Ubiquiti UniFi – Networking, Video, Access and Telephony at a Glance

The days when routers and controllers were separate are over. Modern UniFi Cloud Gateways combine routing power, a next-generation firewall and the management console in a single device.

• Models in focus: From the extremely compact Cloud Gateway Express (UX) with integrated Wi-Fi to the powerful Cloud Gateway Ultra (UCG-Ultra) and the multimedia Cloud Gateway Max (UCG-Max) with NVMe storage slot up to the 19-inch flagships Dream Machine Pro (UDM-Pro) and Dream Machine SE (UDM-SE).
• Security features: Thanks to the integrated IDS/IPS (Intrusion Detection & Prevention System), the gateway scans incoming and outgoing data traffic in real time down to the packet level. Malware, phishing attempts and unauthorized access attempts are blocked before they reach the internal network.
• VPN & location networking: Secure tunnels to the home office can be set up in no time using protocols such as WireGuard or OpenVPN. With the "Teleport" function, a single click in the smartphone app is enough to securely dial into your home or company network from anywhere in the world. Site-to-site VPNs also connect several company branches with each other fully automatically.
• Multi-WAN & Resiliency: Larger gateways support true load balancing and failover. If the fiber optic line fails, the system switches to DSL or a connected LTE/5G modem in milliseconds.

Switches distribute the data packets in the local network. UniFi offers tailor-made hardware for every application, divided into the classes Lite, Ultra, Pro, Enterprise and Pro Max.

• Etherlighting™: The newer Pro Max Switches offer a visual highlight: The ports light up in configurable colors to show at a glance which VLAN a port is in, how fast the connection is or whether PoE is active. This makes physical troubleshooting in the server cabinet much easier.
• Power over Ethernet (PoE, PoE+, PoE++): Forget power supplies for your access points or cameras. Using standards such as 802.3af/at/bt, UniFi switches deliver up to 60 watts of power per port. A central PoE budget in the switch ensures that all devices are properly supplied. Should a device freeze, the affected port can be easily switched off and restarted remotely using the app.
• Layer 3 functionality: Higher-quality models (from the Pro series) support static routing directly on the switch chip. This means: Internal data traffic between different departments (VLANs) does not have to be laboriously sent to the router and back, which massively reduces the load on the central gateway.
• High-speed uplinks: For data-hungry environments, the switches offer SFP+ ports with 10 Gbit/s or even SFP28 ports with up to 25 Gbit/s to completely eliminate bottlenecks between core switches and servers.

Ubiquiti became famous for its access points. The current generation delivers uncompromising performance and extreme client densities.

• Current standards (Wi-Fi 6, 6E & Wi-Fi 7): While Wi-Fi 6 (e.g. U6-Pro, U6+) the standard in the frequency range of 2.4 and 5 GHz, Wi-Fi 6E and the brand new Wi-Fi 7 models (such as the U7 Pro or U7 Pro Wall) use the completely interference-free 6 GHz band. Thanks to features such as MLO (Multi-Link Operation) and 320 MHz wide channels, Wi-Fi 7 offers data rates that are in no way inferior to the classic cable connection.
• Designs for every purpose: Inconspicuous ceiling access points for offices, In-wall APs, which are mounted directly in a flush-mounted box and at the same time function as a small switch (ideal for hotel rooms or meeting rooms), as well as extremely robust, weatherproof Outdoor access points with IP67 certification for halls and outdoor areas.
• Roaming & transmission optimization: Features such as Fast Roaming (802.11r/k/v) ensure that mobile devices are transferred to the strongest access point completely uninterrupted and unnoticed when walking through the building. With PPSK (Private Pre-Shared Keys) you can also assign different passwords for the same Wi-Fi network - depending on which password the user enters, they automatically end up in the secure company network, in the IoT network or in the isolated guest Wi-Fi.

The most important unique selling point of UniFi Protect: Recording and analysis stay local.

• The hardware: The recordings are either saved directly on the integrated hard drive slots of the Dream Gateways or on dedicated recorders such as the UNVR (4 hard drive slots) or UNVR-Pro (7 hard drive bays).
• Resiliency: By configuring in the RAID array (RAID 1, 5 or 10), recordings survive the failure of one drive (depending on the RAID level, several). RAID is not a backup.
• No subscription for recording and AI: Local recording and the cameras' AI detection have no monthly fees. Remote access via app or browser runs encrypted through the UniFi account.

The UniFi Protect cameras offer razor-sharp resolutions from 2K to native 4K and are extremely robust.

• Model variety: The product range includes the ultra-compact G5 Flex (ideal for discreet interior surveillance), the classic G5 Bullet with strong infrared night vision, vandal-proof G5 dome cameras for ceiling mounting and the high-end systems of the AI series (e.g. AI Pro, AI 360).
• Edge AI (artificial intelligence directly in the camera): The cameras have their own processors for image analysis. They recognize and classify people, vehicles and animals fully automatically.
• License plate & facial recognition: Top models like the AI ​​Pro read license plates in real time. You can set up alerts when a specific vehicle enters the premises. The software also offers a precise search: Would you like to see all video sequences in which a person wearing a red jacket entered the building? The smart search filters the archive in seconds.
• Smart audio detection: The integrated microphones can not only record sound, but are trained to detect the sound of smoke detectors, alarm systems or the rattling of windows and to sound the alarm immediately.

• Protect Smart Floodlight: An extremely bright LED spotlight with motion detector that is powered via PoE and can be logically linked to a camera in the software. If the camera detects a person, the floodlight switches on automatically.
• Protect ViewPort: A small HDMI network adapter. Simply connect it to a TV or monitor - the ViewPort streams the live camera images directly from the network to the screen with minimal latency, perfect for reception desks or security centers.
• Protect Chime: A smart door chime (as a WLAN or PoE variant) that signals in the building when someone rings a UniFi video doorbell (e.g. G4 Doorbell Pro).

Each door that is to be secured is connected to a UniFi Access Hub (UA Hub) via a network cable.

• Hardware architecture: The UA hub is a smart DIN rail controller that is supplied with power and data via PoE++. It has dedicated relays and connections for electronic door openers (magnetic locks, motorized locks, door strike systems), door position contacts (magnetic switches), external opening buttons (request-to-exit) and even alarm systems.
• Enterprise Access Hub: For larger installations, Ubiquiti offers a 19-inch version that can control up to eight doors centrally from the server cabinet and can be backed up in the event of power outages via a central UPS (uninterruptible power supply).

The stylish readers are mounted on the outside and inside of the doors.

• Access Reader G2 / G2 Professional: These compact devices support contactless opening. The G2 Pro also has a brilliant touch display and an integrated camera.
• UniFi Access Intercom: The premium terminal for main entrances and gates. It offers a large display with a digital directory that visitors can use to “ring” employees or departments directly.
• Access methods: Employees and users authenticate themselves flexibly via NFC card, coded key fob (Fob), entering a PIN code on the display or absolutely future-proof via the UniFi Identity App on your smartphone (via Bluetooth/NFC – simply walking past or briefly tapping on the display is enough).

The administration is carried out entirely via the usual UniFi headquarters.

• Real-time rights management: New employees receive digital access authorization with just two clicks. If an employee loses their physical NFC card, it is immediately blocked in the software - there are no costs for replacing the locks.
• Schedules & Logbooks: You can create exact profiles (e.g. "The cleaner is only allowed on Tuesdays from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m."). The system logs who opened which door and when; retention and access to this log must be defined under data protection law. It can also be defined that the main entrance door automatically remains unlocked during official business hours and locks itself in the evening.
• Central lockdown: In an emergency (e.g. in the event of a threat), administrators can trigger a “lockdown” via the app. All doors in the building are immediately blocked or - in the event of an evacuation - opened to escape routes.

The VoIP phones from UniFi completely break with the dusty, button-filled design of classic office phones and bring smartphone convenience to the desk.

• UniFi Phone Flex: The compact entry-level model. Perfect for kitchens, warehouses, hotel rooms or workplaces where basic telephony functions are primarily required. It has physical buttons and a clear display.
• UniFi Talk Phone Touch & Touch Max: The flagships for the modern desk. These phones have huge, high-resolution touchscreens (up to 7 inches) and are based on a customized Android operating system. Navigating through phone books, forwarding calls or managing call lists works as smoothly and intuitively as you would expect from modern smartphones.
• Video telephony: The touch models have an integrated camera with a physical privacy slider. This makes crystal-clear video calls from desk to desk or to compatible remote stations in the network possible without additional software.

A fully-fledged, software-based telephone system (Private Branch Exchange) works behind the scenes and runs directly on your UniFi OS.

• Easy Setup: You don't need to be a telecommunications engineer to configure UniFi Talk. In Germany, external lines and numbers are connected through a telephony provider's SIP trunk; Ubiquiti currently offers its own UniFi Talk number service only in the US, the UK and Canada (as of 20 October 2026).
• Smart Attendant (Interactive Voice Menu / IVR): Create professional automatic announcements and menu navigation for your customers (e.g. "Welcome to company XY. Press 1 for sales, press 2 for support..."). The system then routes the calls fully automatically to the correct employees or call groups.
• Call groups & forwarding: Define flexible rules. When a customer calls the switchboard, all phones in the office can ring at the same time, or one after the other in a set order. If all employees are in conversation, waiting loops with music or automatic mailbox systems come into play.
• Voicemail-to-Email: If a caller leaves a message on your answering machine, UniFi Talk converts the recording into an audio file and sends it directly to the respective employee's email address. This means you won't miss an important customer call, even when you're out in the field.
• Central Administration & HD Audio: All numbers, assignments and user profiles are maintained centrally. Thanks to the latest audio codecs, the system offers crystal-clear HD voice quality without delays or annoying noise.

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