Overview
UCSB ITS, partnering with a commercial Video Surveillance provider, can deliver a managed, supported, scalable, and cost-efficient “one-stop” Video Security as a Service (VSaaS). It provides 24/7/365 access to a web portal with videos recorded from cameras installed at your location for searching, viewing, and downloading.
ITS-managed VSaaS features include:
- System design
- Camera installation and configuration
- Customer user administration
- Camera subscription management
- Contract administration
- Customer billing
An optional feature includes up to 90-day retention of video per camera. While you can access a live view, we designed the service for recorded video review.
One-time customer costs include system design, cameras, installation, network enhancements to support the cameras if necessary, and any value-added services. Recurring costs include annual video camera monitoring subscription, preventive camera maintenance, and any costs associated with selected value-added services.
To view the cameras/surveillance advisory and guidelines, click here.
Request Information
To access VSaaS visit the IT Services Catalog at ucsb.service-now.com/it.
Once contacted by the potential VSaaS customer, ITS will first provide a consultation to discuss video monitoring needs, potentially recommending professional system design services in more complex situations. ITS staff will then recommend potential solutions for customer approval, including approximate costs for each.
Special Considerations
If the customer elects to proceed ITS will:
- Order cameras and supporting network equipment
- Coordinate camera installation and configuration
- Subscribe customer’s cameras to the VSaaS
- Create customer camera group and user account
- Provide introductory training to use the VSaaS
- Provide instructions on how to access VSaaS Vendor Customer Support for portal usage
- Coordinate post-installation camera field service, replacement at the prevailing time, and materials rates
Privacy Policy
Below for general review and comment is a proposed Video Camera and Video Surveillance Policy (hereafter, “VCVS”).
Campus stakeholders from the UC Police Department, Audit, Purchasing, Design and Construction, Library, ITS, Human Resources, Academic Senate, Communications Services, Privacy, Campus Counsel, and Student Affairs have participated in the drafting and review of this policy. Senior Management review of the policy was completed in June of 2019 and the attached policy accounts for changes made pursuant to that review.
Initially crafted to align with a proposed system-wide policy briefly out for public comment before a recall to the committee in July of 2017, the VCVS policy was revived in the fall of 2018 pursuant to a Management Corrective Action relating to Campus Security. The VCVS policy would replace the existing “Advisory – Use of Cameras/Video Surveillance on Campus.”
The VCVS policy covers general principles of privacy and appropriate use as well as prohibited uses, storage and security, and appropriate release protocol. (Section II) It also establishes a Video Camera Committee (hereafter, “VCC”) comprised of the Campus Privacy Officer, the Chief Information Security Officer, and a member of the UCPD that would approve the installation, use, and decommissioning of all cameras on campus. Further, the VCC would establish and maintain an accurate campus inventory of Video and Surveillance Cameras, develop appropriate signage, technology, and maintenance standards in keeping with industry best practices, evaluate requests for release of video data, and help ensure compliance via development of an annual certification process.
The goal of the VCVS policy is not to prevent or make it difficult for departments to install and use video cameras or video surveillance, rather to create processes that best ensure privacy and security, as well as proper use and release, maintenance, and decommissioning, are considered and accounted for prior to installation and not as an afterthought.
Please send any comments on the proposed policy to the Privacy office no later than Thursday, February 20, 2020, to Jennifer Lofthus, Policy Coordinator and Campus Privacy Officer, at jennifer.lofthus@ucsb.edu.
Support
Visit the IT Services Catalog at ucsb.service-now.com/it to submit a ticket. We also address the most common questions in the FAQs below.
Service Level Agreements (SLAs)
Please review the VSaaS Service Description.
Additional Service Information (FAQs)
Q: Why is ITS in the Video Security business?
When the North Hall Data Center (NHDC) was commissioned, the video system was installed but due to contractual and service changes, there was no longer a UCSB provider to run the system. As we worked to deploy a system to monitor NHDC, we decided to craft a solution that other campus departments could also use. Our goal is to provide a managed, supported, scalable, secure and cost-efficient "one-stop" service.
Q: What are the UCSB Policy considerations involving Video Surveillance?
UCSB Policy regarding Video Surveillance can be reviewed at the link below. The VSaaS Customer is responsible for ensuring they are in compliance with UCSB policy. In general, there is no expectation of privacy, that would preclude video monitoring, in public spaces. However, the definition of "public space" is situation dependent. Notice should be provided that video surveillance is in place per the Camera/Surveillance Advisory.
Q: Who owns the equipment?
The customer owns and maintains the cameras. If the customer's departmental network is used for video transport, they also own and maintain the network. If UNET is used for video transport, ITS owns and maintains the network. ITS maintains the video recording appliances, supporting network equipment and services.
Q: Why do I have to sign up for three years?
Our VSaaS partner, Cloudastructure, requires a 3 year commitment. To obtain volume pricing discounts for all to enjoy, ITS consolidates all UCSB customers so Cloudastructure has one financial entity to work with. ITS maintains camera subscription agreements with Cloudastructure. Your department's cameras are placed in the agreement closest to when your service starts.
Q: Why should I sign up for camera preventive maintenance?
Camera PM's ensure that your camera has the latest required firmware, cleans and inspects the camera to remedy issues before the camera fails, and the ability to purchase a replacement from our camera spares inventory thereby restoring your recording capability as quickly as possible.
Q: Why shouldn't I go directly to Cloudastructure?
Because it will cost you more as you will not obtain the volume discount the VSaaS service does. Plus you are on your own for system design, support and management.
Q: Who can see my recorded video?
Only those with the userid and password issued to your camera group, and ITS staff that manage the video system.
Q: Can the system retain more than 30 days of recorded video?
Yes, for an additional annual fee up to 90 days of video can be retained.
Q: Can I export video from the system?
Yes, when you select video on the timeline, you have the option to play it in your workstation's media player, or download it in an archive file.
Q: Can I view real-time, live video?
Potentially yes. Our recommended cameras support two video "streams". One stream is dedicated to the recording function. The other is available for real-time, or live, viewing subject to some constraints. First, the camera needs to be reachable from the workstation where you wish to view the live stream. This has implications for network security. Second, the camera's live stream is a real-time feed and can be a substantial amount of network traffic. Viewing live feeds from multiple camera's will definitely be a performance hit on the workstation doing the monitoring, and potentially the network serving the workstation. Finally, some camera have a PTZ function - Pan, Tilt, Zoom - that allows you to aim the camera. But the camera only has one lens. So if you steer the camera to look at something else, that is what will be recorded. This may not be a good idea if you want constant 24x7 video of a specific location.
Q: I don't see feature "X" on the service. Does that mean I cannot get it?
It depends. While our service has a set of features based on the capabilities of Cloudastructure and ITS, it is possible that through another partner a custom solution can be built for you at a reasonable cost. For example, Facilities Management and the Library have used our base VSaaS service with an add-on "time lapse" movie feature provided by one of or partners.