Unifi Protect is what runs on the CloudKey/NVR physical device - you don’t need to have it go through to the Internet.
Remember, for better or worse Ubiquiti is positioning themselves as SMB Enterprise security - some companies won’t want their footage to be accessible outside their network.
This is maybe controversial, but I love the Ubiquiti security stuff. Cameras (interior and exterior) doorbells, etc, it’s all great. Pricey, but you get what you pay for.
And the data can stay local or be accessible via their services.
I chose to go local only, grabbed their UNVR and populated it with 4x 2TB drives and it has enough space to handle 7 cameras HD history for about a month.
First, check https://meshmap.net/ to see if anyone is around. If not, you can be the first (it just will be very quiet).
Next look for a device. I’m partial to this one: https://www.seeedstudio.com/SenseCAP-Card-Tracker-T1000-E-for-Meshtastic-p-5913.html - just make sure whatever you get it’s spec’ed for your region.
Then just download the Meshtastic app on your Android or iOS device and you’re set.
It’s really the only thing keeping a few of my friends and family members from switching.
Yeah, I could spin them up a VM and do some RDP trickery, but these aren’t super technical people - the friction would mean emergency tech support calls that I’m not ready to answer.