The real cost of CCTV: why Cloud video surveillance wins on total cost of ownership

You might think traditional CCTV is cheaper than Cloud surveillance or VSaaS. One upfront payment, no ongoing fees... Sounds sensible, right? But when you factor in the total cost of ownership - maintenance, storage, upgrades, and replacements - those savings often vanish. Cloud CCTV’s monthly subscription can actually save you money. Let’s explore why.

It’s a bit like buying a cheap printer. The upfront price might look appealing, but after a few months of replacing cartridges, you realise you’ve spent more on ink than the printer itself.

CCTV can be the same. What looks like affordable video surveillance at first can rack up hidden costs over time.

That’s where total cost of ownership (TCO) comes in.

TCO isn’t just the price of the security system. It’s everything that goes into owning and running it – setup, maintenance, upgrades, electricity, storage, training, and time. When you factor all that in, cloud-based CCTV often works out much more cost-effective than traditional on-prem systems.

Here’s why.

No more unexpected hardware costs

Traditional video surveillance systems rely heavily on hardware - recorders, servers, backup storage, patch panels for cable termination, air conditioning units to keep equipment cool, UPS (uninterruptible power supplies), and firewalls to configure for secure remote access. That’s all extra cost upfront, and it doesn’t last forever. Servers fail. Drives fill up. You end up with a rack full of gear that needs replacing every 3-5 years.

Cloud video surveillance moves most of that into software that isn’t your responsibility to look after. The recorder is in the cloud. No hard drives to manage. No local servers humming away in a cupboard with aircon and UPS running. Just your cameras, an internet connection, and a secure video management system (VMS) like SEiNG to manage everything from anywhere.

Reducing hardware dependency - no need for DVR or NVR

No licensing surprises

Some on-prem systems look cheap until you realise every extra camera or feature requires a new licence. You pay more every time you want to grow or upgrade. Plus, over time, software may reach end-of-life (EOL), meaning you might have to buy costly upgrade licenses or even replace underlying operating systems to keep things running securely. Cloud CCTV systems (or at least, the good ones) tend to offer simpler pricing - a predictable, operational expenditure (OpEx) model with one flat fee per security camera, with storage, updates, support and features included. That means no budgeting surprises, no chasing up support renewals, and no worrying about hidden upgrade costs or outdated software. Just clear, ongoing costs aligned with your business growth. Discover more about SEiNG’s pricing.

Fewer call-outs and lower support costs

Maintaining on-site equipment isn’t just about the cost of parts - it’s the time and labour too. Engineers must come out, often at short notice, and you’re paying for every visit.

With Cloud video surveillance, there’s no local recorder to fix, no VPNs to reconfigure, and no emergency trips to reset a failed system. Support is mostly remote, which means faster fixes and lower costs. Plus, cloud platforms like SEiNG send instant alerts of camera or system failures directly to users, so issues can be spotted and addressed immediately - often before anyone even realises there’s a problem. This support comes at no additional cost to you, it's all included in your SEiNG subscription.

Smarter use of IT time

With your on-prem video surveillance system, your IT team has probably had to troubleshoot CCTV issues you didn’t sign up for. Forgotten passwords. Offline security cameras. Hard drives at 98% capacity. Cloud security systems reduce that burden. Many problems are automatically flagged, and fixes can often be done remotely. Cloud CCTV systems like SEiNG offer multi-factor authentication and Single Sign On, keeping your video surveillance cyber secure and sign in simple. SEiNG also offers proactive monitoring - so someone else keeps an eye on things for you. That frees your team up to focus on actual work, not firefighting.

Always have the very latest functionality included in your subscription

Scale without the stress

Adding new sites to an on-prem CCTV system usually means hauling in more hardware, scheduling complex installations, and expanding local storage - all of which takes time, money, and causes headaches. Scaling isn’t just difficult, it’s costly and disruptive.

With cloud CCTV, scaling couldn’t be easier. Just plug in compatible CCTV cameras, connect them to the platform, and you’re live. No costly infrastructure upgrades or IT overhauls required. This means rapid expansion, minimal downtime, and predictable costs, letting your security grow seamlessly as your business does.

Predictable, manageable costs

When you look at total cost of ownership (TCO) over 3–5 years, cloud CCTV often comes out ahead. Instead of large upfront capital expenditures (CapEx) on hardware and infrastructure, you benefit from predictable operational expenditures (OpEx) - paying as you go. You spend less on hardware, save on maintenance and support, and free up your team. Plus, with transparent pricing, it’s easier to forecast spend.

What smarter CCTV really looks like

If you’re comparing CCTV options, don’t stop at the sticker price. Ask yourself what it will really cost to run, support, and scale it. That’s your TCO. And it might just change how you think about cloud. SEiNG offers a reliable, smart alternative to your traditional CCTV models:

Keep your cameras: SEiNG is compatible with any ONVIF or RTSP security camera. Explore tried & tested models here.
Feature rich video management system (VMS): remote features, AI-backed filters and analytics, and secure storage
Easy to get started: with 3 deployment options, it's easy to take your CCTV to the Cloud within 1 day
Affordable Cloud CCTV from £5/month: get a fully managed Cloud CCTV system with our VSaaS model - no hidden fees.

Watch the 5-minute video demo for a quick features overview.

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