Why Cloud Video Is Now More Affordable Than Ever — And Why FMC Is Leading the Migration for Canadian Businesses

1. The Benefits of Cloud Video for Canadian Security & Operations Teams

Centralized Access Across Every Site

FMC’s cloud-enabled architectures let customers view, share, and review footage from any device—without VPNs, complex port forwarding, or insecure remote-access methods. For property managers, municipalities, universities, and multi-site enterprises, cloud video surveillance centralizes everything under one platform, simplifying both day-to-day operations and investigations.

ULC-Driven Reliability and Automatic Redundancy

As a company that operates a ULC-S561 listed monitoring station, FMC understands the importance of redundancy and uninterrupted service. Cloud video aligns with that philosophy by storing footage across multiple secure cloud environments, protecting against device failures, network outages, or on-site damage.

When paired with FMC’s monitoring services, cloud video becomes a powerful tool for alarm verification, incident response, and post-event review.

Lower Maintenance and Zero Server Refresh Cycles

Traditional NVR/DVR systems require:

• Hard drive replacements
• Operating system patching
• Firmware management
• Server refreshes every 3–5 years

With cloud video, this entire lifecycle disappears. FMC’s customers eliminate the cost of on-prem hardware maintenance while improving overall uptime. Updates, security patches, and feature releases are handled in the cloud without costly site visits or downtime.

Scalable by Design

Adding cameras, increasing retention, or expanding to new locations no longer requires purchasing expensive storage arrays or servers. Cloud video surveillance in Canada scales instantly and predictably—ideal for fast-growing organizations or portfolios that change over time.

Built-In AI Video Analytics

Cloud platforms now include advanced AI features such as:

• People and vehicle detection
• Smart object and event search
• License plate recognition
• Cross-camera tracking
• Behaviour and pattern analytics

These capabilities once required expensive, dedicated servers. Today, they run natively in the cloud—reducing capital cost while increasing effectiveness and speed of investigations.

2. Why Cloud Video Is Dramatically More Affordable Than 2–3 Years Ago

Rapid Decline in Cloud Storage Costs

Major cloud providers have reduced the cost-per-terabyte of storage significantly. Modern compression, deduplication, and multi-tier storage allow cloud video platforms to offer far lower monthly costs than were available in 2021–2022. FMC leverages these efficiencies to build cost-effective cloud video surveillance solutions for Canadian clients.

Canadian Internet Speeds Have Improved — and Prices Have Dropped

Business-class internet across Canada now offers:

• Higher upload speeds
• Lower cost per Mbps
• More reliable fibre availability in mid-sized markets

Two to three years ago, upload bandwidth was a major barrier to fully cloud-based video surveillance. Today, that barrier is much lower, making it feasible to stream and store more video in the cloud without overwhelming your connection or budget.

Smarter Video Compression

Modern cameras using H.265, H.265+, Smart Codec, and AI-assisted compression reduce bandwidth and storage needs by 30–70%. This translates directly into lower cloud retention costs and better performance at higher resolutions.

Hybrid Cloud Architecture Is Now Mature

The cloud video industry has shifted from all-or-nothing models to flexible, hybrid designs that combine local and cloud storage efficiently:

• On-site buffering with cloud failover
• Motion- or event-based cloud recording
• Edge retention for continuity in case of outages
• On-demand cloud upload for investigations

This greatly reduces how much video needs to be streamed or stored in the cloud—without sacrificing reliability. FMC uses hybrid models to keep costs down while maintaining enterprise-grade resilience.

Camera Pricing Has Stabilized While Performance Has Increased

Camera manufacturers now integrate:

• Onboard AI processing
• More local storage
• Lower power consumption
• Better codecs and higher resolutions

This reduces the need for expensive local compute or analytics servers—lowering the overall project cost for a cloud or hybrid cloud deployment.

More Competition Means Better Pricing

In 2021, the cloud video space was dominated by a small group of vendors. Today, competition is strong, pricing is more transparent, and monthly fees have decreased significantly. FMC helps customers evaluate these options and select a cloud video surveillance platform that balances features, performance, and budget.

3. Why FMC Clients Are Choosing Cloud & Hybrid Cloud Video

A Single, Reliable Point of Contact

FMC provides a unified solution for:

• Cloud video surveillance and storage
• Alarm monitoring and ULC-S561 compliant services
• Video verification and event-based response
• Access control integrations and system health monitoring

Customers benefit from one partner who understands both the security infrastructure and the life-safety requirements tied to ULC-S561 and Canadian code compliance.

Canadian Hosting Options & Data Residency

FMC supports cloud video ecosystems that offer Canadian hosting and data residency—important for municipalities, universities, property managers, and organizations with strict compliance mandates. This ensures that cloud video surveillance in Canada meets policy and regulatory requirements.

Better Integration With Monitoring & Response

Cloud video improves:

• Alarm verification in real time
• Situational awareness for security and operations teams
• Incident documentation and evidence sharing

Footage can be accessed instantly during an alarm event, providing clearer information to security teams, first responders, and building operators. When cloud video is integrated with FMC’s monitoring services, organizations gain a more complete, coordinated picture of every event.

Predictable Monthly Costs

Cloud subscriptions often replace thousands of dollars in hardware refreshes and emergency service calls. FMC structures cloud video deployments to:

• Maximize retention where it matters most
• Minimize unnecessary storage and bandwidth costs
• Eliminate surprise expenses tied to hardware failures

The result is a more predictable, manageable cost structure for long-term security planning.

4. Total Cost of Ownership: Cloud Video vs. Traditional NVRs

Three years ago, cloud and NVR pricing were similar. Today, cloud video surveillance offers a lower total cost of ownership, with savings tied to:

• No server or NVR capital purchases
• No RAID arrays or constant drive replacements
• No separate OS licensing or server software costs
• Lower IT labour requirements for maintenance and patching
• Reduced downtime during failures or upgrades
• No emergency storage expansions when capacity is reached
• Lower investigation time thanks to AI-assisted search

Cloud video now provides better uptime, better scalability, and lower long-term cost—making it the default choice for modern security strategies, especially when supported by a trusted partner like FMC.

5. Conclusion: Cloud Video Is the New Standard — and FMC Helps You Get There Smoothly

Cloud video surveillance in Canada is no longer the future—it’s the present. With major advancements in bandwidth, storage efficiency, camera intelligence, and analytics, the cost of cloud video has dropped substantially since 2021–2022. Combined with FMC’s expertise in monitoring, compliance, and security system integration, Canadian businesses now have a clear, reliable path to modernizing their video infrastructure.

FMC helps customers transition at their own pace—whether through hybrid cloud, full cloud, or staged migration strategies. Organizations get reduced costs, better redundancy, stronger security, and a future-proof platform that scales with their needs.

Contact FMC today to learn how cloud video can fit into your security and monitoring strategy, and to explore a tailored migration plan for your organization.