Junior's Store Surveillance: Cameras, Privacy, And Security

The length of time that security cameras retain footage varies depending on the specific industry, storage capacity, and surveillance system. Most businesses typically store security camera footage for 30 to 90 days, but this can differ based on the type of business and its storage capabilities. For example, casinos and banks may store footage for up to six months or even a year due to industry regulations and the need to comply with legal requirements. On the other hand, homeowners tend to keep security camera footage for around one to two weeks.

How long does the average security camera store footage?

The length of time that security cameras retain footage varies depending on the type of property, storage capacity, camera resolution, recording settings, and legal requirements.

For businesses, the most common length of time for storing security camera footage is 30 to 90 days. This is true for hotels, car dealerships, retailers, and other similar businesses. However, certain industries, like casinos and banks, may store security footage for a minimum of 6 months due to industry standards and regulations. For financial institutions, the storage period can range from 6 months to 7 years, depending on regulations and the nature of the footage.

In the commercial sector, it is not uncommon for security footage to be stored for years, or even indefinitely, in case of future claims against the business. Most stores and businesses store footage for no longer than 30 days to free up storage space.

For home security cameras, the storage period is typically between 1 and 4 weeks. This helps to free up storage space and prevent the accumulation of unnecessary files. However, residential property footage can also be downloaded and stored indefinitely on local storage devices or in the cloud.

Street cameras usually store footage for between 30 and 90 days, depending on the local municipality's requirements. Some municipalities may store footage for longer, especially in high-crime areas or if there is a special request from the courts.

How long do different sectors store footage?

The length of time that surveillance footage is stored varies across different sectors. Here is a breakdown of how long different sectors typically store their surveillance camera footage:

Residential Properties

For residential properties, it is common for security camera footage to be stored for around one to four weeks. However, this can vary depending on the storage capacity and settings of the camera system. Homeowners can also download and retain footage indefinitely by storing it on local storage devices or cloud storage.

Commercial Sector

The commercial sector, including businesses, retailers, and offices, typically stores security camera footage for around 30 to 90 days. This helps to free up storage space. However, some businesses may store footage for longer periods, especially if there is a future claim against the business. It is not uncommon for commercial entities to store footage for years or even indefinitely.

Public Surveillance

Public surveillance footage, such as street cameras, is usually kept for a period of 30 to 90 days. However, in some cases, this footage may be stored for longer, particularly in high-crime areas or if there is a special request from law enforcement. The retention period for public surveillance footage depends on local municipality requirements.

Banks and Financial Institutions

Banks and financial institutions often have regulatory requirements to store security camera footage for longer periods. Typically, they retain footage for up to six months to comply with industry standards. In some cases, they may need to store footage for up to seven years, depending on the nature of the footage and specific regulatory requirements.

Casinos

The casino industry also has specific regulations regarding the retention of security camera footage. In some states, casinos are required to retain footage for a minimum of six months to a year. This is to align with industry standards and regulatory requirements for this sector.

Hotels, Supermarkets, and Construction Companies

For hotels, supermarkets, construction companies, and similar medium-sized businesses, the standard retention period for security camera footage is typically around 30 to 90 days.

In summary, the length of time that different sectors store surveillance camera footage varies depending on legal requirements, industry standards, storage capacity, and organisational policies. While some sectors may only store footage for a few weeks, others may retain it for several months or even years, depending on their specific needs and requirements.

How to store video footage

The length of time for which security cameras store footage varies depending on the type of camera and the purpose of the footage. For example, home security cameras usually store footage for between 1 and 4 weeks, while street cameras typically store footage for between 30 and 90 days. In the commercial sector, it is not uncommon for security footage to be stored for years, or even indefinitely, in case of future claims.

When it comes to storing video footage, there are several options available:

• Local storage: This includes any physical hardware such as local computers, external hard drives, or flash drives. Local storage offers easy access to content and complete control over how information is stored and who accesses it. However, it can be very expensive, especially if you need a lot of space, and it is not suitable for team collaborations.
• Network-attached storage (NAS): NAS is an internet-connected device used for data storage. NAS offers centralised storage with full control over access and authorisation, as well as backup and data recovery options. It also allows for multiple users to access the stored data simultaneously. However, NAS can be costly to implement and maintain, and it relies on a large amount of network bandwidth for storing large videos.
• Cloud storage: Cloud storage is a scalable and flexible option that allows for easy access, retrieval, distribution, and sharing of large video files. It also offers the opportunity to cut down on unnecessary costs with a pay-as-you-go model. However, cloud storage depends on the quality of the internet connection and the reliability of the cloud service provider, and it gives less control over your data compared to local storage or NAS.
• IP camera SD card storage: This is a good option for saving motion-triggered footage if you don't need 24/7 storage.
• Linking multiple IP cameras: You can link multiple IP cameras together and store the video on an NVR or DVR with a built-in hard drive. Regular backups are necessary if you want to save the footage long-term.
• IP camera FTP storage: This allows you to upload and save surveillance images and videos to a network platform, either on a remote server or on an on-premise server.

When deciding how to store video footage, it is important to consider factors such as cost, ease of access, data security, and collaboration needs. Additionally, it is crucial to have a backup plan in place to prevent data loss in case of hardware failure or other unforeseen events.

How much storage do security cameras have?

The storage capacity of security cameras depends on several factors, including the number of cameras, resolution, frame rate, retention period, and placement. Here's a detailed overview:

Number of Cameras

The more cameras in a surveillance system, the more footage is generated, resulting in larger video files. For example, storing 30 days of 1080p footage from 12 cameras (a typical number for most businesses) at 10 frames per second would require at least 8 terabytes of storage.

Resolution

Resolution refers to the clarity of the video footage and is measured in pixels (px). Higher resolutions result in sharper images and larger file sizes. For instance, increasing the resolution from 1080p to 4K can significantly increase storage requirements.

Frame Rate

Frame rate, measured in frames per second (FPS), determines how smooth the video appears. A higher frame rate means more frames are captured per second, leading to larger file sizes.

Retention Period

The retention period is the length of time the video footage needs to be stored. Longer retention periods require more storage capacity. For example, a single camera recording at 1080p resolution, 15 FPS, and a standard color depth can generate 4.703 terabytes of data per day, resulting in 141.1 terabytes of data over 30 days.

Placement and Coverage

Strategic placement of cameras can reduce the total number of cameras needed. Wider fields of view typically require fewer cameras.

Other Factors

Other factors that can impact storage requirements include video compression algorithms, artificial intelligence (AI) tools that trigger recording only when something of interest is detected, and the use of cloud storage or physical hard drives.

In summary, the storage capacity of security cameras depends on a combination of factors, including the number of cameras, resolution, frame rate, retention period, and placement. Calculating the required storage capacity involves considering these variables and making informed decisions based on specific needs and constraints.

How does camera resolution affect storage capacity?

The resolution of a camera's video output has a direct impact on the storage capacity required. Higher resolutions, such as 2K and 4K, offer greater detail and clarity but demand larger storage space. Conversely, lower-resolution videos take up less memory but sacrifice visual fidelity.

The impact of resolution on storage capacity is significant. For instance, a 4K video has four times the number of pixels as a 1080p video, necessitating four times the storage space. Similarly, a 1080p camera requires approximately eight times the storage of a standard definition H.264 CCTV camera.

The choice of resolution depends on the specific use case, budget, and viewing preferences. For monitoring a small area or when lower video quality is acceptable, a moderate resolution may suffice. However, if capturing intricate details, such as faces or number plates, is crucial, a higher resolution becomes necessary.

To optimise storage capacity, it is advisable to adjust the camera resolution based on the location and importance of the area being monitored. Critical entrances with high traffic may require higher resolutions, while less crucial areas can be recorded at lower resolutions.

In addition to resolution, other factors influencing storage capacity include compression, bitrate, number of cameras, recording mode, duration, and frame rate. Compression techniques, such as H.264 and H.265, reduce file sizes but may also impact video quality. Higher bitrates contribute to better video quality but demand greater storage capacity. Employing multiple cameras, continuous recording, and higher frame rates all increase the storage requirements.

Frequently asked questions