Custom vs Off-the-Shelf VMS — Decision Guide

One-page decision guide to the build-vs-buy-vs-customize VMS choice: the three doors (buy off-the-shelf, extend a platform or assemble components, build fully custom), the iceberg of what off-the-shelf already solved (recording, ONVIF interoperability, storage, failover, scale), the four levers (cost, time, control, lock-in) on one table, the five-year cost math with maintenance counted ($150k build + ~20%/yr ≈ $300k over 5 yr), the five triggers that justify a custom build, and the standards-an