Angelcam has developed a fully cloud-based platform that not only provides a turnkey streaming solution for true live video feeds, but also creates a platform to apply proprietary and third-party apps that transform a simple video feed into a dramatically enriched source of analytics, insights, and functionality.
For the past 9 months, the team at Angelcam has been hard at work on a special project that will help unify our suite of security products and give you, our users, a more robust means of helping you protect that which matters most.
For some, that may mean your business and the livelihood it provides you and those that work alongside you. For others, that could mean ensuring the safety of your home and the loved ones that reside within.
Whatever matters most to you, we want to help ensure it remains safe and secure and to that end have prepared a new and improved way of monitoring and managing your security system, no matter where you are.
Say hello to the new Angelcam app and say hello to a greater peace of mind.
The rules for Oregon cannabis dispensaries come from Oregon Liquor Control Commission’s Division 25, and is published here under Recreational Marijuana. Full disclaimer: this is not legal advice, and these rules will continue to evolve. This is only an interpretation of the rules as published on oregon.gov/olcc as of March 15 2018.
The 4 primary sets of rules that pertain exclusively to security camera system are in sections:
§845-025-1430: Video Surveillance Equipment
§845-025-1440: Required Camera Coverage and Camera Placement
§845-025-1450: Video Recording Requirements for Licensed Facilities
§845-025-1460: Location and Maintenance of Surveillance Equipment
There are 3 additional sections that touch upon your security camera system:
§845-025-2840: Retailer Premises states that a retailer must post in a prominent place signs that read “Security Camera in Use”
§845-025-1175: Changing, Altering, or Modifying Licensed Premises 6(c) states that Any physical change that would require the installation of additional video surveillance cameras or a change in the security system
§845-025-1410 Security Requirements 4(b) Keep all video recordings and archived required records not stored electronically in a locked storage area. Current records may be kept in a locked cupboard or desk outside the locked storage area during hours when the licensed business is open
Below is a summary of each rule section and some advice from Angelcam:
845-025-1430: Video Surveillance Equipment describes the equipment you must have on premises. It says you must have:
Cameras that can fulfill the requirements in §1450 (we’ll write more on that later)
DVR’s or NVR’s
A video monitor on site capable of viewing recorded videos.
A printer on-site capable of producing still photos
The ability to produce still photos from any camera image
A failure notification system in case of interruption of the system.
Battery backup to support 1 hour of recording time if power goes out.
Except for mounted cameras, all surveillance equipment (NVR,DVR, Angelbox, etc) must be stored in a locked secure area that is accessible only to licensee, personnel or Commission employees/contractors.
A few notes on this rule and how Angelcam can help:
We recommend using IP cameras and an NVR instead of Analog/DVR systems. One benefit is that the cameras can be connected to the cloud on stand-alone basis if needed.
The last rule applies to the surveillance room that will need to be monitored by another security camera, and that camera’s footage will need to be backed up to the cloud. The idea here is that the OLCC will be able to know if the surveillance equipment or footage is tampered with, since a camera is monitoring the equipment area and that footage is recorded to the cloud in real-time. This is a common starting point for dispensaries to begin using a cloud video system with a mobile app like Angelcam.
To enhance the granularity of the failure notification system, Angelcam’s system can provide you with an email notification if any specific camera is offline for more than 10 minutes.
845-025-1440: Required Camera Coverage and Camera Placement talks about the areas the cameras need to surveil:
All points of ingress and egress, including within 15 feet inside and out
Consumer sales area
Surveillance room
“Limited access” areas
From the OLCC, “Limited access area” means a building, room, or other contiguous area on a licensed premises where a marijuana item is produced, processed, stored, weighed, packaged, labeled, or sold.
845-025-1450: Video Recording Requirements for Licensed Facilities talks more about what needs to be recorded including the resolution and quality of video:
Record footage in any area with marijuana, plants, concentrates, extracts, etc. including areas of ingress/egress.
For “Limited Access” and “Consumer sales” areas, use 1280p footage at 10 frames per second.
In other areas that are not “Limited access”, 1280p with 5 frames per second works, unless coverage overlaps any limited access areas (including entrances). Then cameras must record at 10 fps;
Cameras must be able to record in all lighting conditions.
Keep surveillance recordings on-premises for a minimum of:
90 days (if license granted after Aug 31 2016)
30 days (if license granted before Aug 31 2016)
Back up the video surveillance recordings off-site and in real time for the surveillance room or surveillance area. Keep off-site backup recordings described in of this rule for a minimum of 30 days.
This is the rule that requires real-time backup of video stored off-site, and one of the most common reasons a cloud-based video service like Angelcam is used. The rule can be confusing since it states both “surveillance room or surveillance area”.
It’s worth understanding the intention of this rule. OLCC representatives have stated the intention is to provide a mechanism to verify coverage in the event of a breach, stated or known, by requiring licensees to have a security system to provide evidence if what happened was a theft. Dispensary owners, the OLCC and law enforcement will be able to prevent breaches much more quickly and effectively with live streams of the security videos backed up to the cloud in real-time, since they cannot be tampered with.
In terms of the definition, practically speaking, each facility is different and more or less vulnerable to breach – this is where inspectors come in. Typically inspectors will only require 30-day cloud storage for surveillance of this area, but we have seen cases where dispensary owners have said they required 90-day off-site storage.
Currently, the only explicit 90-day storage requirement in the rule guide is for the video kept on-premises in your DVR/NVR.
Angelcam provides 30-day and 90-day cloud recording packages to allow owners to meet these requirements, and will preserve whatever footage and resolution comes from the camera.
845-025-1460: Location and Maintenance of Surveillance Equipment describes the room where the surveillance equipment is stored.
It states that off-site storage must be secure and the recordings must be kept in a format approved by the Commission that can be easily accessed for viewing and easily reproduced. Angelcam’s cloud-based video recording service makes it easy for dispensary owners to create, download or share mp4 video clips with authorities upon request. With our player-sharing feature, dispensary owners and operators can give their 3rd party security teams remote access and viewing.
If you urgently need someone else to have a look at a live stream from your camera(s), but you are not at your computer, or if you just like using a mobile app everywhere you go, we believe you’ll appreciate the latest mobile app update. In addition to the existing live stream view, we’ve added the ability to share the live stream with people you need. But not only that, you can also allow other people to look into your past recordings (according to your current plan of Cloud Recording app and if you have a camera connected to any IFTTT compatible device, motion events will be also marked in the video clips).
Advantages of the Angelcam mobile app:
Share the live view with your guests *
Share live stream & recordings with your guests *
Share recordings from the camera with events marked on the recordings *
View all your cameras on one screen (in a different previews)
View all cameras that your friends have shared with you
View events on your timeline
Quickly scroll through past recordings
* New feature
Download the mobile app on iTunes or Google Play (for iOS 10 or Android 4.4 and newer), it’s FREE for all Angelcam users.
Once you try it, be sure to let us know what you think about the app by leaving us a comment on the app store page.
THEFT, VANDALISM, HEALTH and SAFETY NEGLECT plague the construction industry. Utilize Cloud based security solutions with Angelcam to monitor and report activity on your site.
Studies from the Chartered Institute of Building* show that theft in the UK construction industry effect 42.7% of participants on a monthly basis. Vandalism shows similar results with 42.8% on a monthly basis. 90% of participants are aware of ongoing health and safety neglect precipitating in a staggering 60% occurence rate per month.
As in all industries practices change and evolve over time. Main contractors look at security through an antiquated lens. On site security guards, local CCTV systems, and barriers all have one thing in common. They are susceptible to tampering and outside influence. More importantly, they are widely accepted as unreliable. Due to these factors security budgets are consistently mitigated precipitating the crime figures above resulting in a perpetual cycle of loss and damaged property. Why not approach the problem with a 21st century solution?
Our clients have evolved and in doing so solved their security issues while saving on expenses. With Angelcam’s services our clients have utilized the cloud to supplement their existing security system, drastically diminish false alarms, reliably identifying intruders, and preventing loss or tampering of footage.
Angelcam can give you the oversight and peace of mind you need while managing your construction sites. Report, retain, and mitigate criminal activity through remote video monitoring. View your site at any time with our user-friendly web app or Android / IOS mobile app. Create clips and download them from the cloud when you like.
Source: Crime in the construction industry – CIOB (Chartered Institute of Building) survey 2016
How are you tackling crime activities on your site? Contact us and get a free consultation
Tired of flicking from one camera to another, trying to keep an active eye on all of your feeds at a given time? With our brand new Video Wall feature, you no longer have to.
Easily create an overview that displays your camera feeds on one screen, customizing it according to your specific needs. Best of all, not only can you watch up to 10 cameras on one Video Wall, but you can create an unlimited amount of Video Walls and conveniently switch between them.
Use this great new feature to create your own video monitoring station or just quickly and easily check if all your cameras are online.
To get started creating your first video wall, follow these simple steps:
Not only have construction companies requested it as a means to record site progress for themselves or clients, but event agencies and conference organizers appreciate creating these time-lapse videos to show the various evolutions of their events.
A bit of inspiration, how you can use your timelapse video:
The new and improved Timelapse app is back and enables you to create a time-lapse video from your IP camera.
The Timelapse app is available upon request right now, so feel free to contact us if interested and we’ll provide you with more information and price plans.
We have noticed an increasing number of Hikvision cameras being hacked over the last few weeks. If you’re using a Hikvision camera, please pay attention to this post and check if your camera is safe.
The main reason why we are informing end users about this particular security issue is due to how easy it is to gain access into affected devices. It is called a “Hollywood hack”, one press of a button and they’re in. The ease of use combined with the fact that it is a widely known and discussed issue means that it poses a real threat to many users.
Was I hacked?
In most cases, your camera settings will get changed for no apparent reason or the camera will be reset to its factory defaults. A hacked camera might even appear to work completely fine, so we recommend securing your camera anyway.
Please note that this is a tech article, if you’re not familiar with some of the processes below, please try using our AngelBox for additional security or contact your local dealer/camera manufacturer.
Which devices are vulnerable and how are they being attacked?
Certain Hikvision firmware versions have a static password hard-coded into the firmware. This means that no matter how complex the password, every camera can be directly accessed. Most cameras will end up being reset to their factory defaults, in certain cases, the attacker might use the gained access to take over the camera for their own purposes or try to access your network.
For the camera to be vulnerable, its HTTP port (usually port 80, where you access the configuration page of your camera) has to be publicly available. This means that you either have to have it forwarded on your router for remote access or you need to have UPnP enabled in the camera and in the router, as well.
Cameras NOT affected: cameras which are used in closed local networks only, cameras which are only streaming to public through RTSP port or cameras connected to Angelcam through AngelBox.
Both official Hikvision devices and OEM brands selling Hikvision hardware are affected. The brands include, for example, some models from Annke, Digital Watchdog, Hunt, Lorex, Swann, TrendNet and so on.
What to do to secure your cameras?
First, please be warned that you’re performing all these actions at your own risk. We are not responsible for any damage or failures resulting from following the recommendations.
If you’re not familiar with the following, we recommend contacting your local distributor and asking them for an assistance.
To make this matter even more complicated, there are two version of Hikvision devices.
-Devices sold officially through authorized security dealers
-Grey imports usually sold on Amazon, Ebay or Alibaba
The grey imports tend to be translated Chinese versions. Upgrading firmware in such cameras results in “bricking” them (effectively destroying their software completely). These cameras have a “CH” in their serial number. If you have such cameras, you can try any following recommendations except for a firmware upgrade. To upgrade your firmware, please contact your dealer/seller or try following one of many online guides at your own risk.
If you have a HTTP port remotely accessible and you don’t need it, close the port.
In addition to point 1, disable UPnP in your camera network settings and disable UPnP in your router settings as well. It will prevent local devices from opening ports on the router automatically. This feature is usually disabled by default, so just make sure it stays that way.
If you have an officially sold Hikvision device, upgrade the firmware. Most devices should have a firmware 5.5.0 available for download and this specific security issue should be fixed there. Depending on your location, feel free to use one of the following portals: http://www.hikvisioneurope.com/portal/?dir=portal%2FProduct%20Firmware%2FFront-ends http://www.hikvision.com/en/download_89.html http://tech.hikvisionusa.com/firmware/2-uncategorised/2-firmware In order to do this process properly, upgrade the firmware by following the recommended manufacturer’s procedure and then reset the camera to its factory defaults. By doing this, you will make sure that there are no configuration changes left after the attack. If the device is not Hikvision, but its OEM brand, please contact the manufacturer directly.
If you either can’t change anything mentioned above or if you simply want to improve the general level of security when using Angelcam, try using our AngelBox – a device with end to end video encryption which makes it effectively impossible for the camera to be hacked.
As an additional option, we recommend setting up a VLAN for your security system and disabling the devices from this VLAN to access the rest of your local network. Even if the cameras get hacked, the hacker won’t be able to gain access to the rest of your network.
If you own a security camera and want to monitor your home or business, no matter where you are, then we have a brand new mobile app for you – the Angelcam mobile app!
Here’s how it will help you:
Utilize the real-time view and see what your cameras are capturing, recording, or streaming, anytime and anywhere you are. View your cameras in full-screen view, available in both landscape or portrait, or use the smartmulti-camera view* (check more details Q&As below) and see all your camera feeds together on one screen.
With a subscription to the Cloud Recording app, you can access your past recordings and search through them by simply swiping through the timeline or quickly jump to a specific moment in time with the help of a calendar.
With access to both your live and past recordings, Angelcam’s mobile app becomes your complete on-the-go solution for staying on top of your feeds. Best of all, it’s FREE to use for all Angelcam users!
Download it today oniTunes orGoogle Play (for iOS 10 or Android 4.4 and newer).
Once you try it, be sure to let us know what you think about the app by leaving us a comment on the app store page.
We hope you enjoy!
Ivana from Angelcam
BUT WAIT! There’s more! We’re currently finishing up work on some unreleased features, including an extension to the mobile app that will allow you to view events on the timeline, IFTTT integration into our platform, and soon, camera sharing. Stay tuned and be sure to let us know which features you’re most interested in seeing in the future.
Mobile App Q&As:
Q:Which cameras are compatible with the new mobile app?
A: The new mobile app is compatible with any camera brand that supports MJPEG & h.264 (including sound). You can view one or several cameras at once, from one or even multiple locations.
Q: What is Smart multi-camera view?
A: This view allows you to see multiple cameras on one screen, even with a very slow internet connection. With multi-camera view you’ll essentially be seeing snapshots, but continually refreshed automatically (frequency based on your device capabilities and internet connection).
If your device is not connected to WiFi, the refresh rate is a maximum of 10 seconds (to save your mobile data), but it could be more on slower connections. Regardless of the frequency, you will be able to see what’s happening on your cams quickly and easily, even when traveling and using your international data roaming.
On the other side, if your device is connected via WiFi, there is no hard limit on the snapshot refresh rate. (Note: if you have a powerful device and a fast WiFi connection and still experience a low refresh rate, check out this post on our FAQ).
Q: How can I find a past moment with the mobile app?
A: To be able review your past recordings, add the Cloud Recording app to your camera. Once setup, you will be able to search through recordings by swiping through the timeline (to be found below the preview window) or find a specific moment by choosing the time and date from the calendar. No need for downloading clips or waiting for assistance – searching for a specific moment from the past has never been faster or easier.
Q: How much mobile data is needed for watching your cameras live?
If you want to save your mobile data, we suggest that you primarily watch your cameras while you’re connected via WiFi. Snapshots are being refreshed every few seconds, which might be alright even if you’re not on WiFi, but with the real-time view of your camera stream (in camera detail), your data usage can increase very quickly, especially if you’ve set up your FUP for 300 (watching your stream in full HD uses a lot of data). So please keep your mobile data limits in mind when accessing the live stream from your camera.
A: The Cloud Recording app, with cloud storage for your security cameras and DVRs, starts at $3.99 per month. If you wish to try it first, be sure to take advantage of our 30-Day Trial of the Starter 7 plan with 7 days retention.
The fact is that security cameras don’t operate continuously and this is something nearly impossible to prevent. Reasons vary from the camera restarting, lost internet connection, or no power, to the camera being damaged. But what you can do is increase your awareness about it. If anything goes wrong with your camera you should be notified immediately so you or your dealer can react in time.
That’s the reason why we’ve introduced Camera status feature.
We check your camera status every few minutes (5-15 minutes intervals)
The feature works for all cameras connected to Angelcam having Cloud Recording or Broadcasting app installed.
We notify you via email anytime your camera gets offline for more than 20 minutes. Once the camera is back in online status, a confirmation email will notify you again.
This feature is free of charge.
Sounds good? Please follow these steps to enable your Camera status notifications:
Click on “Disabled” next to Email notifications for camera status updates in Camera settings
Tick the box “Enable Camera status email notifications”
Fill in your email address and a second email (if you want to have eg. a security service, an installer or a dealer in copy)
Finish the settings by clicking on “Save settings” button
Tweak it:
Set up forwarding of emails from Angelcam to your phone number if you need to be notified on your phone. Try Zapier or Clickatell.
Please note: This is a beta version and we’d love to hear feedback from you. If you miss any particular function, please let us know. At this moment we’re planning SMS notifications, snooze mode, repeated reminders and failure reports. But we can add even more based on your feedback.
Do you want to know more about advantages of connecting a security camera to the cloud? Let’s continue. (Missed the part one? Read it here.)
6. THE LOWEST TOTAL COST OF OWNERSHIP (TCO)
When comparing the cost of any two options (cloud vs. NVRs), one must look at all the costs involved, even the ones that are not so apparent. Below we’ve listed all possible costs you should be aware of:
Hardware – The cost of the NVR
Maintenance – The cost for upgrades, expedited service, license renewals, training, and security audits and inspections
Installation – You’ll have to consider the cost of installation, wiring, power, configuration, and training
IT department’s time/cost to implement installation – This includesproduct evaluations, vendor selection, setting up network security configurations, collecting and drafting documentation, and finding rack space, power, and a network. This all combined with the loss of working hours, which could be better spent on critical tasks.
Scaling the business – The cost related to the operational inefficiencies and ongoing labor associated with having different systems, often found in organizations experiencing quick growth or those which have multiple branches or offices (see “Scaling and Flexibility” below).
Capital Cost for redundant / protected storage– RAID Storage option on NVR or external storage arrays
Cost due to electricity consumption – The power consumption of an NVR will vary greatly and a lot depends on the number of HDDs installed. A typical 16 channel NVR will consume anywhere from 30 to 250 watts (per what?). At $0.10 per kWh, this equates to an annual cost of anywhere from $26.00 to $219.00.
Risk / Cost associated with theft floods and fire – What is the cost of time spent trying to recover your lost video(s)? Will this missing footage cause a loss in revenue? Will this hurt your company’s goodwill or brand?
Physically protecting the NVR – This may include the acquisition of a secure location, door locks, card access to storage room, lock box, etc.
Productivity cost associated with NVR downtime – Lost productivity associated with NVR failures, updates, license renewals and general maintenance. There may also need to be overtime paid to employees that manage these interruptions.
Annual NVR software upgrades – IT Department’s time for doing security due diligence, coordinating activities, upgrading software, and implementing security procedures, patches and documentation. This also includes the maintenance fees paid to the security integrator.
Replacement – You may need to eventually replace your NVRs when they fail or become obsolete. This includes the time needed to re-evaluate business needs, make a proper product selection, acquire RFPs, and the costs of the new NVRs themselves.
Acquiring capital – Cost associated with obtaining capital, including interest on a loan or leasing fees.
Saving video clips – Cost associated with safely securing selected video clips and sharing them, including the time needed to save & download, establish security protocols to maintain the chain of evidence, and for protected storage.
When all that is considered, using a cloud service, such as Angelcam, brings down the overall TCO.
7. SIMPLE PREDICTABLE BUDGET
Sometimes it is difficult to make a TCO calculation (see above), and with evolving technology and ever-changing business needs and regulations, many simply want to lower the risk of their video surveillance investment and have a more predictable and scalable solution.
Angelcam Cloud recording is subscription based and therefore, eliminates much of the cost associated with servers, installation, maintenance and software licenses. It also does away with the cost of IT personnel constantly maintaining server security, software updates, license renewals, infrastructure, and data protection. Cloud-based recording eliminates all of these costs and therefore allows for simpler budgeting.
In addition, cloud-based recording offers the most scalable storage solution possible. With Angelcam, there is no constraint on the amount of data coming from a camera. As long as you have adequate upload speeds, you can send the highest quality streams for recording and no longer need to worry if you will exceed your storage capacity.
8. SCALABLE & FLEXIBLE SOLUTION FOR YOUR GROWING BUSINESS
Growing businesses, especially those that expand to different locations, need to consider the lifetime cost of scaling. For example, if you were to purchase an NVR one year and then the following year add the same surveillance at other locations, those new cameras may not be compatible with the new locations. On the other hand, if you were to purchase different camera brands for multiple locations, those new cameras may not be compatible with each other or your previous ones.
Even if the brand you choose can accommodate these new locations, consider that NVRs are constantly being updated and discontinued. So the cost of scaling will likely include the cost associated with managing different hardware, ongoing network security, software licenses, training, and installations.
In contrast, recording to the cloud with Angelcam not only eliminates all of these costs, but also provides operational efficiencies, a single interface for all users, and, best of all, a future-proof solution that will forever evolve and improve without wasting your organization’s time.
9. HIGHLY SECURE
It is understandable why some people are concerned with the security of videos in the cloud, but cloud companies are aware of the dangers of the internet, and they invest heavily to insure data is not compromised and that their users are protected from viruses and malware. Angelcam utilizes Amazon’s S3 cloud, so our customers receive the security benefits of this leading cloud provider.
When one considers all aspects of cloud security they may discover that cloud recording is the safer and more cost-effective solution.
10. FALSE ALARM REDUCTION WITH VIDEO VERIFICATION
Did you know that 99% of alarms are false alarms?Video Verification is a feature that aims to reduce the number of false reports, by verifying the existence of an emergency before alerting the authorities. This is accomplished by sending a video to the user and central monitoring station when an alarm is triggered. This ultimately results is a much faster response time and avoids fines associated with false alarms, which exist in some municipalities.
Traditional video verification solutions are proprietary and only work with certain cameras. Additionally, there are indirect expenses related to the integration of these alarms to the central monitoring stations. The result is generally an expensive solution, which many times does not match the needs of the user.
Launching soon in the US, Angelcam’s Video verification product will feature all the benefits of our cloud architecture, including working with most cameras and not requiring expensive integration with CMS software. This will help pave the way for a more cost-effective and flexible video verification solution.
When you consider just these 10 reasons, it’s easy to see why more and more businesses and individuals are connecting to the cloud every day and taking advantage of all the benefits that come with that. If you have any further questions, about cloud solutions or the compatibility of your camera with the cloud, please contact our support team at any time, as they’ll be happy to help you.
Mike Farnan Vice President of Sales at Angelcam
Mike is an experienced industry expert, who has spent years in the Security Camera division of Philips and Bosch, where he was responsible for Product Management, Sales, and Partner Relations. He also co-founded App-Tech Corporation, a security integration company, where he spent the past 10 years before joining Angelcam. Mike is always excited to “talk shop”, so if you ever wish to discuss industry challenges or your company’s cloud future, feel free to get intouch.
If you urgently need someone else to have a look at a live stream from your camera(s), but you are not at your computer, or if you just like using a mobile app everywhere you go, we believe you’ll appreciate the latest mobile app update. In addition to the existing live stream view, we’ve added the ability to share the live stream with people you need. But not only that, you can also allow other people to 
When comparing the cost of any two options (cloud vs. NVRs), one must look at all the costs involved, even the ones that are not so apparent. Below we’ve listed all possible costs you should be aware of:
Sometimes it is difficult to make a TCO calculation (see above), and with evolving technology and ever-changing business needs and regulations, many simply want to lower the risk of their video surveillance investment and have a more predictable and scalable solution. 
Growing businesses, especially those that expand to different locations, need to consider the lifetime cost of scaling. For example, if you were to purchase an NVR one year and then the following year add the same surveillance at other locations, those new cameras may not be compatible with the new locations. On the other hand, if you were to purchase different camera brands for multiple locations, those new cameras may not be compatible with each other or your previous ones.
It is understandable why some people are concerned with the security of videos in the cloud, but cloud companies are aware of the dangers of the internet, and they invest heavily to insure data is not compromised and that their users are protected from viruses and malware. Angelcam utilizes Amazon’s S3 cloud, so our customers receive the security benefits of this leading cloud provider.
Did you know that 99% of alarms are false alarms? Video Verification is a feature that aims to reduce the number of false reports, by verifying the existence of an emergency before alerting the authorities. This is accomplished by sending a video to the user and central monitoring station when an alarm is triggered. This ultimately results is a much faster response time and avoids fines associated with false alarms, which exist in some municipalities.
Mike Farnan