software, hanwha vision and hanwha vision software: introduction to vms
Video management software plays a central role in modern security operations. It ties cameras, recorders, and analytics into a single management system so operators can monitor live feeds, record events, and review incidents quickly. In this context, Hanwha Vision has grown into a recognised leader with decades of experience. The company combines hardware and hanwha vision software to deliver platforms suited to small sites and large enterprises alike. For background on the company and its industry standing, see this profile on Hanwha Vision here.
Hanwha Vision began as a manufacturer of imaging hardware and evolved into a provider of integrated solutions. Over time, the product range expanded to include recorders, AI appliances, and cloud-enabled services. The vendor now reports robust financial results that reflect broad adoption; revenues exceed £1 billion, which underscores its commercial scale (source). The company also holds a significant share of the global market. In fact, analysts show roughly 9.3% of the global market, which confirms its position among the top manufacturers (source).
Hanwha Vision software packages include several editions that match different operational needs. For organisations that need a single, central control point, the platform supports a comprehensive video management system that unites recording, search, and alerting. For multi-site enterprises, higher-tier editions add clustering, redundancy, and advanced analytics. The vendor also offers a lightweight starter edition for entry-level deployments and trial licences for evaluation.
Operators value features such as fast search, event-driven alerts, metadata tagging, and timeline review. Hanwha’s WiseStream compression reduces bandwidth and storage costs while preserving image quality, which helps when data volumes grow rapidly (source). The platform also integrates with third-party cameras and systems, which keeps deployment flexible.
For teams seeking tailored analytic capabilities, Visionplatform.ai can augment existing VMS installations by adding on-prem AI that runs on your site. We convert CCTV into an operational sensor network that detects people, vehicles, PPE compliance, and other custom objects in real time. This approach helps teams reuse recorded streams, reduce false alarms, and maintain data ownership for GDPR and EU AI Act compliance.
wisenet, wisenet wave and wisenet wave vms: scalable video surveillance platform
The Wisenet ecosystem blends Wisenet hardware and software to create an integrated surveillance platform. Wisenet devices range from entry IP cameras to high-resolution fixed domes and specialised analytics appliances. The Wisenet Wave architecture provides a modern, service-oriented backend that emphasises scalability and reliability. In short, Wave is designed to support large-scale operations with distributed sites, and it improves operational continuity through clustering and load balancing.
Wisenet Wave VMS offers advanced features that extend beyond a typical Wisenet VMS. For instance, Wave supports multi-site deployments with centralised management, server clustering for failover, and intelligent distribution of recording tasks across servers. By contrast, standard Wisenet VMS editions focus on single-site control and streamlined operation for smaller installations. When you need to scale, Wave provides the architecture to do so without a major redesign.
Real-world deployments illustrate Wave capabilities. Consider a university campus where hundreds of cameras cover lecture halls, walkways, and parking. Wave enables central administration for campus security, while local nodes handle recording to reduce latency and bandwidth use. The architecture also supports load balancing so live monitoring remains responsive during peak periods such as semester start. Another example is a retail chain with dozens of stores; Wave helps operators maintain consistent policies and firmware rollouts while central teams perform forensic search when incidents occur.
Wisenet Wave also integrates with cloud services and third-party analytics, which lets organisations combine on-prem operation with cloud access for off-site review. For specific campus analytic needs, Visionplatform.ai can integrate to provide targeted people detection and forensic search across your Wisenet deployment; see our people detection case studies and forensic search guidance for airports and large terminals at the linked resources for practical examples people detection and forensic search.
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video, management and video management: system design and network integration
Designing an effective surveillance system starts with clear functional requirements and ends with resilient deployment. Core components include cameras, recorders, servers, storage arrays, and client consoles. Each camera captures scenes and streams them to recorders or servers for live monitoring and archival. Recorders provide scheduled and event-driven recording, while servers run analytics and manage playback. Clients allow operators to view, tag, and export incidents quickly.
Network planning matters because streams consume bandwidth and storage. Hanwha’s WiseStream II compression reduces bandwidth while preserving details needed for meaningful analysis, which helps lower storage costs and network load (source). Also, combining edge recording with centralised archiving lets teams keep critical footage local while storing longer retention centrally. This hybrid approach scales well for organisations that need long retention for compliance.
Workflows cover live view, recording, archiving, and forensic search. Live view must be fast and responsive for effective monitoring; operators rely on low-latency streams and PTZ control. Recording policies determine what gets stored at full resolution and what is kept at lower rates. For forensic work, smart search tools scan metadata and flagged events so investigators find relevant clips fast. Hanwha’s smart search reduces investigation time by indexing events and objects for quick retrieval (source).
Open standards matter for long-term flexibility. ONVIF and open APIs let you integrate third-party cameras and access control platforms. For example, pairing a security camera with an access control event improves incident context and speeds response. If you need tailored analytics, Visionplatform.ai can hook into the existing management system to stream structured events to MQTT or webhooks. This lets teams operationalise sensors beyond traditional alarm workflows and feed BI or SCADA systems for broader value.
management software, key features and open platform: analytics, compression and AI
Key features of a modern management software suite include smart search, event alerts, metadata tagging, and timeline review. Smart search indexes objects and events so teams locate incidents quickly. Event alerts notify operators of important occurrences such as line crossing or loitering. These alerts reduce time to detect and enable faster response. Hanwha offers these capabilities across its product line, and industry commentary notes their customer-focused design (source).
AI integration is central to the next generation of monitoring. Hanwha’s AI Box provides object detection and classification that can be added without replacing existing cameras. This AI-powered option supports license plate recognition and other analytics, enabling a cost-effective upgrade path (source). For facial recognition and LPR tasks, designers should follow local law and privacy standards.
Open-platform benefits include SDKs and RESTful APIs that allow third parties to extend capability. An open platform invites plugins, bespoke analytics, and integrations with access control or IoT sensors. For companies that need more than canned models, Visionplatform.ai offers on-prem, configurable AI that runs on your data. You can pick a model, improve it with your examples, or build one from scratch. This reduces false detections and keeps data inside your environment for compliance with GDPR and the EU AI Act.
Compression technology such as WiseStream II is a practical tool for reducing storage costs. It dynamically adapts bitrate to scene complexity so critical frames remain sharp. As a result, archives occupy less space while maintaining forensic usefulness. Hanwha’s leadership in combining efficient compression, AI analytics, and an open architecture creates a flexible management system for diverse needs. The CEO of Hanwha Vision has outlined this strategic direction, noting the shift toward autonomous situational awareness in the industry (source).
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mobile, application, device and view: remote surveillance on the go
Operators increasingly expect to manage incidents from mobile devices. Wisenet mobile clients are available for iOS and Android and provide live view, PTZ control, and instant playback. The mobile experience mirrors desktop functionality so operators can triage events while away from the control room. For officers in the field, this capability shortens response times.
Secure remote access is essential. Use of VPNs, HTTPS, and two-factor authentication keeps connections safe. Additionally, cloud access options provide off-site review and backup, while on-prem architectures preserve data sovereignty. For teams that must comply with strict data governance, Visionplatform.ai emphasises on-prem processing and local model control to meet EU AI Act and GDPR needs.
Device management via mobile includes health checks, firmware updates, and group configuration. Administrators can push updates to many cameras at once or monitor camera performance remotely. This reduces truck rolls and helps maintain continuous coverage. For rapid incident handling, the app supports instant notifications and allows users to jump to recorded clips and export evidence.
free, integration and vms: extending the wisenet ecosystem
Hanwha offers free starter editions and trial licences that let teams evaluate the platform before committing. These free options are useful for pilots and small sites. They also let integrators test compatibility with existing gear, including third-party cameras and recorders. Wisenet supports ONVIF and an open API approach so integrations are usually straightforward.
Seamless integration with Hanwha Vision recorders and other devices helps reduce complexity. For firms that need specialised analytics, an open ecosystem enables add-on apps and IoT sensors to extend functionality. For example, adding PPE detection, people counting, or perimeter breach analytics is possible with compatible plugins and edge boxes. If you run airport operations, Visionplatform.ai provides targeted solutions for people counting, ANPR/LPR, and crowd density detection, which integrate with many VMS platforms; see our ANPR and people counting resources for examples ANPR/LPR and people counting.
Looking ahead, an open-platform roadmap promises community-driven plugins and richer interoperability. Organisations can future-proof deployments by choosing platforms that support third-party analytics and retain open APIs. For enterprises that need operational data beyond alarms, streaming structured events to MQTT or webhooks turns cameras into sensors for dashboards and business systems. That shift moves monitoring toward operational use cases and increases return on investment.
If your team needs to try a Wisenet Wave VMS pilot or evaluate add-on analytics, free trials reduce risk and shorten time-to-value. At the same time, consult with integrators and solution architects to verify scale, retention, and compliance requirements before full roll-out.
FAQ
What is Wisenet Wave and how does it differ from standard Wisenet VMS?
Wisenet Wave is an architecture designed for large-scale, multi-site deployments. It adds clustering, load balancing, and centralised management that go beyond the scope of standard Wisenet VMS.
Can I add AI analytics without replacing my cameras?
Yes. Hanwha’s AI Box enables advanced analytics like object detection and classification to be added to existing cameras. This approach provides AI-powered detection without needing full hardware replacement.
Does Hanwha Vision offer free trials for its VMS?
Hanwha provides free starter editions and trial licences for evaluation and pilot projects. These options help teams test compatibility and confirm performance before purchase.
How does WiseStream compression help my storage costs?
WiseStream II adapts bitrate to scene complexity, which reduces bandwidth and storage while preserving important details. As a result, archives require less capacity and retain forensic utility.
Is it possible to integrate third-party cameras and access control?
Yes. Wisenet platforms support ONVIF and open APIs, which let you connect third-party cameras and access control systems for richer incident context and automation.
What mobile capabilities are available for Wisenet users?
Wisenet mobile clients for iOS and Android support live view, PTZ control, instant playback, and notifications. They also allow remote firmware updates and device health monitoring.
How can Visionplatform.ai complement a Wisenet deployment?
Visionplatform.ai adds on-prem AI analytics that run on your data and integrate with VMS platforms. We convert existing CCTV into an operational sensor network and stream structured events for operations and BI.
Does Hanwha provide resources for large campus or retail deployments?
Yes. The Wisenet Wave architecture and higher-tier editions are designed for multi-site and campus scale, offering centralised policy management and distributed recording.
Are there privacy or compliance options for AI analytics?
On-prem deployments and local model training help organisations meet GDPR and EU AI Act requirements. Keeping data and models in your environment improves auditability and control.
What steps should I take before scaling a pilot to full deployment?
Start with a pilot using free trial licences, validate retention policies, test network load with WiseStream compression, and confirm integration with access control and analytics. Then plan redundancy and clustering for fault tolerance.
