Case Study: How an Edge Router Secures CCTV & Video Surveillance Feeds

Connecting CCTV networks to the internet is a massive security risk. This case study explains how a leading security integrator used a Robustel industrial edge router to solve their two biggest problems: 1) The catastrophic danger of "port forwarding" NVRs, and 2) Unreliable site connectivity. By deploying a cellular edge router as a secure firewall and VPN gateway, they completely isolated their video equipment from the public internet. This secure edge router solution, managed via RCMS, provided reliable 4G/5G connectivity and a "remote reboot" function, slashing TCO by eliminating truck rolls.

We've all read the horror stories: hacked baby monitors, private security cameras streaming live on the internet, and compromised CCTV networks used in massive botnet attacks.

If you're a security integrator, you know this is your #1 nightmare. Your customer needs cctv remote access to view their feeds. The "quick and dirty" fix is to log into their on-site router, open port 80 or 37777, and forward it directly to the NVR's IP address.

Let me be blunt: this is professional negligence. You have just connected a device with a notoriously insecure "admin/12345" password to the entire world.

This is a critical ot security challenge. But the solution is simple, and it's the same device you need anyway for reliable connectivity: a professional industrial **edge router**. This is the story of how a secure edge router takes your video surveillance from a liability to a secure asset.

A security SI managing 500+ client sites (retail stores, small offices, infrastructure depots) was facing a crisis.

1. Massive Security Risk: They were manually configuring port forwarding for every client. This was a house of cards. It was a management nightmare, and they knew it was insecure. Hackers actively scan for these open ports 24/7.
2. Unreliable Connectivity: They relied on the client's existing internet, which was often a $40 guest Wi-Fi or business cable connection. When it went down, the remote access was down, and the client blamed them.
3. The $250 "Reboot" Truck Roll: The most common service call? "My app can't see my cameras." 9 times out of 10, the NVR or an IP camera had frozen and just needed a power cycle. This meant sending a technician on-site for a $250 visit just to unplug a power cord.

They needed a cellular edge router solution that could provide reliable connectivity, be the firewall, and remotely reboot their gear.

The SI completely changed their deployment model. Every new installation now includes a Robustel 4g lte edge router (like the R2111 or cellular R1520) as the single point of connection.

This is the core security fix.

• The Setup: The NVR and all IP cameras are plugged into the LAN ports of the Robustel edge router. They are not plugged into the client's main network.
• The Edge Router LAN: The edge router creates its own private, isolated camera network (e.g., 172.16.10.x).
• The Edge Router Firewall: The edge router firewall is set to "DENY ALL INBOUND". No port forwarding. Ever. The NVR is now completely invisible to the public internet. This edge router is the security guard.

This cellular edge router doesn't use the client's Wi-Fi. It uses its own 4G/LTE connection (with Dual-SIM for reliability).

• How it works: This industrial edge router is configured to initiate a secure, outbound VPN tunnel (IPsec or OpenVPN) from itself to the SI's central server.
• The Result: The remote edge router creates a permanent, secure "back-haul" for the video feeds. The only way to access the NVR is to first access the SI's secure central server. The edge router never accepts a connection from a random IP, solving the cctv remote access problem securely.

This was the TCO-killer. The edge router was connected to a small relay (or a Robustel Smart POE) that controlled the power supply for the NVR and/or the POE switch for the cameras.

• The Scenario: A customer calls: "My cameras are frozen."
• The RCMS Way: The technician logs into Add One Product: RCMS (our cloud platform) from their desk. They find the customer's edge router. They see the edge router itself is perfectly online, but the NVR behind it is not responding. They click the "Reboot NVR" button (a custom command to toggle the edge router's DO port).
• The Result: The edge router cycles the power to the NVR. The NVR reboots and comes back online. The customer is happy. The problem is solved in 30 seconds, not 3 days.

By standardizing on this secure edge router solution, the SI transformed their business.

• Zero Security Breaches: By eliminating port forwarding, their clients' networks were no longer vulnerable to camera-based botnet attacks.
• 90% Reduction in Truck Rolls: The remote reboot capability via the edge router and RCMS eliminated the vast majority of all service calls.
• Higher Customer Satisfaction: Customers had more reliable uptime (thanks to 4G/5G failover) and faster service (thanks to remote reboots).
• New RMR (Recurring Revenue): The SI now sells this as a "Secure Managed Connectivity" package. The edge router and RCMS platform became a new line of recurring revenue, not just a one-time hardware cost.

A "dumb" cctv remote access solution (like port forwarding) is a massive liability. It's a "when, not if" scenario for a security breach.

A secure edge router is the only professional way to deploy video surveillance. This industrial edge router acts as your firewall, your reliable 4G/5G connection, your VPN tunnel, and your remote "hands" to reboot frozen equipment. This edge router isn't just an accessory for your CCTV system; it's the security-first foundation that makes it reliable and profitable.