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How Long Is CCTV Footage Stored?
Security, CCTV, access
How Long Is CCTV Footage Kept?
DiTi Service engineers · updated 26.09.2026
Short answer
For most sites 14–30 days of footage is enough; retention depends on the number of cameras, resolution, recording mode and storage capacity.
Retention depends on the number of cameras, resolution, frame rate, recording mode (continuous or motion-based) and disk capacity. For most sites 14–30 days is enough.
We calculate the required storage for the target retention at the design stage.
Practical tips
Save storage with motion-based recording and the H.265 codec.
Export important clips separately — the archive overwrites itself.
Use hard drives rated for 24/7 video recording.
Frequently asked questions
Can storage be expanded later?
Yes, by adding drives to the recorder or network storage.
Where is footage stored?
On a video recorder or server on site, and optionally in the cloud as well.
