When organizations consider security camera systems and surveillance solutions, a long list of established players usually comes to mind. Hikvision, Hanwha, Avigilon, Axis, and others have dominated the mid-market and enterprise space for years. These vendors all have their strengths, and in certain situations they remain the right fit.
But there is a quiet shift happening. Ubiquiti, long known as a prosumer or small business networking brand, has steadily transformed its platform into a serious contender for mid-market and even enterprise deployments.
Beyond Wi-Fi and Switches
Most IT leaders know Ubiquiti for access points and switches. Their UniFi line carved out a reputation for affordability, ease of use, and performance that scaled into the mid-market. Over the past several years, Ubiquiti has doubled down on this momentum. Their product stack now spans gateways, firewalls, access points, switches, access control, and—critically—Ubiquiti Protect for video surveillance.
With the release of their new Pro NVRs, Enterprise NVRs, and expanded camera lineup, Ubiquiti has positioned itself as a scalable solution. These systems can grow to support hundreds, even thousands of cameras, if designed correctly. That puts them in direct conversation with the legacy vendors that once owned this space exclusively.
Regulatory and Security Advantages
One of the factors driving adoption is the regulatory landscape. Several government agencies—and even countries such as Canada—have banned the use of Hikvision and other Chinese-manufactured cameras due to security concerns. Ubiquiti, headquartered in the United States, does not face these restrictions. For risk-conscious organizations, this distinction is increasingly important when evaluating long-term surveillance investments.
The Cost Equation
Traditional camera systems carry heavy licensing models. Hardware, software, per-camera licenses, and sometimes even server licensing quickly add up. Ubiquiti disrupts that model with a simpler cost structure.
- Camera pricing: Most Ubiquiti cameras fall between $100 and $300, with the highest-end models still around $500. Comparable cameras from legacy vendors often range from $700 to several thousand dollars.
- Licensing: Ubiquiti Protect requires no recurring software or camera license fees. The NVRs are a one-time investment.
- Total cost of ownership: For organizations rolling out dozens or hundreds of cameras, the savings are significant.
The value proposition is clear—Ubiquiti can deliver enterprise-scale surveillance at a fraction of the traditional cost.
A Unified Platform
Another key differentiator is integration. Ubiquiti is not just a camera system. Protect sits alongside UniFi networking and UniFi Access, allowing organizations to unify cameras, access control, Wi-Fi, switching, and routing into a single platform. Management is consolidated, visibility is improved, and ongoing operations are simplified.
The software continues to evolve rapidly. Ubiquiti pushes frequent updates that improve usability, analytics, and integrations, further narrowing the gap with legacy enterprise systems.
Our View
At Helix, we are directly involved in large-scale deployments leveraging the Ubiquiti stack. The results confirm our belief: Ubiquiti has moved beyond its prosumer reputation and is now a legitimate enterprise option.
There is still a place for traditional surveillance vendors, particularly in specialized or highly regulated environments. But for organizations weighing cost, scale, integration, and regulatory security, Ubiquiti Protect deserves a serious look.
The sleeper is waking up, and the mid-market and enterprise should take notice.
