About half of businesses utilize cloud storage providers to hold their company data. The cloud can help businesses increase storage capabilities and accessibility of surveillance camera footage.

Before your business begins storing information in the cloud, there are necessary precautions that should be followed to safeguard against hackers.

Below are four tips to effectively secure your video surveillance footage in the cloud.

1. Utilize Passwords or Passcodes

When setting up passwords and passcodes for surveillance camera footage and cloud access, consider the following best practices:

  • Change default passwords and passcodes before utilizing equipment.
  • Make passwords and passcodes difficult to guess to outside parties, but easy to remember to authorized individuals.
  • Do not write passwords or passcodes down or store them in systems.
  • Avoid universal passwords or passcodes that would enable hackers to gain entry into multiple systems or devices as once.

If you have questions on how to set up or change your company’s passcodes or passwords, work with your security vendor and IT team.

2. Limit Access

Not everybody will need to view your video footage. By limiting cloud access, you decrease the risk of information being exposed or compromised by employees.

For example, if an employee accesses video footage remotely on an unsecure network or device, hackers could gain entry to your video data, and perhaps even your company network at large. Employees that have access to company security footage should follow these best practices:

  • Only access via company networks or virtual private networks (VPNs).
  • Do not share information with unauthorized individuals.
  • Always lock devices that hold security footage.
  • Install necessary malware and antivirus software on devices.

3. Encrypt Networks

To safeguard information in the cloud, particularly credit card numbers or a patient’s medical files, work with your IT team to activate a layered security approach that includes VPNs, firewalls and Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encryption.

This makes information unreadable to outside parties, and it more difficult for hackers to view files or information exchanged.

When selecting encryption providers, look for certifications, such as SAS 70, RSA Encryption and ISO 270001, and vendors that follow security and auditing best practices.

4. Back Up Footage 

Should video footage become lost or compromised, having an electronic backup in place can avoid information from being gone forever. Consider storing critical footage in an offline computer or digital video recorder (DVR).

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