Vendor Lock-In and Cloud CCTV: How to Avoid It

Cloud-managed video surveillance has transformed how businesses secure their sites. Remote access, automatic updates, and cloud storage are now the norm.

However, a challenge of these modern security systems is that some providers are locking customers into their ecosystem so tightly that leaving becomes almost impossible – or painfully expensive. This is known as Vendor Lock-In, or “Hostage as a Service.”

In this post, we’ll explain what vendor lock-in looks like, how to spot it, and how to choose a platform that keeps you in control.

What Does Vendor Lock-In Mean in Cloud Video Surveillance?

Vendor lock-in happens when switching Cloud CCTV providers is so costly or complex that you’re effectively stuck, even if you’re unhappy with the service. In cloud video surveillance, this usually happens when:

You’re forced to buy proprietary cameras that only work with a specific Video Management System (VMS)
Your security footage is stored in non-standard formats, making migration hard
Cancelling your subscription leaves you with video surveillance cameras that can’t be reused
Licences are tied to the hardware, not the user

The result? You’re at the mercy of one vendor for CCTV upgrades, pricing changes, and long-term support.

An Example: Verkada and Similar Providers

Take Verkada – a well-known name in Cloud physical security. It’s a high-quality, feature-rich platform, but it requires proprietary hardware and an active subscription. If you cancel your subscription:

Your cameras lose cloud functionality
You can’t migrate them to another system
The investment in those cameras is effectively lost

This isn’t unique to Verkada – several Video Surveillance as a Service (VSaaS) providers use the same model. It’s great if you never plan to switch. But if you do, you’re looking at a full hardware replacement.

Proprietary vs Hardware-Agnostic: What’s the Difference?

Here’s a quick comparison of locked-in vs vendor-neutral solutions:

Feature	Locked-in Cloud CCTV	Vendor neutral Cloud CCTV
Camera Compatibility	Requires brand-specific security cameras	Hardware agnostic – works with any ONVIF or RTSP CCTV camera
Upfront Costs	High – new hardware required	Low – use existing cameras
Switching Providers	Expensive – cameras become useless	Easy – cameras remain usable
Footage Ownership	Often stored in closed formats	Standard formats, easy export
Long-Term Flexibility	Limited – tied to one vendor	High – choose providers freely
Example Vendors	Verkada, Cisco Meraki	SEiNG, 3dEYE

If flexibility and cost control matter, the second column is where you want to be.

What About the In-Between Providers?

It’s important to note that there are different types of vendor lock-in. Not every Cloud CCTV or VSaaS provider falls neatly into “hostage as a service” or fully vendor neutral. Some sit in the middle – they support standard ONVIF or RTSP cameras, so you’re not completely locked in, but the best features often only work if you use their own cameras or cloud appliances. An example is Avigilon Alta – it has some ONVIF support, but full functionality is limited to Avigilon hardware. Plus, the required Cloud connector pushes you towards its ecosystem. This soft vendor lock-in can be fine for businesses happy to stay with one provider, but if long-term flexibility, cost control and true ownership of your CCTV system matter, a hardware-agnostic Cloud VMS is the safer choice.

How to Spot Vendor Lock-In Before Signing a Contract

Before committing to any cloud CCTV camera or CCTV video management system (VMS), ask these five questions:

Can I use my existing cameras? (Look for ONVIF or RTSP compatibility.)
What happens if I cancel? (Do the cameras still work locally?)
Who owns the footage? (Can I export it easily?)
Is the platform vendor neutral? (Or tied to one manufacturer?)
Is storage compliant and secure? (Especially for UK GDPR and data residency.)

If your provider of choice requires you to purchase their brand cameras or makes it challenging for you to switch in future, you may be heading towards Hostage as a Service.

SEiNG: Cloud CCTV Without the Lock-In

SEiNG has been built to avoid “Hostage as a Service” entirely:

Vendor neutral & hardware agnostic – works with any ONVIF or RTSP camera, so you can keep your existing hardware.
True cloud VMS – enterprise-grade video surveillance features without enterprise pricing.
UK-based, secure by design – GDPR-compliant cloud storage and data residency.
Future-proof – if you ever switch, your cameras still work.

You get all the benefits of cloud video surveillance – remote monitoring, AI analytics, reliable storage – without being locked into one vendor.

Don’t Pay Ransom for Your CCTV

Before you sign a long-term cloud CCTV contract, ask yourself: “If I wanted to leave tomorrow, how much would it cost me?” If the answer involves replacing every camera you own, you might already be signing up for Hostage as a Service. Choose a platform that puts you in control - not the other way around.

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