The topic of how to backup CCTV video is posed frequently during meetings with our team. Simple question on the surface...if you don't define "backup."
So, let's take a few minutes to get everyone on the same page.
How do you define "backup"? I bet we all have a slightly different idea in mind depending on our perspective.
"Backup" could have a few implied meanings. If you are a security system end user, "backup" could mean a scheduled (manual or automated) export of recorded video from the primary storage medium to a secondary storage medium. if you are an IT professional responsible for network administration and application maintenance, "backup" could mean the export of a VMS operating system configuration on a scheduled basis or as any changes are made.
But what if someone said "backup" but actually meant "plan for inevitable failure"? In other words, what happens if a hard drive fails? A security -centric person would think about retrieving the "lost" video from a secondary source. The IT department would likely plan ahead for this and deploy a RAID 5 or RAID 6 solution with hot spare hard drive(s) which provides high-reliability, or tolerance, for hard drive failure.
Then there are the end users who need to keep video for a looooong time, perhaps for years. "Backup" in this case could also be described as "archived" video. The primary stoarge pool might hold 30 days of video. Every "x" number of days a large chunk of video is then exported to a secondary storage drive for future reference, likely well beyond the retention time of the primary storage pool.
In the end, the question is simple and getting to the right answer is more complex. First, clearly define the end user needs and expectations. Next, find the appropriate solution. The solutions to the different types of "backup" vary depending on manufacturer capability, IT capability, funding resources, legal implications, and policy requirements.
Hitch up with a trusted technical advisor and plan ahead!
