Milestone Systems launches a new product called XProtect Essential, designed for small businesses with the future in mind. XProtect Essential´s out-of-the-box features manage the basic needs of IP video surveillance operation for single-server installations of up to 26 cameras and five concurrent users. With pricing that is competitive in the low-end market while offering future extendibility, XProtect Essential provides optimal value: the combination of strong surveillance capabilities with ease of use and a flexible licensing model that allows upgrades and seamless system expansions.

Consolidated single-point management access to the XProtect Essential recording server includes system configuration wizards, automated device discovery and a smart bulk configuration option that enhance administration of the system. Wizards guide through the process of adding cameras, configuring video, scheduling recordings, adjusting motion detection settings, and managing system users. This makes the system easy to install and deploy.

XProtect Essential includes the newest XProtect Smart Client with a friendly user interface for all daily operations: control cameras, view live or play back recordings simultaneously, investigate quickly with the Sequence Explorer, create and export evidence fast. There is a wide choice in view layouts (private or shared) and adaptability for different skill levels to aid novice users, while experts can optimize the application for the most efficient operation.
"It is brilliant simplicity! Designed for the basic needs of smaller businesses that want easy-to-use yet advanced surveillance features at an unbeatable price/capability ratio, XProtect Essential also allows expansion for future requirements. Our software enables just that kind of forward capability to scale up an installation with new cameras and seamlessly migrate to other Milestone XProtect solutions," says Christian Bohn, Head of Product Management at Milestone Systems.

The physical security market has been dominated by analog and DVR monitoring products which typically lock in customers to hardware-centric systems that only work with a certain number of cameras, from one manufacturer only. When a customer wants to add a few more cameras or the DVR needs repair or replacement, they have no flexibility. With Milestone XProtect Essential Video Management Software (VMS), customers can choose from the industry´s widest selection of supported cameras (currently over 885 network device models from more than 80 manufacturers), and mix different brands as needed to fit exactly their surveillance and budget demands. As their business grows or changes, it is easy to add or replace cameras individually, taking advantage of new innovations that come to market.

With base software license (SLC) and separate camera device licenses (DLKs) instead of fixed combined packages, customers have higher flexibility when purchasing XProtect Essential. Available in 22 languages, it is sold and implemented by authorized Milestone partners worldwide.