The video surveillance market as a whole is seeing an increase in what some are calling a "paradigm shift."
A report released this Tuesday suggests that continued investments in artificial intelligence (AI), cloud-based infrastructures and intelligent automation technologies by organisations across multiple sectors will cause the video management software market to exceed $15 billion (USD) by 2026.
This rapid growth is also reflected in the increase in the adoption of AI-based video analytics, which is expected to grow over 20% per year as companies strive for faster investigation, earlier detection of potential threats, and to provide scalable remote security management capabilities.
Due to increasing demands placed upon them, traditional surveillance systems no longer meet the needs of today's enterprises.
Security personnel are required to monitor multiple facilities, manage thousands of cameras, carry out thorough investigations of incidents with the utmost urgency possible, and respond to potential threats in very timely manners.
This has led to many businesses seeking out the best video management software, which brings together AI, scalable cloud technologies, cybersecurity protections, and operational efficiencies, into one complete solution.
Video management software is no longer simply about recording video.
By 2026, today's VMS solutions will have instead evolved into sophisticated intelligent security ecosystems with capabilities that include the detection of anomalies within video, providing automation alerts regarding these anomalies, providing natural language searches against recorded video footage, and providing integration with access control and emergency response systems.
What is video management software?
Video management software (VMS) is a platform that is used to monitor, manage, record, and analyze video surveillance systems.
A VMS will act as the primary control layer for all security cameras.
This gives an organization the ability to:
- Livestream footage
- Store recordings
- Search incidents
- Manage user access
- Configure alerts
- Use artificial intelligence to analyze events
Older systems were typically focused on recording and viewing only.
Newer VMS platforms have utilized artificial intelligence for the automation of investigations and improved security response time.
Why businesses need the best video management software in 2026
Companies nowadays face much greater complexity in managing their environment, compared to what it was just a couple of years ago.,
From warehouses monitoring inventory and loading docks to hospitals monitoring restricted medical areas, staff need to be able to see what is happening throughout their facilities.
Schools require a way to monitor activities on their campuses and on their school buses. In addition, multi-location retailers need a central system to monitor all of their stores so that they can determine whether or not to replenish their stock.
Because there are thousands of camera feeds throughout a school system (e.g., one school may have 1,000+ cameras), it is virtually impossible for a human operator to continuously monitor all of these feeds as well as the feeds from the cameras at the multiple schools in their district.
An excellent solution to this challenge is the use of AI-powered video management systems (VMS) that can automatically identify suspicious activity, unauthorized access, operational anomalies, or safety incidents in real time. Platforms like Coram’s intelligent video management system help organizations reduce manual monitoring while improving response times through AI-powered search, cloud-based management, access control integration, and real-time analytics.
Key features to look for in the best video management software
Video analytics powered by artificial intelligence
The Video Surveillance Sector is seeing Artificial Intelligence (AI) emerge as one of the industry's strongest advantages.
A number of the more modern video management systems (VMS) have the ability to be developed to automatically detect a range of common problems including -
• Perimeter breaches,
• Unauthorized access,
• Suspicious activity;
• Loitering,
• Object abandonment,
• Vehicle activity, and
• Crowd density.
Advanced AI/VMS platforms such as Coram have features that include face detection, license plate recognition, real-time threat detection, natural language or voice-generated video search, proactive notifications of threats and incidents, and seamless integration with various IP camera types.
This provides VMS operators with the ability to respond to any incidents very quickly, locating incidents within a matter of seconds rather than having to manually sift through hours of video footage.
Cloud and hybrid deployment
The number of companies using cloud-based vendor management systems (VMS) is increasing rapidly as we reach 2026.
On-Premise VMS systems often have high costs to upgrade and maintain server hardware along with lengthy installation times.
Cloud-based platforms reduce the cost and complexity of hardware for vendor management and offer better scalability and remote access.
Hybrid deployment models are also gaining popularity because they combine local edge recording with centralized cloud management.
Benefits include:
- Lower infrastructure costs
- Remote monitoring
- Faster software updates
- Easier multi-site management
- Flexible storage options
Cloud VMS solutions are especially useful for enterprises managing geographically distributed operations.
Scalability for enterprise growth
Scalability is now a critical factor when selecting video management software.
The best VMS platforms should support hundreds or even thousands of cameras without sacrificing performance.
Organizations expanding across multiple sites need systems capable of handling:
- Distributed camera networks
- Centralized dashboards
- Remote administration
- Cross-location investigations
- Cloud storage scaling
- User role management
According to multiple enterprise security reports, scalability is one of the primary reasons organizations are replacing legacy surveillance systems with cloud-native VMS platforms.
Cybersecurity protection
Security systems themselves have become cybersecurity targets.
Modern VMS platforms must include enterprise-grade protections such as:
- Multi-factor authentication
- Encryption
- Secure cloud storage
- Audit logs
- Role-based access controls
- Compliance support
Due to regulatory and privacy laws, sectors like healthcare, education & finance are continuing to need surveillance technology that can facilitate cyber security.
Ensure that your creation meets all of Coram's necessary regulatory compliance, such as: SOC 2 Type II, TLS encryption, Multi-Factor Authentication and Role-Based Access Control for enterprise solutions.
Intelligent video search
One of the most important innovations in the best video management software platforms is AI-powered search.
Traditional investigations required operators to manually review footage for hours.
Modern AI systems allow users to search video using simple descriptions such as:
- “Person wearing blue jacket”
- “White truck near warehouse gate”
- “Employee entering side door after midnight”
This drastically reduces investigation time and improves incident response.
Natural-language search is becoming one of the defining features of next-generation VMS platforms.
AI capabilities transforming video management software
Facial recognition
Schools, Hospitals, Commercial Buildings and Airports are increasingly using Facial Recognition.
More organizations are installing AI powered Video Management Systems to help them identify people of interest, monitor watch lists, and enhance access verification.
Facial Recognition users also have privacy concerns and ethical issues while complying with laws of comfort levels in these situations.
License plate recognition
License plate recognition is widely used in:
- Logistics facilities
- Smart parking systems
- Corporate campuses
- Gated communities
- Transportation hubs
AI-based VMS technologies provide automated monitoring of vehicle movements and generate alerts for vehicles identified as being unauthorized.
Real-time threat detection
The ability of many more newer AI systems to complete identification of incidents in real-time affords the Advanced VMS provider the ability to provide the ability to provide real-time alerting for:
- Weapon visibility
- Perimeter breaches
- Suspicious behavior
- Unauthorized Entry
- Crowd anomalies
This proactive approach significantly improves response times during emergencies.
Edge AI processing
Edge AI allows analytics to run directly on cameras or edge devices instead of relying entirely on cloud servers.
Benefits include:
- Faster processing
- Lower bandwidth usage
- Improved privacy
- Reduced cloud dependency
Edge AI is expected to become one of the fastest-growing trends in enterprise surveillance infrastructure over the next several years.
Leading platforms considered among the best video management software solutions
Coram
Coram has emerged as a leader in the VMS marketplace in 2026 due to its AI-native VMS capabilities.
The platform's primary features include advanced analytics based on intelligence; natural language based video search; preemptive alerts; and unified security management.
Coram's primary advantage is its camera-agnostic architecture that allows for organizations to modernize their existing infrastructure and do not have to replace all of their existing cameras during the upgrade process.
As a unified security management and operations video surveillance, access control and emergency response integration, Coram provides a single dashboard for emergency response agencies.
Coram's greatest value to the enterprise customer is to provide operational efficiencies and overall visibility.
Milestone Systems
Milestone Systems is considered one of the premier suppliers of VMS solutions worldwide, characterized by their open platform architecture, extensive capabilities to integrate with third-party vendors' products, and proven ability to deploy at large-scale projects in an international scale such as all of the world's large commercial airports, mass transit systems, and large enterprises.
Genetec
Genetec is a leader in the enterprise security market as a provider of a unified solution for physical security that includes video surveillance, access control, intrusion detection and operational intelligence.
Avigilon Alta
Avigilon has provided cloud-based surveillance capabilities with AI and analytics, remote management capabilities, and a scalable infrastructure designed specifically for organizations with multiple locations.
Verkada
Verkada is a cloud-based surveillance provider that has developed an emphasis on cloud-managed video surveillance with a focus on centralized multiple-site management with simplified installation.
Industries driving VMS adoption
Healthcare
Hospitals utilize AI monitoring systems for many different areas of patient safety including pharmacy monitoring, restricted access areas, and enhancing the ability to respond to emergencies.
Education
Both school and university systems have made significant investments in applying intelligent surveillance systems to provide a safe environment in which to learn, and to aid in investigating any incidents that may happen on campus.
Warehousing and logistics
Warehouses nowadays are utilizing Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based analytics to monitor the activity that takes place on loading docks in order to minimize theft, increase the safety and effectiveness of employees, and enhance the overall operations and processes within the warehouse.
Retail
Retailers are utilizing Vendor Management Systems (VMS) Platforms to help prevent losses, analyze operations, and monitor customer safety.
Challenges businesses should consider
Storage requirements
Long retention times and high-resolution recording can add a lot of storage space. Using hybrid and cloud storage models will lower your complexities.
Privacy regulations
The use of AI surveillance by an organization can be regulated by both privacy laws and biometric laws.
Integration complexity
Large organizations often operate mixed hardware environments. Open-platform compatibility is essential for long-term flexibility.
FAQs
What are the top video management platforms currently available?
In 2026, the most optimal video management solutions will be based on factors such as deployment size, Artificial Intelligence requirements, scalability goals, and infrastructure requirements.
Coram, Milestone, Genetec, Avigilon and Verkada are the top video management software solutions for 2026.
What benefits does artificial intelligence provide to video management systems?
AI enhances security by recognizing threat patterns, provides automation for incident investigation, decreases the amount of manual video monitoring that is required, and helps to improve speed of response times to incidents.
What is the definition of cloud-based video management system (VMS)?
A cloud VMS uses the Internet and cloud infrastructure to store and access surveillance video rather than rely solely on hard disks in local server environment.
Do video management systems (VMS) provide integration capabilities with access control systems?
All of the leading enterprise level video management systems provide integration with access control systems, alarm systems, emergency systems, and visitor management systems.
Why are organizations adopting cloud video management systems (VMS)?
Cloud VMS enable organizations to achieve easier scalability, centralizing monitoring, accessing remotely via any Internet connection, reducing infrastructure costs, and providing for faster upgrades to system software.
Conclusion
The video surveillance industry is changing very quickly into an AI-based and Cloud Managed security ecosystem.
In 2026, the top VMS software platforms will be distinguished not only by their recording quality but also by intelligence, scalability, cybersecurity and operational efficiency.
Now, businesses expect their VMS to have automated investigations, proactively identify threats, integrate with access control systems and provide seamless scalability across multiple locations.
AI-based platforms like Coram are redefining enterprise surveillance by integrating cloud infrastructure with intelligent analysis, natural language searches and unified security workflows into one scalable platform for organizations.
