Ajax video devices now support ONVIF

Yet another exciting update for Ajax video products: Ajax cameras and NVRs now support ONVIF authorization. This update enables direct integration of Ajax video devices into existing third-party surveillance ecosystems, including NVRs and Video Management Systems (VMS).

The integration opens up numerous opportunities for upgrading and retrofitting existing setups by adding Ajax cameras, bringing more advanced security features to a site. Another option is to integrate Ajax with powerful VMS such as Milestone, Genetec, Axxon, and Digifort.

ONVIF authorization is supported by the following Ajax devices:

NVR — network video recorder
TurretCam — wired IP security camera
BulletCam — wired IP security camera
DomeCam Mini — wired IP security camera
IndoorCam — Wi-Fi security camera
DoorBell — video doorbell

To access ONVIF configuration, Ajax apps must be updated to the following or later versions:

Ajax Security System 3.25 (iOS/Android)
Ajax PRO: Tool for Engineers 2.25 (iOS/Android)
Ajax PRO Desktop 4.20 (Windows/macOS)
Ajax Desktop 4.21 (Windows/macOS)

Check out what else’s new in Ajax video surveillance

What is ONVIF and how it’s implemented in Ajax video products

ONVIF (Open Network Video Interface Forum) is the global standard for integrating IP-based security devices into a unified system. It ensures seamless communication between video cameras, NVRs, VMS platforms, and other security solutions — regardless of the manufacturer. This means professionals can integrate Ajax video products into existing infrastructure while maintaining high performance, reliability, and encrypted data transmission. Security is no longer limited by compatibility barriers — it’s built to adapt.

setup — Ajax video devices integration into third-party VMS through ONVIF

With ONVIF authorization, Ajax cameras and NVRs can now transmit video streams directly to third-party clients using the standard ONVIF protocol, bypassing Ajax Cloud. This implementation supports ONVIF Profile S, which enables RTSP-based video and audio streaming, as well as H.264 encoding for video compression. Profile S is the gold standard of ONVIF and is commonly used by most surveillance system manufacturers. As a result, Ajax devices can be easily integrated with a vast majority of existing video management systems.

Moreover, along with Profile S, Ajax video devices support the most requested features, which are part of ONVIF Profile T and ONVIF Profile M:

H.265 (HEVC) encoding for improved bandwidth efficiency¹
Transmission of motion detection events and AI recognition
Control over Wide Dynamic Range (WDR) and other image settings.

How to configure ONVIF authorization

This section demonstrates the ONVIF configuration in the Ajax PRO Desktop app. Since all Ajax apps share a unified interface, the settings are consistent across platforms — whether you're using a smartphone or a computer.

To make setup as straightforward as possible, we’ve implemented a special wizard tool within Ajax apps. The wizard simplifies the entire configuration process by automatically retrieving all the necessary network data. All you need to do is create user accounts for authentication in ONVIF-compatible systems.

Up to five ONVIF users can be created per Ajax device. Each user must be assigned unique authentication credentials — a username and password. Users can be assigned one of three available roles:

Administrator – full access to device settings and video streams.
Operator – limited access to manage specific functions without changing core configurations.
User – basic access to view video streams only.

The wizard can also automatically generate RTSP links for both the mainstream and substream. If your VMS does not support ONVIF, you can use these links to steam video directly. Simply copy the generated links and replace the placeholders values with the actual login credentials you assigned earlier.

The ONVIF wizard significantly reduces setup time. However, manual configuration is also available: simply select the connection type, enter the valid network data, and create at least one ONVIF user.

Please note that ONVIF integration requires assigning a username and password to create a user dedicated to ONVIF connection with the camera. While ONVIF provides interoperability and flexibility, connecting IP cameras through ONVIF may also introduce security risks, such as unauthorized access. ONVIF-enabled cameras may expose RTSP streams or API endpoints, making them vulnerable if default credentials or weak passwords are used (e.g., admin/admin). Please create strong passwords and keep them confidential.

More detailed guide on how to activate and configure ONVIF authorization is available at the link below:

How to configure ONVIF authorization for Ajax video devices