Introduction
What Is ITVDesk IP Camera
ITVDesk is a professional software solution for computer-based surveillance. It transforms any computer into a virtual ONVIF-compliant IP camera, allowing computer screens, webcams, and other media sources to be streamed directly into an existing video surveillance system or monitored locally using ITVDesk VMS.
Unlike traditional security cameras, ITVDesk captures digital activity that physical cameras cannot see, such as application usage, transaction screens, remote desktops, and workstation workflows.

How ITVDesk Works
ITVDesk runs as a background application on a computer and acts as a virtual network camera.
Captured content is streamed in real time using standard surveillance protocols:
- ONVIF
- RTSP
- RTSPS (secure RTSP over TLS)
This allows ITVDesk to integrate seamlessly with:
- Video Management Systems (VMS)
- Network Video Recorders (NVR)
- IP camera clients
- ONVIF-compatible media players
- RTSP media players and monitoring tools
To external systems, ITVDesk behaves like a standard IP camera, while internally it captures screen activity, webcams, and media sources with high precision.
Typical Use Cases
ITVDesk is designed for enterprise and mission-critical environments where monitoring computer activity is essential for security, compliance, auditability, and operational control.
Due to its architecture based on local processing, encrypted communication, and full infrastructure ownership, ITVDesk is commonly deployed in organizations with high security requirements, including large enterprises and government institutions.
Common use cases include:
Enterprise & Corporate Environments
In large enterprise environments, ITVDesk is used to monitor workstations that handle sensitive business processes, confidential data, and regulated workflows. All activity is captured locally and integrated into existing VMS or NVR systems, ensuring full visibility without introducing external cloud dependencies.
Government & Public Institutions
ITVDesk is suitable for government agencies and public institutions where data sovereignty, system isolation, and strict access control are required. The application operates entirely within the organization’s infrastructure, making it compliant with internal security policies and regulatory frameworks.
Banking & Financial Institutions
Workstations handling financial transactions, customer data, and internal banking systems can be monitored with precise timestamps and synchronized video records, supporting fraud prevention, compliance audits, and incident investigations.
Manufacturing & Production
Production data, control panels, SCADA systems, and operational parameters can be streamed into the same surveillance system as physical cameras, providing a unified view of industrial and production environments.
POS & Retail
Monitoring POS transactions directly from the screen helps prevent transaction fraud and eliminates blind spots that traditional security cameras cannot cover. POS screen activity is synchronized with video surveillance for accurate review.
Casinos & Gaming
Screens of gaming machines, cashier systems, and operator terminals can be streamed and recorded alongside physical camera footage, enabling full operational traceability and regulatory compliance.
Education & Training
ITVDesk enables screen supervision during exams, training sessions, and remote learning environments, supporting integrity, compliance, and fair assessment.
Parental Control
For private use, ITVDesk can be used to supervise computer activity and online behavior through controlled and secure screen monitoring.
Key Features
- Virtual ONVIF-compliant IP camera (computer as a network camera)
- Real-time RTSP and RTSPS (secure RTSP over TLS) streaming
- Desktop, application window, and multi-monitor capture
- Webcam and external media source streaming
- Full ONVIF integration with VMS, NVR, and IP camera clients
- POS and transaction text overlay synchronized with video
- Local and remote video recording
- Multi-source and multi-channel streaming
- Two-way audio communication (ONVIF)
- ONVIF video replay and playback support
- Real-time video transcoding, transmuting, and transrating
- Manual or dynamic configuration via ONVIF protocol
- Hardware-accelerated video encoding
- High-efficiency video compression (H.264 / H.265)
- Full compatibility with standard ONVIF profiles (S, T, G, C, Q, A, and M)
Security and Privacy
ITVDesk is designed with security and user privacy as core principles. The application operates transparently and does not perform any hidden disk operations, background data collection, or unauthorized access to system resources.
Local Data Storage
- All application data is stored locally on the system
- User-specific data is stored in the AppData directory
- Shared data (when used across multiple users) can be stored in ProgramData
- No data is written outside these locations
- No hidden read or write operations are performed on the disk
This ensures full transparency and allows administrators to easily audit all stored data.
Configuration Protection
- Camera configurations and sensitive settings are encrypted
- Encrypted storage prevents unauthorized access to credentials and profiles
- ONVIF and RTSP authentication data is securely protected
Application Security Controls
- Optional user interface (UI) locking to prevent unauthorized access
- Protection against unauthorized application shutdown
- Automatic application restart (auto-reopen) to ensure continuous operation
These mechanisms are designed to maintain system availability and prevent intentional or accidental interruption of surveillance.
Secure Communication
- Encrypted communication using TLS (HTTPS)
- ONVIF and RTSP authentication support
- WS-Username Token with Digest authentication
- Support for secure RTSP streaming (RTSPS)
Digital Code Signing and Integrity
- All executable files (.exe) and dynamic libraries (.dll) are digitally signed
- Digital signatures verify the authenticity and integrity of the application
- Protection against unauthorized modification or tampering of application files
- Supports enterprise security policies and operating system trust mechanisms
Digital code signing ensures that ITVDesk binaries originate from a trusted source and have not been altered after release.
No Cloud Dependency
- ITVDesk does not rely on third-party cloud services
- All processing, storage, and streaming remain within the local infrastructure
This architecture provides full control over surveillance data and supports compliance with enterprise security policies, regulatory requirements, and privacy standards.
Who This Documentation Is For
This user manual is intended for:
- System integrators
- Security technicians
- IT administrators
- End users configuring ITVDesk for the first time
No programming knowledge is required.