Being the next YouTube sensation can have its perks: instant fame and fortune, endless media attention, and maybe a recording contract or two. Unless you’re trying to be the next Justin Bieber (and presumably most security directors are not), having video of your organization viewed on millions of computer screens and mobile devices around the world, is the last thing a head of security wants to see. This is particularly true when the clip originated from your video system.
The exploding popularity of sharing video on sites like YouTube and a host of others, makes it far more likely that embarrassing or potentially harmful video from your parking lot, emergency room, office lobby or conference room could end up as the viral video of the week. Remember the YouTube video of the security footage showing a woman falling into a mall fountain because she was walking and texting? This was made much worse because of the security officers laughing in the background as they replayed the CCTV footage of her fall from multiple angles.
Modern Video Management Systems (VMS) are becoming increasingly more sophisticated by providing necessary protections to prevent digital video from being easily exported from a video management solution. These checks and balances are extremely important, not only to prevent embarrassing or potentially liable moments from becoming public, but they also provide necessary internal controls. Multiple layers of clearances and access rights among authorized users are vital when it comes to the crucial role some VMS systems play within an enterprise.
Gone are the days when surveillance footage was solely an asset used by the security department alone. With the widespread use of video, footage captured by surveillance cameras is now an informational resource used by many different departments for multiple functions within an organization. By enabling different access levels and additional layers of protection in these systems, video can be shared at the appropriate levels, providing maximum security.
Video Management Systems have greatly improved with regards to security and functionality. Find out more on how those improvements provide a solid foundation for future systems by reading Video Management Advancement, an article published in Security Technology Executive.
Author David Jackson is senior product manager, video solutions, American Dynamics.
Let us know how your organization is protecting your surveillance video by leaving a comment. What other concerns do you have about securing video content?
