In this exclusive interview, Nick Bowden, the CEO of Security On Screen’s Vendor Member, Video Management Servers Ltd, explains why renewed MOSS™ servers are a smarter, more sustainable choice for video management CCTV systems, the high environmental cost of new server hardware, and why sustainability matters. This is part one of two.
What makes Video Management Servers Co and your MOSS™ servers different from the competition?
Nick Bowden: “As sustainability moves from a corporate aim to a commercial requirement, security professionals can play their part in delivering solutions that not only perform reliably but also minimise environmental impact. From public sector procurement frameworks to private enterprise Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) commitments, environmental considerations are becoming an integral part of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) purchasing decision, of which video management CCTV and analytics servers are part.
“For systems integrators, consultants and end users deploying CCTV and video surveillance infrastructures, one of the most significant opportunities to improve sustainability lies in the server hardware that powers Video Management Systems (VMS). Video Management Servers Ltd is helping organisations reduce server costs, lead times and carbon emissions through its range of professionally renewed MOSS™, (Managed-on-Site Servers). By extending the life of enterprise-grade hardware, without compromising performance or reliability, renewed servers offer a practical route towards more sustainable security infrastructure and an easy win for organisations targeting net zero.
Why is sustainability so important to VMS and what does VMS do to solve current issues round the high environmental costs of new server hardware?
NB: “Modern surveillance systems rely on powerful servers to record, process, analyse, and manage increasing volumes of video data, where the environmental impact of manufacturing new servers is substantial. Producing new, enterprise server hardware requires significant quantities of raw materials including steel, aluminium, copper, rare earth elements, plastics, and semiconductors. Extracting and processing these materials consumes large amounts of energy while generating considerable greenhouse gas emissions. Manufacturing also involves complex, global supply chains, with components sourced from multiple countries before final assembly, packaging, and international shipping to distributors and customers. Every stage contributes to the overall carbon footprint of a new server and is known as its ‘embodied’ carbon footprint – all of which occur before the server has even been powered on.
“Renewed MOSS™ servers directly address this environmental impact challenge by extending the operational life of high-quality enterprise ICT hardware. Rather than prematurely retiring, recycling or disposing in landfill, Video Management Servers Ltd professionally renews servers for a second operational lifecycle of a further seven years, supporting a circular economy, where products are reused, refurbished, and kept in productive service.
“Enterprise servers are designed for longevity, so unlike a lot of consumer hardware which has a limited life, enterprise servers are built with robust components engineered for continuous 24/7 operation for many years. With appropriate testing, refurbishment, and quality assurance, these servers can continue delivering reliable performance for at least seven more years; a circular economy principle that maximises product value throughout its lifecycle.
“This approach also supports more strategic lifecycle planning, enabling organisations to replace equipment based on operational need rather than simply age. The result is reduced waste, lower project costs, and improved return on ICT technology investment.”
NB: “Extending server hardware life reduces unnecessary ICT waste while avoiding the environmental costs associated with manufacturing replacement, new equipment. This is why renewed servers are classed in the carbon ‘avoidance’ sustainability category; where their use avoids the need to build a new server in the first place. Furthermore, avoidance is a far higher contributor to carbon offsets, at around 70% of the new embodied level, compared to recycling at a meagre 4%.”
Avoided carbon emissions – PCF – Kg CO₂e
ICT Device type AVOIDED Emissions Embodied Emissions
Workstation 350 500
1U MOSS™ Server 1,800 2,600
2U MOSS™ Server 3,000 4,300
Deploying a 2U MOSS™ server saves approximately 3,000 Kg CO₂e in avoided carbon emissions: the equivalent of driving a petrol powered, family car for staggering 20,000km.
About Video Management Servers Ltd
Video Management Servers Ltd (VMS Co.) is a UK-based specialist provider of servers and infrastructure for video management systems (VMS), CCTV and AI video analytics. The company focuses on making video management technology simple, affordable and sustainable. Its product range includes COMPUTE™ VMS servers, CONFIRM™ AI analytics servers and OBSERVE™ client workstations. VMS Co. also offers MOSS™ (Managed On-Site Servers) to purchase outright or as a subscription, where the server is managed and warrantied at a customer’s premises. This approach delivers affordability whilst providing the local processing, storage and control necessary for security applications. The company supports leading VMS and analytics platforms and provides UK technical, project and lifecycle support.
For more information on Video Management Servers, please contact:
Video Management Servers Ltd
www.videomanagementservers.com
T: 0161 480 5922
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