Milestone Systems
Denmark's Milestone (Canon group) doesn't make cameras. It makes XProtect, a VMS that supports thousands of camera models across brands, now in four paid editions from Express+ to Corporate; the free Essential+ was discontinued with 2025 R2.
- Headquarters
- Denmark
- Positioning
- Mid-marketEnterprise
- Official website
- www.milestonesys.com
Who it suits
Organizations with a mix of camera brands from past projects that want one control room without replacing cameras.
Overview
Who Milestone is
Milestone Systems is headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark, and is part of the Canon group. The first thing to know is that Milestone does not make cameras. Its core product is XProtect, an open-platform VMS (video management software) that accepts thousands of camera models from many makers, including Axis, Hanwha Vision, Hikvision and Dahua. The group also includes BriefCam for video analytics and Arcules for cloud-hosted video.
XProtect editions today
The free Essential+ edition (up to 8 cameras) was discontinued with release 2025 R2. There are now four paid editions:
| Edition | Fits |
|---|---|
| Express+ | One site, one recording server, up to 100 devices |
| Professional+ | Several recording servers managed centrally |
| Expert | Mid to large systems; Smart Wall and failover available as add-on licences |
| Corporate | Control rooms that cannot stop; Smart Wall, management failover and Federated Architecture for many sites included |
Licensing is a base licence plus one device licence per camera. Care Plus is a yearly agreement that covers upgrades to new versions. Operators work in XProtect Smart Client at the desk and XProtect Mobile on the phone.
The 2026 AI direction
Release 2026 R1 shipped in April 2026. Milestone has also announced the XProtect App Platform, a containerized Linux layer that runs beside XProtect so AI and analytics apps can be installed or updated without restarting the VMS, plus a rebuilt BriefCam engine that runs fully on-premises and accepts plain-language searches.
Who it suits
Milestone pays off when an organization has a mix of camera brands, a control room or several sites, and wants a VMS that outlives any one generation of cameras. A shop with eight cameras is better served by a plain NVR.
Strengths
- Supports thousands of camera models across brands, with new device packs released regularly, so changing camera brand does not mean changing the VMS.
- Grows from one site to many by moving up an edition, while operators keep the same Smart Client they already know.
- A large SDK and plug-in ecosystem (plate recognition, access control, intrusion alarms) lets a control room see every system on one screen.
- Licences are perpetual with an optional yearly Care Plus. If Care Plus lapses the system keeps recording; you only lose the right to upgrade to new versions.
Things to know before choosing
- There is no free edition any more. Older quotations for small systems built on Essential+ must be redone with Express+.
- Recording servers run on Windows Server, so you need separate server hardware, storage and Windows licences, and someone to keep Windows patched and disks healthy.
- Some cameras pass only part of their on-board AI events into XProtect. Test the events you need with the actual camera model before a bulk order.
- Design and installation need engineers who understand VMS, Windows and networking. A typical NVR installer may get storage tiers and retention wrong.
Using it in Laos
In Laos we recommend Milestone when an organization has older cameras of several brands from different projects and does not want to throw away cameras that still work. Licences and support come through distributors in Thailand, while servers and disks are bought separately, which makes parts easier to replace than in a closed NVR.
What to prepare:
- Power: a recording server that loses power suddenly can corrupt its database and video files. Put it on a UPS that shuts the server down automatically.
- Heat: a server in a guard hut without air conditioning eats hard drives. At minimum use a rack cabinet with fans.
- Storage: fix the number of days you must keep video first, then size the server. Our CCTV storage calculator gives a first estimate.
Sectors that fit: banks, mines, airports, large hotels and government buildings with a control room. Engineers who know XProtect are still few in Laos, so train your own operators to work the Smart Client confidently.
Compared with alternatives
If nearly all your cameras are Hikvision, Hikvision's own HikCentral Professional may be simpler and expose more of the AI features; the same goes for an all-Dahua site with Dahua's software. Choose Milestone when cameras are mixed, or when policy requires a VMS that is independent of the camera maker. Axis and Hanwha Vision cameras are a common pairing with XProtect on projects that need to avoid Chinese-made cameras.
Product lines
- XProtect Corporate
- XProtect Expert
- XProtect Professional+
- XProtect Express+
- XProtect Smart Client
- XProtect Mobile
Solutions that use this brand
IP CCTV SurveillanceH.265 IP cameras with NVR/VMS, designed around what each must see: faces, plates or overview. Built for dust, rain and power dips.
AI Video AnalyticsCameras that tell people from leaves and dogs, alert on fence crossings, check PPE, count people and search footage in seconds.
License Plate Recognition (LPR/ANPR)Cameras that read plates to open barriers, log every vehicle and tie trucks to weighbridge readings. Tested on real Lao plates…
Perimeter SecurityWatch kilometres of fence with thermal cameras, AI, fence sensors and lighting, for mines, plants and substations.FAQ
We run the free XProtect Essential+. What do we do now?
Essential+ was discontinued with 2025 R2, so it will get no new versions or security fixes. An existing install may keep running, but plan a move to Express+ or a higher edition. Ask the distributor about the upgrade offers Milestone has made for Essential+ users.
If we don't renew Care Plus, will recording stop?
No. Device licences are perpetual, so recording and playback continue. What you lose is the right to upgrade to new versions, which you will need for newer camera models and important fixes.
What server does XProtect need?
It depends on camera count, bitrate and retention days. A 30-60 camera system usually runs on one rack server with recording disks separate from the system disk. Larger systems split the management server from the recording servers. We size it from your actual camera list.
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