ONVIF creates a standard for how IP products within video surveillance and other physical security areas can communicate with each other.

ONVIF is an organization started in 2008 by Axis Communications, Bosch Security Systems and Sony.

ONVIF concerns itself with standardization of communication between IP-based physical security products to achieve open interoperability between equipment from different manufacturers.

The ONVIF protocol offers API endpoints for configuring, controlling, and managing IP-based physical security products.

[9] It defines a network video communication framework based on relevant IETF and Web services standards including security and IP configuration requirements.