Canada’s Hikvision Ban: Why Coram is the Best Alternative

On June 28, 2025, the Canadian government ordered Hikvision to shut down operations nationwide. The decision came after security agencies flagged the company's Chinese state ties, exploitable firmware vulnerabilities, and involvement in human rights abuses. As a result, federal departments must remove Hikvision equipment, and other institutions are strongly advised to transition away.

Why Coram is the Right Replacement

Coram is a Canada-ready, NDAA-compliant video security platform that outperforms Hikvision in every critical area. Its open architecture works with most ONVIF or RTSP-compatible IP cameras, including most Hikvision models. That means you can upgrade your system, and harden your security without ripping out your entire install.

Coram is built with security-first principles and offers long-term flexibility without compromising performance. Whether you're running a multi-site campus or a single-building network, Coram adapts to your needs while meeting strict compliance requirements.

Seamless Integration

Coram Point connects to your existing camera network, automatically detects compatible cameras, encrypts video streams, and sends footage to the Coram cloud VMS. Most deployments take under a day to go live. The platform supports static IP mapping, camera-level encryption, and both local and cloud storage, ensuring continuous recording and fast playback.

You don’t have to rip and replace to modernize. Coram enables phased upgrades while extending the life of your existing camera infrastructure.

Feature Highlights

• Real-time AI Detection: Built-in analytics detect weapons, vehicles, license plates, and faces in under 5 seconds. Alerts can be configured to notify security staff instantly.
  
• Natural-Language Search: Review footage with plain-language queries like "man in red shirt after 3 PM" or "white van near west gate." Saves hours of manual scrubbing.
  
• Open Protocols: Supports ONVIF, RTSP, MQTT, and REST APIs, giving you flexibility to integrate with third-party systems and avoid lock-in.
  
• Enterprise-Grade Security: AES-256 encryption for video at rest, TLS 1.3 for data in transit, with full role-based access control, multifactor authentication, and exportable audit logs.
  
• Flexible Data Residency: Store data in AWS Canada Central or U.S. East, with options to meet PIPEDA and provincial privacy laws.

Cost Efficiency

Coram’s pricing model is transparent. Each license covers all features, with no hidden add-ons. Customers get free 5 MP cameras with active subscriptions, plus a lifetime hardware replacement guarantee. Even if your cloud subscription is paused, essential features like local recording, live view, and playback remain active - something Hikvision doesn’t offer.

Real-World Deployments

Middletown Unified School District  modernized its system with Coram, activating AI weapon alerts within 24 hours without replacing legacy cameras.

Warren Local Schools unified various brands into a single dashboard, enabling remote access for administrators and reducing incident review times by 80%.

These examples prove Coram’s ability to deliver real results quickly, using existing infrastructure, without operational disruptions.

Can Coram work with my current Hikvision cameras?

Final Word

Canada’s Hikvision ban was a response to real and growing national security risks. Coram offers a trusted, modern alternative that not only addresses those risks but gives institutions more flexibility, better performance, and future-ready features. It’s not just a replacement—it’s a full upgrade. If you're planning your next move, Coram is ready to support your transition with a secure, scalable system designed for the realities of 2025 and beyond.