When it comes to monitoring, how long security cameras keep video is a very important factor that goes beyond just storage. If you lose important video, you might also not be able to handle serious situations. This article talks about how important it is to store data for the right amount of time to find threats, understand security trends, and make sure that your surveillance system has a lasting effect.
This question doesn’t have a simple answer because every camera and security system is different. Most security cameras keep footage for 30 to 90 days. But different rules apply to different types of businesses. For example, banks and other financial institutions might have to keep video footage for at least six months, while casinos might have to keep video footage for up to a year.
Where Does Security Camera Store Footage?
Security camera footage can be saved in different locations depending on the system and installation setup of security cameras. There are three popular ways to store things:
SD card or External Hard Drive Storage
Some security cams have SD card slots built in so you can store things locally. The video is saved right on the SD card in the camera. This choice is good for cameras that only need to be connected to the internet sometimes or for situations that might be hard to do. On the other hand, SSD drives or external hard disks can only hold so much data; once they are full, you can detach them and add a new disk drive.
How long an SD card can store data depends on how much space it has and how the camera is set up to record from a few days to a month.
Cloud Storage
A lot of new security camera systems can store videos in the cloud. Videos are uploaded and stored on remote servers, so anyone with an internet link can watch them from anywhere.
Most cloud storage comes with payment plans that let you use it for different lengths of time. Options for holding periods of 7, 14, 30, 60, or 90 days are standard.
NVR/ DVR
NVRs and DVRs are devices that are only used to store videos. Most of the time, NVRs are used with IP cameras to store digital video. DVRs, on the other hand, work with old cameras and store digital video. These devices are usually installed on-site and let you view stored footage from that location.
Most NVRs and DVRs let users change the length of time that recordings are kept. It could be anywhere from a few days to a few months, based on how much space the device has and how the user has set it up.
How to Keep Security Cameras Footage Last Longer?
To keep camera footage for long time, follow the below strategies.
Adjust Recording Settings
Lower the frame rate or resolution if good quality isn’t needed for all the footage. It is possible to save a lot of security camera footage by lowering these settings.
Export Footage and Save It To Another Device
You can save camera video forever by exporting it to a computer or a separate hard drive, like a thumb drive. This way, you won’t use up the main storage space of your security camera. You can choose which events or clips to export for future use.
Scheduled Recording
When you record continuously, your storage gets full of footage that might not be useful. Use planned recording to get the most out of your storage space. You can tell cameras to only record at certain times, which will get rid of footage that isn’t needed and save a lot of storage. Setting your cams to record only at night, for example, can more than double the time you have to store videos.
Consider Buying Motion Detection Cameras
These cameras only record when something moves, which makes them more accurate and safe. Modern cams with line-crossing features let you keep an eye on specific areas for movement and people who aren’t supposed to be there. Change the settings for motion detection so that it only records important events and fills up storage slowly, especially in places with a lot of movement.
Video compression
Use video compression, like H.265, to make your videos smaller and free up more space on your hard drive. A codec is used in compression to get rid of files that aren’t needed and shrink current ones without lowering the quality of the video. You can now put more videos on your server or SD card because there is more storage.
Conclusion
How long security cameras keep video is a complicated question that should be answered by the user’s security needs and the camera’s storage capacity. To use surveillance technology to its fullest for privacy protection and property, it is important to find the right mix between following the rules, being efficient, and protecting people’s privacy.
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