If you installed a Hikvision CCTV system a few years ago, you probably thought you were making a smart, cost-effective choice to protect your business. But as an IT professional, I have to give it to you straight: if those cameras are still hooked up to your network, you are sitting on a cybersecurity time bomb.
It’s time to talk about the reality of Hikvision, the massive security flaws putting your data at risk, and why migrating to a modern ecosystem like Ubiquiti’s UniFi Protect is the only logical move for your business.
The “Zombie Tech” Crisis: 67 Million Reasons to Ditch Hikvision
You don’t have to take my word for how bad the situation has gotten. A recent global study by firewall vendor SonicWall revealed a staggering statistic: last year alone, there were over 67 million attack attempts against UK companies specifically targeting a decade-old bug in Hikvision cameras.
Let that sink in. A single, aging flaw in Hikvision hardware accounted for 20% of all medium- and high-severity Intrusion Prevention System (IPS) events recorded by SonicWall across British networks. It was the single most exploited intrusion attempt in the country.
Security experts are calling this the “Zombie Tech” crisis. Because these Hikvision cameras are often left unpatched, unsupported, and fully exposed to the internet, hackers are having a field day. The flaw allows attackers to use command injection to remotely take over the devices. Once they are in, they can view your secure feeds, compromise your entire internal network, or conscript your cameras into massive global botnets.
Banned by Governments for a Reason
If the technical vulnerabilities aren’t enough to make you rip the cameras off the wall, consider the geopolitical implications. Hikvision isn’t just a company with a few software bugs; they are the world’s largest supplier of surveillance equipment, and they are currently facing heavy restrictions and outright bans in the US, the UK, India, Canada, and the EU.
Why? Because of severe, documented concerns regarding national security, fears of state-sponsored espionage, and human rights violations. If governments and military installations are legally required to rip this hardware out of their ceilings, why would you want it watching your office, warehouse, or home?
The UniFi Alternative: Security Done Right
So, what’s the alternative? At itproexpert.com, our gold standard for video surveillance is Ubiquiti’s UniFi Protect line. Here is why UniFi absolutely destroys Hikvision on every front:
1. No Sketchy Cloud Servers With Hikvision, you are always wondering where your data is actually going. UniFi operates on a completely local-storage model using network video recorders (like the Dream Machine Pro or UNVR). Your footage stays on your hardware, on your premises. There are no mandatory cloud subscriptions, and more importantly, no feeds quietly routing through overseas servers.
2. Constant, Seamless Updates The reason Hikvision got hit 67 million times is because legacy devices are a nightmare to patch. Ubiquiti’s UniFi ecosystem is renowned for its centralized, one-click firmware updates. When a security patch is released, you push it to every camera on your network instantly from a single pane of glass. No “Zombie Tech” left behind.
3. Enterprise Grade, Consumer Ease UniFi gives you enterprise-grade hardware—crystal clear 4K resolutions, AI-powered smart detections (people, vehicles, license plates)—without the clunky, 1990s-style interfaces you get with legacy brands. The UniFi Protect mobile and web apps are incredibly fast, intuitive, and modern.
4. Zero Licensing Fees Once you buy a UniFi camera, it’s yours. There are no recurring licensing fees to unlock features, no arbitrary paywalls, and no hidden costs to view your own footage remotely.
The Verdict
Holding onto your Hikvision cameras to save a few bucks is a false economy. All it takes is one automated botnet script scanning your IP address to exploit a decade-old vulnerability, and your entire network is breached.
Do yourself, your IT team, and your business a massive favor: dump the compromised legacy hardware. Upgrade to UniFi, secure your perimeter, and finally get some peace of mind.
