Physical security is becoming an increasingly connected part of the technology environment. Network cameras and other security devices are no longer isolated systems. Like other network infrastructure, they depend on reliable connectivity, cybersecurity, firmware updates, monitoring and ongoing maintenance.
Yet many organizations still manage physical security and IT through separate tools and processes. At scale, this can make it difficult to identify which devices are offline, which need updates and where action is required.
The collaboration between Axis Communications and Cisco helps close this operational gap. Axis and Cisco share a strong commitment to innovation, trust, and cybersecurity. This common foundation supports a partnership focused on meeting customers’ needs by making physical security easier to manage as part of the broader IT environment.
Through Axis Cloud Connect, supported Axis devices can be managed in the Cisco Meraki Dashboard within Cisco Cloud Control. This gives IT and security teams centralized visibility into device connectivity, health and firmware, helping them maintain distributed environments without relying on separate, site-by-site processes.
"This is a blueprint for the future of converged enterprise systems,said Christian Andersson, Global Product Manager Axis Cloud Connect, at Axis Communications. "Our philosophy has always been centered on openness and empowering customers to use best-in-class solutions. By merging our deep expertise in intelligent devices with Cisco Meraki’s management platform – and a shared legacy of networked solutions and cloud expertise – we are enabling organizations to build adaptive and future-proof video solutions that drive security, operational excellence, and business intelligence.”
Bringing physical security closer to the IT operating model
Consider a distributed organization such as a supermarket chain. IT teams may have centralized visibility into network performance, connectivity and updates across hundreds of locations. At the same time, security devices at those sites may still require separate management and local intervention.
As organizations grow, this fragmented approach becomes increasingly difficult to maintain. Checking whether a security device is online, verifying firmware versions or identifying devices that need attention can require time-consuming, site-by-site processes.
Cloud-based management offers a different approach.
By bringing supported Axis devices into the Cisco Meraki Dashboard, IT and physical security teams can gain a shared view of device health, connectivity, AXIS OS status and maintenance requirements. Instead of treating physical security as a separate operational environment, organizations can apply many of the same management practices used for their network infrastructure – resulting in operational efficiency.
The goal is simple: make security devices easier to see, maintain, enrich, and operate at scale under a single pane of glass.
From isolated devices to connected infrastructure
Modern IT environments are built around centralized visibility. Administrators expect to monitor infrastructure remotely, identify issues quickly and apply updates without visiting every location. Physical security infrastructure doesn’t have to be an exception.
As organizations expand across multiple sites, manual maintenance becomes increasingly challenging. A security device that is offline, running outdated AXIS OS or experiencing a connectivity issue may go unnoticed until it is needed.
Centralized cloud management can help organizations:
- Standardize operations across multiple locations and device deployments.
- Reduce manual effort by identifying issues remotely before sending technicians to a site.
- Improve maintenance with centralized visibility into device status and AXIS OS.
- Support faster response by providing greater insight into the state of security infrastructure when it matters.
- Extend device lifecycles by running on the latest AXIS OS. This adds new capabilities and the latest security protocols, enhancing the value and longevity of your devices.
A practical path to hybrid-cloud management
Moving physical security to the cloud does not mean ripping and replacing an existing infrastructure. For many organizations, a phased approach makes more sense. Existing supported devices can remain in place while cloud-based management is introduced where it delivers the most value.
This is particularly relevant for large, distributed environments where replacing an entire security infrastructure would be disruptive, costly or unnecessary A hybrid-cloud approach allows organizations to balance existing investments with the scalability and operational benefits of the cloud while keeping the benefits of their on-premise solution.
Cisco Cloud Control provides two tiers for managing supported Axis devices:
- Essentials: Centralized device management and visibility into device health, connectivity and maintenance.
- Advantage: Everything in Essentials, plus capabilities including historical video access, video analytics and 30-day cloud storage.
This gives organizations flexibility to determine how far and how quickly they want to take their cloud journey.
Connecting the Axis portfolio to the cloud
The foundation of the integration is Axis Cloud Connect, Axis cybersecurity focused, open hybrid cloud platform. It connects Axis devices at the edge with cloud-based services, bringing the intelligence and capabilities of supported Axis devices into the Cisco cloud-managed environment.
The integration also gives organizations access to the large parts of Axis portfolio across a wide range of use cases. Whether the objective is loss prevention, safety, operational efficiency or business intelligence, organizations can select the right device for the job while moving toward a more unified management experience.
Jonathan Cohn, Sr. Director, Product Management at Cisco, added: The Cisco Meraki platform was created to simplify powerful technology. By welcoming the extensive Axis device portfolio into our ecosystem, we are extending that core principle of simplicity across a wider spectrum of physical security solutions. Our customers now have the ability to expand their systems with Axis devices without adding complexity – and without ever leaving the simple, unified management experience of the Meraki dashboard.
Unifying IT and physical security
The value of the integration extends beyond device management. When IT and physical security teams work with different tools and operational models, it can be difficult to establish shared priorities. Bringing physical security into an environment familiar to IT teams can help create a more unified approach.
This shared operating model can support closer collaboration around maintenance, cybersecurity and incident response. It can also give IT teams greater visibility into the physical security infrastructure they help support.
Building a more future-proof security environment
The boundaries between IT and physical security are becoming less distinct. Cameras and other security devices are connected to the network, generate data and require many of the same operational disciplines as other critical technology infrastructure.
The challenge is therefore not simply how to deploy more security devices. It is how to manage an increasingly connected security environment efficiently, securely and at scale.
By combining the Axis portfolio with the cloud management capabilities of Cisco Cloud Control, organizations can take a practical step toward a more unified operating model. They can maintain existing infrastructure while progressively improving visibility, management and operational efficiency.
The future of physical security is connected. By bringing IT and physical security closer together, organizations can build infrastructure that is easier to manage today – and ready for what comes next.
To learn more about bringing supported Axis devices into Cisco Meraki, please visit the product page.
About Cisco Systems, Inc.
Cisco is the worldwide leader in networking and security, providing the critical infrastructure that powers and secures the AI era.
