Synology Cameras Now Need a License for Surveillance Station

Synology has changed the licensing position for selected cameras in its 2026 surveillance camera range, with the newly listed BC510, TC510, and BC800Z now requiring a Surveillance Device License when used with Synology Surveillance Station. This marks a notable shift from the previous value proposition of Synology-branded cameras, which had been positioned as tightly integrated first-party devices that did not require an additional camera license. The new BC510 and TC510 have been introduced as AI-enabled bullet and turret cameras with 5MP resolution, 30 FPS recording, 110° horizontal field of view, IP66/IP67 protection, 30 m night vision, edge AI analytics, ONVIF support, and compatibility with Synology’s wider surveillance ecosystem, including its upcoming cloud-based surveillance platform. But why has Synology changed it’s stance on camera license requirements with this new series?

What Changed in Synology Cameras and the License Requirements?

Synology’s camera licensing policy has changed for part of its 2026 camera generation. The BC510, TC510, and BC800Z are now listed by Synology as requiring a Surveillance Device License, with Synology’s license documentation stating that these models require 1 license per camera. This means these Synology-branded cameras are now treated in the same basic licensing structure as regular IP cameras, where each camera consumes 1 available Surveillance Station camera license.

This is a significant change because Synology’s own cameras previously had a clear licensing advantage inside Surveillance Station. Earlier Synology camera models were positioned as first-party devices that worked directly with the platform without the need to buy an additional camera license. For users building a Synology-based surveillance setup, that made the cameras easier to justify even when comparable third-party ONVIF cameras were available at lower prices. The camera, platform integration, AI features, and license position were effectively part of the same value proposition.

With the 2026 generation, that arrangement has changed for the BC510, TC510, and BC800Z. Users will now need to account for the cost of a Surveillance Device License when deploying these cameras beyond the default licenses included with their Synology NAS, NVR, or DVA system. Synology NAS systems generally include 2 default licenses, Network Video Recorder systems include 4, and Deep Learning NVR systems include 8. Any deployment that exceeds the available default license count will require additional license packs, just as it would when adding third-party IP cameras or other supported surveillance devices.

Device Type		License Units	Example	License required
Synology Cameras		Per camera	BC510, TC510, BC800Z	1
		Per camera	BC500, TC500	0
Synology LiveCam		Per device	Synology LiveCam app	1
Regular IP camera		Per camera	AXIS P1347	1
Panoramic (fisheye)		Per camera	AXIS M3007	1
Multi-lens	Fixed lens	Per camera	ArecontVision AV8185DN	1
	Fixed lenses with independent IP	Per channel	AXIS Q3709-PVE	3
	Removable lens	Per channel	AXIS F44	5
Video server		Per channel	Vivotek VS8801	8
I/O module		Per device	AXIS A9188	1
Intercom		Per device	AXIS A8105-E	1
IP speaker		Per device	AXIS C3003-E	1
Access controller (door)		Per device	AXIS A1001	1
Transaction device (POS)		Per device	–	2

According to Synology’s stated position around the new generation, the decision is connected to broader deployment flexibility. The BC510 and TC510 are being introduced not only as cameras for Surveillance Station, but also as devices designed to work across multiple surveillance environments. Synology states that these cameras support deployment within the native Synology ecosystem, third-party NVR and VMS infrastructures through ONVIF, and its upcoming cloud-based surveillance platform. In that context, Synology appears to be separating the camera hardware from the Surveillance Station license entitlement, rather than treating the license as implicitly bundled with the camera.

The advantage Synology presents is that this approach allows the cameras to be used more flexibly outside Synology-only deployments. In theory, a lower hardware price can reduce the entry cost for users who want to deploy the cameras in third-party systems, where a Synology Surveillance Station license would not be relevant. For mixed environments, installers, managed service providers, or businesses migrating between platforms, the cameras can be positioned as ONVIF-capable AI cameras rather than hardware tied primarily to a Synology NAS or NVR. Synology’s argument is therefore less about removing value from Surveillance Station users, and more about aligning the cameras with wider interoperability, third-party infrastructure support, and future cloud surveillance services.

Which Cameras are Affected, and What About Older Synology Cameras?

The affected 2026 Synology camera models listed as requiring a Surveillance Device License are the BC800Z, BC510, and TC510. The BC800Z is the higher-end 8MP model with PoE connectivity, optical zoom coverage, longer night vision range, IP66/IP67/IK10 protection, a 5-year warranty, and additional analytics such as License Plate Recognition and Smoke Detection. The BC510 and TC510 are 5MP PoE cameras, offered in bullet and turret designs respectively, with 2880×1620 resolution, 30 FPS video, a 110° horizontal field of view, 30 m night vision, people and vehicle detection, intrusion detection, audio detection, tampering detection, motion detection, people and vehicle counting, Instant Search, and people-based auto tracking. The CC400W is not listed as requiring a Surveillance Device License, and remains separate from the licensing change affecting the BC800Z, BC510, and TC510.

At this stage, the licensing change appears to apply to the newer 2026 generation models listed by Synology, rather than being presented as a wider retrospective change across all previous Synology cameras. Older Synology camera models are less prominent on Synology’s current product pages following the arrival of the refreshed range, so the long-term public positioning of those older models is less clear from the current camera comparison material. Based on the available details, there is no indication in the supplied information that previously released Synology cameras are being newly reclassified in the same way, but buyers and existing users should still check the official Synology Camera Support List and license documentation for their exact model before expanding or changing a deployment.

Why Has Synology Made This Decision?

Synology’s stated reasoning appears to centre on making its newer cameras more flexible across different deployment environments. The BC510 and TC510 are being positioned not only as Surveillance Station cameras, but also as cameras for third-party NVR and VMS systems through ONVIF, as well as Synology’s upcoming cloud-based surveillance platform. By separating the camera hardware from the Surveillance Station license entitlement, Synology can sell the cameras into environments where a bundled Surveillance Station license would not be useful, while also lowering the hardware entry price for users who are not deploying them directly with Synology’s own platform. There may also be a wider commercial consideration around Synology’s position as a Taiwanese camera manufacturer. In some government, education, public sector, and official institutional deployments, the country of origin of surveillance hardware can be a factor in procurement, security review, and long-term platform approval.

This may give Synology an advantage over some Chinese-made camera brands, particularly in environments where hardware from certain vendors is harder to approve or deploy. In that context, Synology may see an opportunity to position the BC510, TC510, and BC800Z as more broadly deployable surveillance cameras for institutions that want ONVIF-compatible hardware without relying on brands that may face additional scrutiny. For Synology-only users, however, the practical result is different: the license cost now needs to be considered separately when adding the BC510, TC510, or BC800Z to a deployment that has already used its default license allowance. This does not remove the cameras’ first-party integration benefits, edge AI features, or official support inside the Synology ecosystem, but it does change the overall value calculation compared with older Synology cameras that did not require a separate Surveillance Device License.

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Les autorités américaines viennent de démanteler quatre réseaux de botnets qui contrôlaient plus de trois millions d'appareils dans le monde. Caméras, routeurs Wi-Fi, enregistreurs vidéo : le matériel du quotidien servait à lancer des attaques DDoS records, dépassant les 30 térabits par seconde.

Pas un petit réseau

Le bureau du procureur fédéral de l'Alaska a annoncé l'opération le 19 mars. Le département de la Justice américain, le FBI et le Defense Criminal Investigative Service ont travaillé avec les autorités canadiennes et allemandes pour mettre hors service quatre botnets : Aisuru, KimWolf, JackSkid et Mossad.

Des domaines et des serveurs virtuels hébergés aux États-Unis ont été saisis, et une vingtaine d'entreprises tech ont aidé à neutraliser l'infrastructure. Les appareils infectés étaient des caméras de surveillance, des enregistreurs vidéo et des routeurs Wi-Fi grand public, le genre d'équipements que des millions de foyers utilisent sans trop se soucier des mises à jour de sécurité.

Des attaques records et le Pentagone parmi les cibles

Côté chiffres, plus de trois millions d'appareils compromis dans le monde, dont des centaines de milliers aux États-Unis. Aisuru, le plus actif, a lancé plus de 200 000 commandes d'attaque DDoS depuis son apparition fin 2024.

JackSkid en a envoyé plus de 90 000, KimWolf environ 25 000 et Mossad un millier. Le réseau du département de la Défense américain figurait parmi les cibles, ce qui donne une idée du niveau de la menace. Mi-2025, les attaques ont atteint des volumes jamais vus, avec un pic à 31,4 térabits par seconde mitigé par Cloudflare en novembre.

Les victimes signalent des pertes en dizaines de milliers de dollars, et encore, on parle de ceux qui ont porté plainte.

Un Canadien de 22 ans et un Allemand de 15 ans dans le viseur

Un Canadien de 22 ans a été identifié comme opérateur principal de KimWolf, une variante d'Aisuru capable de se propager sur un réseau interne dès qu'un seul appareil est compromis.

Un ado Allemand de 15 ans est suspecté d'avoir piloté un autre de ces botnets. Sauf que voilà, ces réseaux ne servaient pas qu'à leurs créateurs. Les opérateurs vendaient l'accès aux appareils piratés à d'autres criminels, qui pouvaient lancer leurs propres attaques DDoS sans aucune compétence technique.

Du cybercrime as a service, une sorte de location de puissance de frappe numérique accessible à n'importe qui avec quelques centaines de dollars.

Un ado de 15 ans qui pilote un botnet capable de mettre à genoux des infrastructures militaires, c'est quand même révélateur du problème de fond. La facilité d'accès à ces outils est grotesque.

Le démantèlement est une bonne nouvelle, mais tant que des millions de routeurs et de caméras resteront branchés avec leurs mots de passe par défaut, d'autres prendront le relais. Bref, la vraie faille, elle est dans votre salon.

Source : Wired