Security teams are standardizing on hybrid camera architectures that blend on-premises recording with cloud-managed AI and workflows. The data points tell the story. Analysts project the global video surveillance market will grow from about 58 to 88.7 billion dollars between 2025 and 2030, an 8.5 percent CAGR, driven by cloud, edge computing, and AI analytics. Video surveillance as a service is expanding even faster, from 5.95 billion dollars in 2025 to 10.74 billion dollars by 2029 at a 16.1 percent CAGR.
At the IT level, most enterprises already run workloads in the cloud and hybrid strategies dominate, with industry trackers reporting roughly 94 percent adoption of cloud services across enterprises and widespread use of multi and hybrid cloud patterns. Gartner adds that 90 percent of organizations will adopt hybrid cloud through 2027, a trend that aligns neatly with hybrid video strategies.
The rise of edge AI is another tailwind, with the edge AI market expected to reach around 25.65 billion dollars in 2025 and grow at about 21 percent annually through 2034, enabling smarter analytics on cameras and gateways.
Put simply, hybrid gives you cloud speed, resilience, and scale while keeping bandwidth and long-retention costs under control. For fleets with high camera density or strict retention rules, buffering on site plus cloud analytics remains the pragmatic choice.
Below are three standout hybrid camera systems that are delivering in 2025. Each supports cloud management with on-prem recording options, strong AI features, and practical deployment tooling.
1) Coram
Best for organizations that want camera-agnostic AI, unified dashboards, and the option to pair cloud analytics with local recording for resiliency.
Coram centers its platform on the idea that you should not need to rip and replace your existing IP cameras. It integrates with standard ONVIF-compatible devices and layers AI search, real-time alerts, and incident management on top. That means many teams can keep their current IP cameras, add Coram’s cloud VMS, and choose storage strategies that fit each site.
How the hybrid model works
Coram supports cloud management with flexible storage. You can record locally for continuous coverage and longer retention, then mirror or back up critical footage to the cloud for disaster recovery and remote access. The approach reduces bandwidth pressure, preserves video during network outages, and still lets you run cloud AI for fast investigations. Coram’s guidance highlights hybrid storage for access continuity and cost control while syncing key clips to the cloud.
AI and workflows
Investigations speed up through natural-language video search, face recognition, and license plate search that work across cameras and sites. You can type a simple description to find moments faster and pair door events with video when using the Coram access control system. That linkage turns a propped-door or forced-entry alert into a one-click video review rather than a manual hunt.
Deployment notes
A major appeal is time to value. Coram positions setup as simple for existing fleets, with cloud dashboards and remote monitoring from any browser. The company offers NDAA-compliant camera options when you need to expand, but it remains camera-agnostic so your current hardware investment is protected.
Why choose Coram in 2025
If you want hybrid flexibility without vendor lock-in to proprietary cameras, Coram is a strong option. It unifies video, access control, and emergency management in one interface, which means fewer tabs and faster response when incidents unfold. For multi-site teams and schools or enterprises modernizing legacy NVR estates, that consolidation is valuable.
2) Genetec Security Center SaaS
Best for enterprises that want a mature, unified platform with access control, video, and intrusion monitoring under a single subscription, deployable fully cloud or hybrid.
Genetec’s Security Center SaaS brings the company’s long history in unified physical security to the hybrid-cloud model. You can keep parts of your on-prem footprint and extend with cloud services, or you can run cloud-first and add on-site components where bandwidth or retention requirements demand it. The platform combines video surveillance, access control, forensic search, intrusion, automation, and communications.
How the hybrid model works
Genetec describes Security Center SaaS as a unified hybrid-cloud solution that lets you manage and scale across on-prem, cloud, and edge as needed. That gives large organizations freedom to move sites or functions into the cloud on their own timeline without losing central management or analytics. Documentation and product pages emphasize the flexibility to blend infrastructures while keeping a consistent operator experience.
AI and workflows
Genetec focuses on enterprise-grade search and investigation features. Forensics tools and event linking help operators pivot quickly between alarms and related video, while role-based access and privacy controls align with compliance needs in regulated industries. The SaaS model simplifies updates and adds new capabilities without forklift upgrades.
Deployment notes
Security Center SaaS is sold through certified channel partners and supports tiered subscriptions so you can scale features as you grow. That makes it a fit for global rollouts that must balance standardization with local constraints.
Why choose Genetec in 2025
If you need an enterprise-ready platform with proven integrations and the option to run hybrid at continental scale, Security Center SaaS is a safe bet. The path to unify multiple disciplines under one operator view is a strong differentiator in complex environments.
3) Eagle Eye Networks Cloud VMS with Bridge and CMVR
Best for teams that want a cloud-first VMS with purpose-built gateways for hybrid recording, bandwidth smoothing, and open-platform camera support.
Eagle Eye pioneered cloud VMS at scale and remains focused on true cloud while offering on-premises bridges and cloud-managed video recorders that buffer and store video locally. This is a classic hybrid setup. Cameras connect through an Eagle Eye Bridge or CMVR, which handles secure transmission, local buffering, and bandwidth management. The cloud provides management, analytics, and anywhere access, while local storage covers retention and continuity.
How the hybrid model works
Eagle Eye Bridges sit on site to connect IP cameras to the cloud. They encrypt video in transit and at rest, buffer during low bandwidth windows, and let you tune what goes to the cloud versus what stays local. For locations with constrained uplinks or long retention rules, that combination makes hybrid practical.
AI and workflows
The platform layers cloud analytics, event detection, and automation on top of recordings. Eagle Eye positions its VMS as an open platform that integrates with a range of cameras and systems, which helps mixed environments avoid lock-in.
Deployment notes
Because it is cloud native, you can roll out to many sites and manage users, locations, and retention centrally. The bridge model is straightforward for field teams and gives a predictable way to stage migrations from legacy NVRs to a cloud-managed stack.
Why choose Eagle Eye in 2025
If your priority is cloud scale with a simple, reliable way to keep footage local where needed, Eagle Eye is a clean architectural fit. Its gateway devices and open integrations suit retailers, logistics, and multi-location businesses that want to modernize without complete rip-and-replace.
How to choose the right hybrid camera system
Start by mapping three things. First, your retention and bandwidth realities. Long retention on many cameras often favors local recording with selective cloud backup, so look for buffering and bandwidth controls. Industry guidance and vendor research continue to highlight hybrid as cost effective for high density fleets and long retention needs. ArcadianAI Second, your analytics and incident workflows.
Cloud AI can speed response, but you want that AI connected to doors, alarms, and communications so operators can act immediately. Third, your hardware posture. If you own a mix of ONVIF-compatible cameras you may prefer a camera-agnostic platform so you can phase replacements over time. If you plan to standardize on a single camera line for support reasons, factor that into total cost of ownership and training.
Security leaders should also align with broader IT strategy. With most enterprises using multi and hybrid cloud and overall public cloud spend projected to reach about 723 billion dollars in 2025, your video platform should complement identity, network, and data governance policies rather than live off to the side.
FAQs
What exactly is a hybrid camera system
It is a video surveillance architecture that manages cameras and analytics in the cloud while storing some or all footage locally on gateways, CMVRs, or on-camera storage. This design preserves video during outages, reduces bandwidth usage for high frame rates and long retention, and still gives you cloud features like remote access, AI search, and centralized management.
Is hybrid more cost effective than pure cloud
For sites with many cameras or strict retention, hybrid often lowers total cost because only prioritized clips or time windows traverse the uplink. Cloud storage is valuable, but bandwidth and long retention at scale can be expensive. Hybrid balances the economics by keeping high bitrate recording local while syncing important moments to the cloud.
How does edge AI relate to hybrid video
Edge AI runs analytics on cameras or on-site gateways so detections happen quickly and do not depend on constant backhaul. As edge AI spending grows at roughly 21 percent annually through the next decade, you can expect smarter on-device capabilities that complement cloud AI for search and reporting.
What kind of cloud adoption should security teams plan around
Most medium and large enterprises already rely on cloud services and a large majority run hybrid strategies that combine public and private resources. Aligning your camera system with that reality simplifies identity management, logging, and policy enforcement across the stack.
Which of the three is best for multi-site rollouts
All three support multi-site management. If you want an open, camera-agnostic path with unified video, access control, and emergency workflows, Coram is compelling. If you need a deeply integrated, enterprise-wide platform with extensive partner ecosystems, Genetec is a strong fit. If your priority is a cloud-native VMS with straightforward gateways to handle bandwidth and local storage, Eagle Eye is a good choice.
Do these platforms help with compliance and privacy
Each provides role-based access, audit trails, and encryption controls that support common regulatory needs when configured correctly. Genetec and Eagle Eye document encryption and role models, while Coram emphasizes unified event-to-video tracing and NDAA-compliant camera options when you add hardware. Your policies and user training remain essential.
The bottom line for 2025
Hybrid camera systems are now the default choice for organizations that want cloud-managed intelligence and uptime without runaway bandwidth bills. Coram stands out for camera-agnostic AI and unified security workflows. Genetec Security Center SaaS delivers a comprehensive, enterprise-grade platform that scales across cloud and on-prem. Eagle Eye Networks offers a true cloud VMS with simple gateways that make hybrid recording practical. Match your choice to your retention profile, network constraints, and the degree of unification you want between video, access control, and incident response.
