Modern surveillance systems record video footage and store it in a local drive, a networked system, or even on the cloud. But how long should the data captured be stored? There is no straightforward answer to this question as it depends on several factors, including:
- Whether the CCTV system is being installed in a commercial or a home setting
- The purpose of installing the surveillance system
- The camera’s resolution and the method of recording, and
- The amount of storage space available
Video footage storage is rather intensive in terms of the infrastructure required to maintain it and the labor required to manage the data. Besides, the storage capacity and medium you choose will have a direct effect on the cost of the surveillance system.
So, how do you choose a suitable CCTV video footage retention time?
How Long Can CCTV Footage be Kept?
How long you should or should not store your surveillance footage is not cast in stone. When you are installing a surveillance system in your home, it is advisable that you choose one whose storage can hold at least two weeks’ worth of video footage. This is because rarely do residential customers need to refer to video footage that’s more than a month old.
When it comes to commercial spaces, the Media Development Authority dictates that they store their video footage for at least 30 days. Of course, this will depend on whether there is a criminal activity that should be shared with the authorities.
For example, video footage captured during and after an incident may need to be stored for longer than 30 days. In that case, you might want to store the relevant footage in a separate storage device until the relevant authorities complete investigations.
For small businesses that have recorded little or no serious incidents and only use CCTV as a deterrent for criminal activity, two weeks’ worth of video footage might be more practical. Large corporations might want to store their surveillance data for about 30-90 days. Industries such as the banking sector need to store video footage for at least six months.
Related: Things to Know Before Buying A CCTV Camera
How Surveillance CCTV Camera Footage is Stored
There are various storage options for CCTV video footage based on your preference and the resources at your disposal. You need to first understand that the storage you choose will affect how long you can preserve the data. CCTV data storage options include:
- DVR and NVR
DVR and NVR are perhaps the most popular options when it comes to CCTV storage abilities. One reason they are the most preferred is that you can add external storage to the initial surveillance system.
With a DVR system, your CCTV cameras will transmit surveillance footage through coaxial cables to the hard drive. On the other hand, NVR systems transmit data wirelessly. Therefore, you can access data stored in an NVR system through your personal computer or tablet.
- SD Card
Some CCTV cameras are equipped with an SD card feature. With this feature, you can bypass the recorder and store video footage directly into the SD card.
The amount of data stored and for how long it lasts will depend on whether the camera records continuously or if it only does so on detecting some motion, its capacity, camera resolution, and bit rate.
Once the SD card fills up, it overwrites the oldest data with the most recent footage. You can transfer data stored on an SD card to either your computer or an external hard drive.
- Cloud-based Storage
Large organizations prefer cloud storage over conventional storage means, as it is more scalable, secure, and reliable. Besides, recorded footage can be accessed from anywhere. Cloud storage is also quite cost-effective, especially for organizations with multiple branches.
Rather than installing DVRs or NVRs on multiple sites, the video footage from the sites is stored in a central location.
How to Keep CCTV Footage Safely
In most cases, the oldest video footage will be overwritten once your system’s surveillance storage is maxed. So, how do you ensure you preserve the CCTV footage after an incident?
One way you can safely store your footage is by removing it from the DVR/NVR and storing it in a CD/DVD, external hard drive, SD memory card, or USB drive. This is perhaps the most common method of preserving CCTV video footage.
By removing the data and storing it externally, you are sure that your footage will not be overwritten. However, you also need to store your chosen medium in a secure location.
Modern CCTV surveillance systems have a feature where you can ‘flag’ footage so that it will not be overwritten should the NVR/DVR fill up. The major downside to this method of storing CCTV footage is that you would need to access the DVR/NVR itself. Thus, off-site viewing is almost impossible. Also, the footage will be lost should anything happen to the NVR/DVR.
The third way you can securely store your CCTV footage is by uploading it to the cloud. All you need to have is a robust internet service as surveillance footage is quite data intensive. Among the reasons cloud storage is gaining popularity is the fact that it allows for data encryption, thus assuring users that their surveillance data cannot be accessed by unauthorized users.
Also, as on-site video recorders are used alongside the cloud storage, you are certain that your video footage is fully backed up. You will need to check with your surveillance system provider whether your current system or the one you intend to have installed has cloud storage capabilities.
Final Thoughts
Having a surveillance system is an important security precaution for residences and businesses. However, you will need to use your CCTV system responsibly and within the guidelines stipulated by Singapore’s data protection laws. One of these laws is on how long you should store CCTV video footage.
Generally, you will be safe to store CCTV footage for a minimum of 30 days or as long as 90 days. But as every setup is different, your security vendor should advise you on this as well as your storage requirements.
Several factors will impact how much data your system can store and for how long. For this reason, you should consult a professional who will go into the details of the capabilities that different surveillance systems can provide based on your needs.
Learn more about CCTV storage and buy the right surveillance system by getting in touch with us. Our experts here at Security System Singapore are available round the clock to address your queries!