. If you want less noise and faster response, AI video analytics is a logical additional layer.

In short: a VMS organises footage. AI turns that footage into actionable insight.

AI turns that footage into actionable insight. Are you responsible for securing a large-scale site, such as a solar farm or wind farm? Request a non-binding analysis of your current camera system.You will quickly see where AI video analytics adds immediate value, with fewer false alerts and faster response.

Frequently asked questions about Video Management Systems and AI

[1] Security Journal UK. (n.d.). VMS platforms and the shift to insight https://securityjournaluk.com/vms-platforms-and-the-shift-to-insight/