Surveillance Data Storage in the Age of AI

By Mohit Pandey, Head of Sales – Middle East, Turkey & Africa, Seagate Technology

As connected digital devices replace standalone analog devices, they are generating vast amounts of data that allow us to improve systems and processes. Eventually, Big Data and AI metadata will be as critical as the introduction of electricity. By 2025, an average connected person will interact with connected devices – computers, mobile devices, smart TVs etc. – nearly 4,800 times a day: one interaction every 18 seconds.

Data analysis is expected to grow substantially in the next few years. IDC estimates the amount of data generated worldwide that is subject to data analysis will grow by a factor of 50 to 5.2 zettabytes by 2025, with the amount of data that is “touched” by cognitive systems growing by a factor of 100 to 1.4 zettabytes in that same time.

This virtual flood of data pave the way for a new set of technologies including machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI). All this data can be analyzed to introduce unique user experiences and mitigate potential risks, opening up a whole new world of business opportunities.

AI-Driven Security Enhancements

With data from AI-enabled security systems, important tasks can be completed, such as, traffic flow management among connected vehicles to prioritize traffic protocols for emergency vehicles, detecting fraud in real time, or employing facial recognition to improve security at sporting venues. With the data gathered from AI systems, manufacturers can recognize operational efficiencies in production lines and can make immediate adjustments. Medical staff at hospitals can recognize unusual trends in a patient’s health and take action to reduce mortality. Retailers can better understand their customer’s behavior as well as peak hours for foot traffic.

Proactive Security with AI

From a security standpoint, AI transforms ultra-high-resolution video from a reactive tool used for post-incident investigation into a proactive tool that enables pre-emptive action.

AI helps security integrators and end users identify specific events and triggers in footage, such as a blue bike riding south or a grey-haired man walking towards a building with a dog.

This capability allows for more accurate alerts and forensics, significantly reducing the time required to analyze and act on video data manually.

Seagate’s SkyHawk Surveillance Drives

From a video storage solutions perspective, Seagate’s SkyHawk surveillance drives stand unmatched in high capacity, optimised firmware, and a reliability workload rating of hundreds of terabytes per year.

Designed for DVRs and NVRs, SkyHawk drives are fine-tuned for 24×7 workloads, supporting up to 64 HD cameras and up to 32 AI streams.

These drives feature SkyHawk Health Management for monitoring drive health, providing prevention, intervention and recovery from potential data loss due to unexpected physical damage from vandalism or natural disasters.

Deploying purpose-built SkyHawk drives with advanced technologies ensures optimal drive reliability and performance, supporting both video streaming and AI analysis. This deployment results in the best possible total cost of ownership (TCO) and delivers valuable, actionable intelligence, enhancing storage capabilities while reducing maintenance and service calls. The outcome is increased customer satisfaction and loyalty, along with higher profit margins for integrators.