DW Spectrum Enterprise Explained

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Affected Roles: Administrator, Channel Partner

Related DW Product: DW Spectrum Enterprise

Last Edit: October 30, 2025

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Video Surveillance as a Service (VSaaS)

DW Spectrum Enterprise provides an interactive user interface, through which DW Channel Partners (CPs) and Managed Service Providers (MSPs) can oversee and control business interactions with their end user customers.

DW Spectrum Enterprise offers a turnkey, Video Surveillance as a Service (VSaaS) management solution for MSPs to support and grow their businesses into a subscription-focused model. Using a cloud-optimized dashboard, system administrators can manage DW Spectrum site users and recurring license subscriptions.

This article will outline some of the key points and terminology of DW Spectrum Enterprise for users who are seeking to either upgrade from DW Spectrum Professional or are interested in signing up for DW Spectrum Enterprise outright.

**NOTE: DW Spectrum Enterprise requires the use of a DW Cloud user account. This platform is only available for use by DW Spectrum Servers updated to software version 6.0 and newer.

What is DW Spectrum Enterprise?

DW Spectrum Enterprise is a cloud-based, centralized management platform that creates easy management of multiple surveillance sites through:

DW Connect – an online web portal used to manage Channel Partner accounts, End User Organizations, and DW Spectrum Enterprise Subscriptions.
DW Spectrum Enterprise Cloud – an online web portal used to manage individual sites and their DW Spectrum Professional servers belonging to End User Organizations.

Following a “Video Surveillance as a Service” (VSaaS) management solution model, DW Spectrum Enterprise is intended for deployment by Managed Service Providers such as alarm companies, home security installers, etc. The platform is designed for intelligent video combined with data management and visualization, which enables system administrators to oversee users, workstations, servers, and network devices from anywhere using a centralized, cloud-optimized dashboard.

Defining a DW Spectrum Enterprise Organization

DW Spectrum Enterprise works on a hierarchical model where Digital Watchdog Administrators provide services in by generating Subscription Keys for distributors and system installation technicians – who are otherwise recognized as “Channel Partners”.

Channels Partners (and their subsequent Sub-Channel Partners) can create End User Organizations and provide Subscription Keys, taking on the role of Managed Service Providers (MSPs) by selling Subscription Keys and overseeing recurring subscriptions for their End User Organization affiliates.

Organization – a body of DW Spectrum users who subscribe to the DW Spectrum Enterprise service through association with a DW Channel Partner.
Sites and Systems – a “site” is one or more DW Spectrum Professional Servers (individual or merged) deployed at a location to view and record IP cameras on a single network.

NOTE: The DW Spectrum Professional software was previously known as “DW Spectrum IPVMS,” prior to the official release of DW Spectrum version 6.0.

DW Spectrum Enterprise Roles

DW Administrator (DW Admin) – Digital Watchdog’s role in the DW Spectrum Enterprise structure is as the root vendor, supporting Channel Partners who subsequently oversee their Organization’s Sub-Channel Partners and End User Organizations. DW Administrators primarily generate the Subscription Keys for distribution to Channel Partners who can sell/distribute to their End Users.

Channel Partner (CP) – A Channel Partner is any distributor or security installment entity working between Digital Watchdog overseeing and facilitating all Subscription Services consumed by their Sub-Channel Partners and End User Organizations. The responsibilities of a Channel Partner are to monitor the health of End User Organization recorders and cameras so that they can render support services for any issues that should arise. Additional responsibilities include tracking subscription services and distributing subscription keys. As such, Channel Partners must register as Managed Service Providers (MSPs) with Digital Watchdog before their account can be set up in DW Connect.

To create your own DW Spectrum Enterprise Organization, you must be a DW Channel Partner. Otherwise, you can apply to become a Channel Partner with Digital Watchdog to access this option

An example of a Channel Partner is the owner of an alarm company who provides paid installation and monitoring services to small businesses, private residences, and local government buildings.

Sub-Channel Partner (Sub-CP)

Sub-Channel Partners are the equivalent of subsidiary businesses, branch offices, franchisee locations, etc. This role works virtually the same as a full Channel Partner but without direct connection to a Digital Watchdog Administrator.

An example of when the creation of Sub-Channel Partners would be ideal is if a nationwide alarm company has satellite branches in multiple locations. The Channel Partner could create Sub-Channel Partner profiles that are assigned to each manager of an individual location. These Sub-Channel Partners can then create End User Organizations for any clients that they oversee in their region.

End User Organization Administrator (EU)

An End User Organization is the actual customer in the DW Spectrum Enterprise model. The Organization Administrator can use the DW Cloud Portal to configure the organization, manage users, and grant Channel Partner Access.

It should be noted that only the End User Administrator can add recorders and cameras to their End User Organization.

Subscription Service

DW Spectrum Enterprise Subscriptions are sold by the number of devices. Each device within an End User Organization must have a valid subscription to be part of the Organization. Expiration dates follow a Co-Termination model to determine the valid period of a cumulative subscription for the End User Organization.

Subscription Key – a unique alphanumerical identifier that provides access to DW Spectrum Enterprise services; generated by DW Administrators and sold/distributed by Channel Partners.

- Question: What will happen to my DW Spectrum Professional license keys after I upgrade to DW Spectrum Enterprise?
- Answer: All currently active DW Spectrum Professional licenses will be converted to 24-month credits for recording subscription once a system is added to an organization. This change cannot be reversed.

What is "Co-Term"?

“Co-Term” or “Co-Termination”, refers to adjusting the subscription time range by combining existing subscriptions and new subscriptions into a single expiration date, regardless of the purchase date.

This also means that if an account has multiple subscriptions activated at different times, all subscriptions are bundled together to share the same renewal or Co-Term renewal date instead of each subscription having a different renewal date for each individual device.

How is Co-Term calculated?

Regardless of how many subscriptions were applied or when they were applied, the subscription expiration date for all subscriptions will be the same. This is accomplished by averaging all active subscriptions and dividing by the Organization’s device count.

For more information and answers to commonly asked questions about DW Spectrum Enterprise, you can refer to the article – DW Spectrum Enterprise - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).

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