Technology Hostage-as-a-Service (HaaS) Explained March 31, 2026 Some security camera vendors lock customers into subscriptions that disable their hardware if they cancel — a model known as Hostage-as-a-Service. Learn how to identify it and why Watchmen Security refuses to use it. The Hostage-as-a-Service (HaaS) business model has become increasingly prevalent in the security industry. Big corporations have been utilizing this non-consumer-friendly pricing model to take advantage of their customers. What Is the Hostage-as-a-Service Model? The HaaS pricing model typically takes the form of a monthly, yearly, or multi-year subscription fee to use the security cameras you purchased as leverage to make it very difficult for a customer to cancel if they are unhappy with the quality of installation or service. Let's use an analogy. Imagine you purchased a brand new camera and a software package to publish your photos. If by canceling the software subscription, your camera — an expensive piece of hardware — stopped working entirely, that would be an unreasonable hostage situation. Yet that's exactly what some security vendors do. If you cancel the subscription, the company sends out a command rendering your devices useless. You then have to pay to uninstall the old cameras, buy new ones, have them installed, and learn a new software program. That's how these companies keep you "hostage." Companies Using the HaaS Model This model has become prevalent in the security industry, particularly with companies like Latch, Verkada, and Cisco Meraki. These vendors pitch the low churn rate to investors, but the reality is that customers aren't staying because they love the product — they're staying because they can't afford to leave. How Watchmen Security Views HaaS Watchmen Security is not a fan of this business model. Our goals are to help our customers, provide high-quality services and products, and keep them safe — not twist their arms. "At Watchmen we believe it is our duty to serve the customer and give them a great experience with excellence. We are not insecure as a service provider and feel it is not necessary to lock in our clients by selling them a solution that they will have a very hard time getting out of." — Lucas Ingala, Founder/CEO, Watchmen Security Services If you are in the market for top-of-the-line security systems that won't tie you down with a recurring fee just to keep them working correctly, contact the team at Watchmen Security.